Latest news and stories about business school in education in Portugal for expats and residents.
The Porto Business School's Global Online MBA reached sixth place worldwide in the Financial Times Online MBA Ranking 2026. The program was ranked first globally for 'Value for Money' and 'overall satisfaction', with alumni reporting a 28% average salary increase three years after graduation. Students should note it is the only Portuguese institution featured in this specific global ranking.
The Financial Times MBA rankings put The Lisbon MBA Católica|Nova among Portugal's top programmes and mark the debut of Porto Business School in the top 100 at 96th place. The Lisbon MBA consolidated its national leadership, while the Porto programme's entry raises the country's international profile for executive education. Executives and prospective MBA candidates should factor rising international recognition into decisions about study location and employer sponsorship.
Update: Porto Business School debuts at 96th
ECO and Dinheiro Vivo report The Lisbon MBA retained its national leadership in the Financial Times Global MBA rankings while Porto Business School made its first appearance in the top 100 at 96th. Dinheiro Vivo notes The Lisbon MBA has about 80% foreign students and roughly 50% foreign faculty, underlining the programme's international orientation.
The Lisbon MBA Católica|Nova is a joint MBA programme run by Católica Lisbon School of Business & Economics and Nova School of Business and Economics, taught in Lisbon. The Financial Times placed it among the world’s top 100 MBAs in the latest ranking, making it a recognised option for expats and professionals seeking an international MBA in Portugal.
Porto Business School is the graduate business school affiliated with the University of Porto, based in the city of Porto. Its International MBA entered the Financial Times top 100 this year at 96th place, so it may interest professionals in Portugal who want an internationally ranked MBA in the north of the country.
A recent decree from the rector of Universidade Nova de Lisboa has mandated that all faculties must have names in Portuguese, leading to significant controversy and discussions about the potential separation of the School of Business and Economics (SBE). Critics argue that SBE would lose more than it would gain from such a separation, highlighting the complexities of institutional identity and language policy in higher education.
AESE Business School has opened a new campus in Porto and is already preparing tailored programmes to serve the North of Portugal. The school's dean says Portuguese business leaders value continuous training but, given an economy with “some fragilities,” are often too absorbed in running their companies to commit time to development — a gap AESE aims to bridge through flexible executive education and qualification offerings that support regional business needs and economic resilience.
The second Portuguese school to appear in the ranking is the Católica Lisbon School of Business and Economics, which ranks 26th on the list.
