Lisbon’s public university residences are run by SAS-ULisboa, which has 15 residences and is adding beds, but demand is high: only about 5 percent of Lisbon students have access to a student bed. Private purpose-built studios cost far more. This guide sets out how the public route works, what the private market looks like and what I could not verify.
Details come from the University of Lisbon, Instituto Superior Técnico and ECO, checked on 20 October 2026. Confirm them for your intake before you pay.
University of Lisbon residences (SAS-ULisboa)
- Size: SAS-ULisboa has 15 university residences. 1,018 new beds open for 2026/27, on top of 488 opened the year before, a total of 1,506 new beds.
- Who can apply: students on a licenciatura, mestrado or mestrado integrado once enrolment is complete. Displaced scholarship holders on first- and second-cycle programmes have priority. Students from other higher education institutions in the Lisbon municipality can apply if the institution has an agreement with SAS-ULisboa.
- Applications for 2026/27: opened on 27 August and stay open while places are available.
- Rent: the monthly fee depends on the room type and your household income. The university publishes price tables on the SAS-ULisboa accommodation introduction page, which I could not read, so I have not quoted a figure.
How to apply
- Complete your enrolment in your course.
- Register at sas.ulisboa.pt.
- Fill in the application form. SAS-ULisboa verifies it and then invites you to an accommodation interview.
Questions go to alojamento@sas.ulisboa.pt.
The private market
The Cushman & Wakefield Portugal PBSA Report 2026, as reported by ECO on 24 August 2026, puts an individual studio in a private purpose-built student project in Lisbon at €740 to €1,500 a month. Lisbon and Porto together gained about 2,500 beds in 12 months, a 16 percent rise, reaching almost 18,000 beds in 2026.
| City | Share of students with access to a student bed |
|---|---|
| Lisbon | 5% |
| Porto | 10% |
| Portugal overall | about 7% |
Public residence or private housing?
| Question | SAS-ULisboa residence | Private studio or room |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Depends on room type and household income | Studios in purpose-built projects €740 to €1,500 a month |
| Access | Application, validation and interview; scholarship holders have priority | Open market, though beds are limited |
| Eligibility | Enrolled students at ULisboa or agreement institutions | Set by the landlord or operator |
I have not ranked neighbourhoods or listed private blocks, because I could not verify prices or area details against reliable sources. If you rent privately, view the room or a live video tour, get a written contract and never pay before you have one.
FAQs about student accommodation in Lisbon
How do I apply for a University of Lisbon residence?
Enrol in your course, register at sas.ulisboa.pt, complete the application and attend the accommodation interview if you are called.
How much is a university residence bed?
It depends on the room type and your household income. SAS-ULisboa publishes price tables, so check them for your room.
How much is a private student studio?
€740 to €1,500 a month in private purpose-built projects, according to the 2026 Cushman & Wakefield report.
Are applications still open?
For 2026/27, SAS-ULisboa said applications stay open while places are available. Contact them to confirm.
Sources
- Universidade de Lisboa: Alojamento ULisboa 2026/2027
- Instituto Superior Técnico: 1,018 new beds in 2026/2027
- ECO: student accommodation rents in Lisbon
All checked 20 October 2026.
