Frequently asked questions

Pre - Application

To sign up for SUPERNOVA, just access this form and fill in all the information. Do not forget that there are documents that are mandatory:

  • Motivation letter
  • High School diploma or an official declaration from the School attesting when the candidate will be finishing High school.
  • Transcript of records with a full list of courses and corresponding grades*
  • Passport Copy

The information below is provided as guidance for the most popular educational systems represented on SUPERNOVA Foundation Programme.

The SUPERNOVA Foundation Programme requires a minimum of 3 A or 7 AS Levels. Additionally, the IGCSE certificate does not meet the minimum requirements for admission.

Furthermore, NOVA University highly recommends that students take courses relevant to their chosen program of study. If a student cannot provide proof of relevant coursework, they may be required to fulfil additional academic requirements.

The SUPERNOVA Foundation Program requires a minimum score of 24 out of 45. Specific disciplines may be required depending on the bachelor’s degree.
 

We are looking for students with a minimum rating of 50% out of 100%, or 5 out of 10

Universidade NOVA de Lisboa strongly recommends that students take subjects relevant to the chosen study program. If a student fails to provide relevant subject grades, they may be required to meet additional academic requirements.

Ensino Secundário (Angola)

We are looking for students with a minimum grade of 10 out of 20, or 50% out of 100%

Subject-specific grades may be required, depending on the degree chosen.

US High School Diploma

We are looking for students with a minimum grade C grade

For students who finished high school in the US, the Ministry of Education in Portugal requires students to provide a record of grades for the last three years of high school, which include the 10th, 11th and 12th grades.

Subject-specific grades may be required, depending on the degree chosen.

Other Educational Systems

We are always looking for students from other education systems who have achieved minimum grades of 50% out of 100%.

Subject-specific grades may be required, depending on the degree chosen.

An international student is a student who:

  • You do not have EU nationality or direct relatives with EU nationality residing in Portugal for more than 2 years
  • Has not resided in Portugal for more than 2 years, or with direct family members residing in Portugal/EU in the last two years.

Yes, you can apply to SUPERNOVA and complete the programme, but you will not be able to benefit from guaranteed admission to the university.

Students from Portugal or from other European Union countries must apply to Portuguese higher education within the scope of the National Access Contest and in accordance with the conditions and deadlines defined by DGES – Direção Geral do Ensino Superior

Application Process

You’ve just taken your first step on your academic journey! Now just follow the application fee payment instructions that you received in the automatic email and don’t forget to send us proof of payment!

From the moment you send us proof of payment, please wait up to 2 weeks for your application to be analyzed and keep an eye on your email! It may happen that we ask you for some additional information or documents!

Yes. For students who want to enroll in mathematics-based courses, there is a mathematics admission test, which is taken right after your application is reviewed. If you don’t know which courses are covered by the test, check the list on our website here: https://supernova.unl.pt/pt/cursos/https://supernova.unl.pt/pt/cursos/
 

No, the test is done online and for that we will create an account with your email on our moodle platform. Stay tuned for the email, because that’s where you’ll receive all the access information!

If you think you need some practice before the test, we got you covered!
 

Download here a sample math test for practice.

Please find below a list of the main topics of this exam:

  • Basic logic, universal and existential quantifiers. 
  • Sets (reunion, intersection, set minus, complement). 
  • Operations with real numbers. 
  • Solving analytically simple algebraic equations in IR (no trigonometry) involving polynomials of degree up to 3, modulus, logarithms and exponentials. 
  • Factorization of polynomials (cases that can be solved analytically). 
  • Sequences- Definition, monotonicity, bounded sequences and limits. 
  • Functions – Basic definitions (odd, even, injective, surjective, local and global extreme points, monotonicity), domain, composition, inverse, continuity and differentiability. Consider also stepwise functions. 

 

Approval in each mathematics admission test requires a grade equal to or greater than 10 (out of 20).

Congratulations!
After you finish the test the admissions team will send you an email with a link to schedule your interview. Keep an eye on the email!

The interview lasts 15 minutes and is an informal conversation where we will ask you some questions about your academic path and your choices at SUPERNOVA. We will also take the opportunity to explain to you what your journey to university will be like. Bring questions!

Congratulations! You have officially been admitted to SUPERNOVA! Now stay tuned for the email, as we will contact you with some information.

Yes! All students who failed the application process can re-apply again in subsequent editions.

Enrollment

To formalize your enrollment, respond to the information we sent you by email, sign the declaration of honor and settle the enrollment fee (500€)

Once you’ve settled the registration fee, give us a deadline of 1 week to receive the accpetance letter! 
 

The acceptance letter is the official document issued by Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, which confirms a student’s admission to the programme. This letter is essential to advance the visa process by providing the necessary proof of acceptance into the University.

The Social Action Services (SASNOVA) currently have three university residences, with a total of 460 beds, for the use of University students, reserving some places for foreign students in their residences every year. If you are interested in this type of accommodation or have any questions, visit the website here or contact via email at: Alojamento@unl.pt.

Given the duration of the SUPERNOVA program, we generally recommend that our students apply for a temporary stay visa. The temporary stay visa is intended to allow entry into Portugal for stays of less than one year. It is valid for the period of stay and allows multiple entries into the national territory.

This is the visa that we recommend to be applied for at the embassy after acceptance into the foundation program.

For more information about this type of visa, consult this page: https://vistos.mne.gov.pt/en/short-stay-visas-schengen/general-information/type-of-visas

Yes, even after settling the final fee, international students must have valid travel insurance to cover necessary expenses for medical reasons, including urgent medical assistance, possible repatriation and liability. This insurance must be valid for the duration of their stay in Portugal and may be presented when they obtain their visa.

If do not have insurance or if your current one doesn’t provide coverage while you’re studying abroad, we can coordinate comprehensive insurance coverage through our partnership with AON Student Insurance (insurance coverage summary)For more information, please contact us at supernova@unl.pt.

Arrival

The NIF (Tax Identification Number) is used to open a bank account, for example, and to pay for your goods and services (internet, telephone, etc.). The NIF application can be made at the Tax Office or Loja do Cidadão, is free of charge and is given to you immediately.

To open a bank account, just go to the branch of any bank of your choice and provide the following information/documents:

  • Passport
  • NIF
  • Proof of residence
  • Proof of enrollment (You can ask us for this document)