Why SiPN?

A little-known fact is that Portugal’s first university was founded in 1290. However, Portuguese Higher Education is not just sitting on its historical laurels. Since the democratic revolution in 1974, the country’s education system has grown to be one of the most innovative and dynamic in Europe. This amazing progress is reflected in the quality of education offered by its universities, several of which are well-placed in various world rankings. The dramatic growth in foreign students in Portugal over the past decade is another marker reflecting this progress.

FLAD, one of Portugal’s most important foundations, has privileged relationships with other Portuguese institutions, such as Universities, national and local government entities, private sector enterprises, and nearly all cultural, historical, art, and social welfare institutions. This full range of stakeholders is fully available to SiPN and its students who aspire to experience and develop unique institutional relationships in Portugal.

Additionally, SiPN’s students are fully integrated in a vast network of people across Portugal and the U.S connected by FLAD. The Foundation cherishes these lifelong connections as they are central to its mission.

Lisbon is known for its highly dynamic academic and research environment. SiPN partners with Lisbon’s four top universities–University of Lisbon, Nova University of Lisbon, ISCTE-IUL and Católica University–to provide its students with the best academic experience possible in this exciting contemporary city. Learn more about the Universities in this unique consortium here.

SiPN is powered by FLAD, a major Portuguese non-profit foundation, thus allowing us to offer program fees much lower than other study abroad programs in Western Europe.

SiPN’s Program fees include tuition, housing, health and travel insurance, monthly local unlimited transport pass, airport arrival transfer, welcome orientation package, welcome and farewell dinners, field trips, and 24/7 on-site support.

In order to defray some of the costs of Program fees, there are funding and scholarship opportunities provided by FLAD and other partner institutions, including Fulbright and Benjamin Gilman International Scholarships. For full information, please refer to the section Scholarships and Funding Opportunities

SiPN’s benefits go beyond the original program experience. One clear example is FLAD’s partnership with Fulbright, whereas SiPN alumni have priority when applying for a  Fulbright/FLAD Opens Study Research Award.

All staff members are service-minded and are ready to address any questions or concerns from individual students, university staff, and parents. From the initial contact with SiPN to the receipt of the final transcript package, SiPN operates on a 24/7 support basis.

SiPN’s field trips provide students with a well-rounded historical and cultural experience while in Portugal. Students enjoy an array of destinations that include Portugal’s main cities, some of the best hidden Portuguese cultural and landscape jewels in mainland Portugal, and even the archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira–all included in the program fee! Check out our videos here!

Portuguese is the third most widely-spoken European language and the most spoken language in the southern hemisphere. Studying in Portugal will give you the opportunity to learn the language and explore the culture, economy, and history of the nearly 300 million people in the Far East, South America, Africa, and Europe.

Learning European Portuguese can also be an excellent complement for students who already have Brazilian Portuguese skills, or are Spanish speakers and are looking to expand their language portfolio with a new (yet similar) language.

“Lisbon: There may be no better place on the planet to be young and bold – if only in spirit.” – The New York Times

Lisbon has long been one of the prettiest cities in Europe. Its pitched hills and valleys are like a Mediterranean-flavored San Francisco with better weather, and streets fully dressed in art. In 2017 Lisbon was named the World’s Leading City Break Destination from the World Travel Awards, which also considered Portugal “the World’s Leading Tourism Destination in 2017.”

Porto was voted a European Best Destination for three years in a row (2017, 2018, and 2019) by the European Travel Awards, and it is one of Europe’s hottest cities at the moment for everything that is design, arts & culture, and urban renewal. It was also voted European Capital of Design 2017 by the European Design Awards.

Thanks to its landscapes, its culture, its unique combination of location, climate, history, safety, cost of living and the quality of its universities and infrastructure, the experience of studying abroad in Portugal will be unforgettable and life-changing.