3 best boarding schools in Lisbon 2026

School education in Lisbon provides for the development of three stages: preparatory level (for children aged 3 to 6 years), basic level (children from 6 to 15 years) and high school (children from 15 to 18 years). Completion of only the second and third stages is considered mandatory.

Education in schools in Lisbon is of high quality: even the average student demonstrates a decent level of literate writing, knowledge of mathematics and natural sciences. The performance of Portuguese schoolchildren is higher than the average among the countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Schools in Lisbon are divided into two types: public and private (usually international).

When choosing an educational institution for their child, foreign parents often choose international private boarding schools in Lisbon with a multicultural environment. One of the main disadvantages of public educational institutions is that they teach children exclusively in Portuguese/Spanish, creating difficulties for those who are not native speakers. International schools, on the other hand, provide equal opportunities for all students, regardless of nationality and culture of origin, thanks to the internationalization of the student community — in 99% of cases, English is taught here.

There are many different foreign educational programs available in the country: the most common are the British and American systems, as well as the International Baccalaureate (IB), developed by Swiss specialists. Along with English, students learn French, Chinese, Italian, Spanish and German.

In addition to the main educational program, private boarding schools in Lisbon provide a wide range of extracurricular activities - sports clubs, creative circles and other leisure activities. Students can swim in pools, practice in specially equipped play areas, theater and music studios, modern laboratories, and use the latest equipment.

If we talk about the best boarding schools in Lisbon, it is worth mentioning Colégio Moderno, Salesianos de Lisboa and Colégio Sagrado Coração de Maria.

To enter a boarding school in Lisbon, you need to start preparing at least one or two years in advance. If studies begin in September, applications will be actively accepted as early as May, and classes will be formed. You need to fill out the appropriate application form (each school has its own) and attach the following documents:

• A photocopy of the child's and parents' foreign passports,
• Medical insurance,
• Parents' tax identification number,
• Portfolio with information about academic performance,
• Two photos.

All documents must be translated into Portuguese and certified by the Ministry of Education.

The cost of studying at international private boarding schools in Lisbon ranges from about €4,000 to €10,000 annually. There are more affordable options, for example, starting from €2,000 per year, and there are more expensive ones, up to €20,000-€30,000 for one year of study. It is worth noting that studying in boarding schools, including accommodation, is more expensive than in regular day schools.

Despite the many advantages, living in a private boarding school in Lisbon has some features that it is important to pay attention to in advance.:

• Emotional stress. Moving a child to another city or even country, changing the environment and lifestyle can cause emotional discomfort and a feeling of loneliness. Adaptation is especially difficult for younger schoolchildren, who find it difficult to get used to new conditions and culture. However, this risk is not specifically linked to Portugal or Lisbon.
• Limited freedom of movement. The regime at the Lisbon boarding school is strictly regulated by the rules and daily routine. Strict controls, restrictions on movement and a set schedule sometimes cause discontent among teenagers who are used to more freedom at home.
• The language barrier. Although many boarding schools in Lisbon for foreign students use English as a means of communication, children with poor command of a foreign language may have difficulty communicating with classmates and staff, which reduces their involvement in the learning process and social activity. But schools, anticipating this possibility, always organize additional supportive courses for students arriving from abroad, so there is no need to be afraid - the child will overcome the language barrier in a matter of weeks, or even days.
• Lack of parental control. Parents lose direct contact with the child, because they live far from each other. Control over the process of upbringing and the influence of family traditions is significantly reduced, which makes regular video communication and periodic visits necessary. It is worth noting that the support of parents, school and external specialists helps to minimize negative consequences, provides a positive learning and living experience in a private boarding school in Lisbon for foreign students.

Choosing a private boarding school in Lisbon should be based on several advantages:

• Safety and comfort. Boarding schools in Lisbon for foreign students provide a high level of safety and comfort. The child lives on the campus around the clock, which guarantees constant supervision and care from teachers. Such schools are often located away from the hustle and bustle of the city, creating conditions for children to relax and concentrate on their studies.
• Individual approach. Private boarding schools in Lisbon are known for their individual approach to each child. Small classes allow teachers to pay maximum attention to each student, taking into account his abilities and needs, which achieves high learning efficiency and rapid assimilation of the material.
• High quality education. Modern methods make education in such schools competitive in the global market. Boarding schools in Lisbon often offer unique proprietary courses and foreign language preparation (English, French, Spanish, etc.) along with basic education.
• Development of independence and responsibility. Life in a boarding school contributes to the development of organization skills and the ability to solve everyday problems in schoolchildren.
• Expanding horizons and getting acquainted with cultures. Living together with classmates from different parts of the country, students get acquainted with different cultures, languages ​​and customs, developing tolerance and the ability to interact with people of different cultural characteristics.
• Additional opportunities. In addition to the main educational process, most boarding schools in Lisbon organize various extracurricular activities, sports events, excursions for children, contributing to harmonious personal growth and development of talents.
• Another plus of studying at boarding schools in Lisbon — you do not need to buy textbooks: they can be obtained from the school library or certain stores by QR-code for free.

By choosing a boarding school in Lisbon, you guarantee that your child will receive quality knowledge, be able to develop personal qualities and acquire useful acquaintances, opening doors to the future at an international level.