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FAQs

Are applicants invited for interview?

The Admissions Jury may request an interview. This can either be face-to-face or skype.

Can I choose my own exchange country?

CATÓLICA-LISBON has a substantial list of international partnerships. However, you are free to choose your own exchange country as long as your chosen school meets the CATÓLICA-LISBON standards.

Can I speak with a current student or an alumnus?

You are more than welcome to speak with our CATÓLICA-LISBON current students or alumni. Contact us by e-mail and we will introduce you to one of them.

Can I study for a PhD after studying for the Master of Science?

Yes. The Bologna guidelines designate a PhD program as the third cycle. According to these guidelines, access to a PhD program can no longer be granted straight from a first cycle undergrad degree. CATÓLICA-LISBON currently offers a top PhD degree program in Technological Change and Entrepreneurship together with IST-Lisbon and U. Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

Do I have to have completed my undergraduate degree to apply?

You can apply before you have completed your undergraduate degree but will need to include transcripts of your marks to date in your application.

For application purposes we do not require a formal certificate from your school, but we do require a non-official document with all the courses you have attended and respective grades [you may extract this information from your students’ personal webpage].

However, you will need to have completed your undergraduate degree to be able to successfully start the MSc program.

Do I need to be a Catholic to apply to these programs?

No. CATÓLICA-LISBON is a pontifical university (meaning it is statutorily ruled by an agreement between the Portuguese State and the Holy See), but we host students and faculty staff from multiple creeds. Your religious background (or lack of it) will not be a factor in our admissions criteria or in the course of the programs and you will only be asked to follow a code of conduct similar to any other university.

Do I need work experience?

CATÓLICA-LISBON MSc are pre-experience programs designed for recent graduates with less than two years of professional experience and having completed an undergraduate degree within the last two years. However, professional/internship experience (up to 2 years) is highly valued by the Admissions Jury.

For the International MSc in Management, it is mandatory to have a professional experience/internship.

How do I know the program will be recognized by potential employers?

Upon completion of the program, the Universidade Católica Portuguesa will grant you the MSc title. CATÓLICA-LISBON alumni have the best reputation among Portuguese schools in the job market and around 96% of our students are employed within 3 months after graduation. CATÓLICA-LISBON integrates 1% of business schools worldwide to be accredited by all three management education associations (AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA) and is one of the best business schools in Europe, ranking 26th (FT 2017 Top European Business Schools). This is clear evidence of our quality and shows that we rank with the best in the world.

How does a Master of Science differ from a MBA?

The Masters of Science are pre-experience programs, which means it is suitable for those who have just graduated or are about to graduate from a Bachelors program and have less than 2 years of professional experience. An MBA or an Executive Master is designed as a post-experience program, which means it is mandatory for graduates with more than two years' professional experience.

I am afraid that my undergraduate degree final average grade does not reflect my true potential. Should I still apply if my grade is not very high?

All applications are considered on merit. We consider not only the marks on your transcript but also the academic references, personal statement, professional experience, international exposure, extracurricular achievements, and any additional test scores. If there are extenuating circumstances to your grades, please make sure that your referee(s) mention them. Your application will be strengthened if you are able to present a high GRE/GMAT score. However, please bear in mind that competition for places is intense. Therefore, if your grades are low you are correspondingly less likely to be offered a place.

If unsuccessful, can I reapply?

We only accept one application per intake. If your application was unsuccessful due to the misfit of qualifications and you wish to reapply to our Master Programs, we strongly recommend you to improve your profile and to wait for the next intake.

MSc - Do you I need to obtain a Visa to study at CATÓLICA-LISBON?

If you are a non-European (Non-EU) Citizen, you will need to ask for a Visa. If you become a CATÓLICA-LISBON full-time MSc student – you will have to request a Residence Visa for Study Purposes (which will allow you to require, once in Portugal, a Resident Permit for Students in Higher Education). Based on our experience, we recommend you not to request a Student Visa (which can only be temporarily extended and do not allow you to request a Resident Permit for Students in Higher Education).

Later on, if your application to our MSc programs proves to be successful and after you confirm your enrollment, you can request a declaration from our International Relations Office, confirming that you are a student of our school and that, as such, we give you permission to use our school address as your temporary address in Portugal for visa application purposes. In other words, the immigration process for study purposes only starts after the confirmation of your admission and enrollment.

Even though it is students’ responsibility to deal with the Portuguese Immigration and Border Services and to obtain a visa, our International Relations Office will be pleased to give you advice on visa related matters right after your enrollment.

For additional information click here.

What level of fluency in English do I need?

Our MSc programs are taught in English and the thesis must be submitted in English, so you will need a high level of fluency. During your application process you don't need to prove your English proficiency but if you wish to do it, you can submit one of these exams: TOEFL (recommended score): 600 (PBT), 250 (CBT), or 100 (IBT); IELTS: (recommended score): 7.0; CAE: a minimum of C.

What level of math do I need to apply for the MSc in Economics?

You need to possess a 1st cycle degree in Economics, Business/Management, or other quantitative background in your undergraduate degree to qualify for the MSc in Economics.

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