Guide for parents: The costs of university
National exams are tough for students, but also for families' budgets. Between study materials, tutoring, and future tuition fees, finances are strained.
The financial impact before going to college
The race to Higher Education begins long before September. In the months leading up to the national exams, families face the first peaks of expenses. To ensure entry into the most competitive courses, it is common to resort to private lessons, intensive study centers, and purchasing preparation materials or exams from previous years.
These costs, concentrated in the third school period, can easily exceed 100 or 200 euros monthly. Therefore, planning this phase requires parents to create an 'education fund' in the family budget early in the school year.
The weight of tuition fees in Higher Education
When the student finally enters college, the first major bill is tuition. In public universities and polytechnics, the maximum amount in 2026 is around 697 euros per year for bachelor's degrees, which represents an effort of almost 70 euros per month (usually paid in 10 installments from September to June).
If the course is taken at a private institution, the costs skyrocket dramatically, varying on average between 3,000 and 7,000 euros per year, still requiring the payment of significant registration and enrollment fees.
Accommodation: the big 'thief' of the family budget.
If your child is studying outside the area of residence, accommodation will be the biggest expense of all.
In big university cities like Lisbon and Porto, renting a room costs today around 350 to 500 euros, often without water, electricity, and internet expenses included. In the interior of the country, the prices are more affordable, but still represent a heavy burden.
Public university residences are the cheapest option (with costs between 170 and 300 euros), but demand is huge and places are limited, being allocated based on family income.
Food, transportation, and everyday life
To have a realistic view, in addition to housing and college, parents should also include the following monthly items:
Food: About 200 to 250 euros (even using university cafeterias and bringing meals from home on weekends).
Transport: The monthly discounted pass for students (or free for those under 23 who meet the requirements) and the weekend trips to the homeland.
Extras and leisure: Books, photocopies, occasional medical expenses, and budget for social gatherings.
How to manage this bill as a family
Having a child attending Higher Education away from home can cost the family over 800 euros per month. To support this impact without breaking down, parents should research social support (study grants and housing supplements from DGES) and encourage young people to find part-time jobs to help with small expenses.
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