One University Two University Centres. One World…
Lusófona University is the result of the integration of the Lusófona University of Humanities and Technologies and Lusófona University of Porto, giving rise to two university centres (Lisbon and Porto) whose objectives have been, since their inception, "teaching and research in the various fields of science, culture and technologies, from an interdisciplinary perspective and, especially, with a view to the development of Portuguese-speaking countries and peoples".
The history of Lusófona University begins in 1998 with the merger of ISMAG - Higher Institute of Applied Mathematics and Management, a university institute, and ISHT - Higher Institute of Humanities and Technology, a polytechnic institute, both founded in 1989 by the same founding entity of Lusófona University, COFAC, and the subsequent acquisition of the facilities of the Modern University of Porto which gave rise to Lusófona University of Porto.
Lusófona University is the largest private university in Portugal. The entity legally responsible for the management and development of the University is COFAC - Cooperativa de Formação e Animação Cultural, a non-profit educational entity with facilities in Lisbon, Portugal, which is currently the largest non-profit and non-state-funded educational organisation in the country. The name of the University comes from the word "Lusofonia" which designates all Portuguese-speaking countries and their common linguistic and cultural background.
The University campuses, now designated as Lusófona University - Lisbon University Centre and Lusófona University - Porto University Centre, are situated in the centres of the two cities, strategically connected to the entire transport network.
Lusófona University is an equal opportunity university, currently with a student body of over 16,900 students and 1,671 teaching staff, articulated around 15 faculties, Schools and Institutes that make up the main institutional unit. Currently, Lusófona University offers 65 bachelor's degrees, 70 Master's degrees, 4 Integrated Master's degrees, 8 International "Erasmus Mundus" Master's degrees, 2 Professional Master's degrees and one in Distance Learning (EAD), 13 doctoral programmes, and a vast offering of postgraduate courses, specialised training and micro-credentials. All the University's courses comply with the European requirements for higher education, and comply with the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) and are accredited by A3ES, the agency for evaluation and accreditation of higher education in Portugal.
Among its assets, its strong international profile stands out, clearly evident in the fact that the University leads one of the new "European Universities", FilmEU - European University for Film and Media Arts, and the active participation of the University in dozens of research projects within the scope of, among others, the Horizon and E+ European programmes; and the more than 1,700 international students spread across 84 nationalities who currently attend the University.
The growing visibility and reputation of Lusófona University is reflected in its prominent position in various rankings.
