International schools in Portugal

Search for the best international schools in Portugal; you can find a list of selected schools at the bottom of this page. Use the search filters to select only girls' or boys' schools, prep schools, senior schools or sixth forms; or you can search for schools that offer a particular curriculum, such as the International Baccalaureate, the UK national curriculum, a US-style model or the International Primary Curriculum. 

A peaceful, developed country with a high standard of living, Portugal has attracted many expatriates from Britain and other northern European countries over recent decades. A wide range of international schools centred on Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve cater to foreign nationals and local elites. 

English-medium schools following the curriculums of Britain, the US and the International Baccalaureate Office predominate, but the vibrant sector also includes schools that offer French, German and Italian curriculums and teach in the respective languages. 

There are 14 IB World Schools, which all teach in English. The International Baccalaureate Diploma is offered by 13 schools, while all three IB programmes are taught at three: International Sharing School Taguspark, Oeiras International School, and Saint Dominic’s International School. For a full list of IB World Schools in Portugal, see the IB's website.

Many private schools teach British, American or IB programmes alongside the Portuguese curriculum. Queen Elizabeth’s School, which was founded in 1935, teaches in English and Portuguese using the Content Language Integrated Learning method and offers the Cambridge International Primary Programme alongside Portugal’s primary school curriculum.

Parents are advised to check schools accreditation arrangements with bodies such as the Council of International Schools and Council of British International Schools.

Education is compulsory for 12 years from age six to 18 and free in the Portuguese-medium public system, which is divided in to basic and secondary stages. Ensino Basico has three cycles of four years, two years and three years respectively, leading to the Certificate of Basic Education. 

Ensino Secundario takes three years and is divided into general programmes with a choice of four broad, academic subject areas, technological programmes and artistically oriented programmes. Students who pass receive a diploma. Grades from national exams taken in years 11 and 12 are used to award university places. 

In 2019, net enrolment was 90 per cent at pre-primary level, 98 per cent at primary school and 95 per cent at secondary school, while gross tertiary enrolment was 68 per cent.

If you are looking specifically for International Baccalaureate World Schools in Portugal, you can find selected schools on our sister website: www.ibyb.org.