Master's Programs

The application process works on a round-by-round basis.

General Deadlines

Rounds

*Applications will open at 10.00 am (Lisbon time).
**Each round will close at 5.00 pm (Lisbon time).

The only program with a Spring Intake is the Master's in Management - candidates may apply for the Spring 2027 intake during this application period. 

Please note that these dates are subject to change. We recommend checking this page regularly for the most up-to-date information.

• You may submit one application per round to one program only. If you are excluded or rejected, you can reapply in a later round (including to the same program).
• Admission decisions are communicated by email according to the round timeline in which you submitted your application. Please allow up to 8 weeks for the decision (maximum).
• If you wish to apply for a scholarship, please note that it must be done within the same form and at the same time as your program application. Scholarship results will be shared until the enrollment fee (P1) payment deadline.
• If you applied for a workstream, you will receive your result in the official offer letter email.
• If you applied to CEMS, you will receive a pre-selection result in the official offer letter email. Pre-selected candidates will be invited to a specific online Assessment Center (more information here).
• If you applied to a Double Degree, you will receive a pre-selection result in the official offer letter email. Your application will then be reviewed by the Nova SBE Double Degrees Team and the partner school for final admittance, subject to an interview (more information here).
• Use Google Chrome during the application period for the best portal experience.
• If your email address ends with "@t-online.de", please use an alternative email when applying (a high number of submission issues has been registered when this domain is used). Please read the online application instructions carefully before submitting your form.
• We strongly recommend reading all the information related to the Admissions process (available below) carefully.
• The application and the enrollment fee must be paid through the designated form. Accepted payment methods are PayPal and Credit Card (not including American Express). The payment is the sole responsibility of the candidate/student and must be validated with their financial institution (e.g. bank).
• Enrollment is subject to providing an official Bachelor’s graduation certificate within the first month of classes.

For more information and enquiries, contact the Student Recruitment & Scholarships Team at leadyourfuture@novasbe.pt or +351 213 801 699.

Failure to deliver any of the mandatory documents for each Master’s (including CEMS MIM, Double Degree, or scholarships), will result in the exclusion of your application from that round.

MANDATORY DOCUMENTS for all Master’s programs:

• Portrait/ID format photo
• Scan of ID/Citizen Card/Passport (front & back) with holder consent for data validation.
• Curriculum Vitae in English.
• Official transcript with full course list and grades (in English or Portuguese), including the student identification, School logo/name and Bachelor's Program name
• One-page motivation letter in English.
• English certificate with a minimum level of B2 (or C1 for IMF and IMM candidates).*
• Application fee receipt may be requested (non-refundable fee of 51€ for all candidates, per application) 

*English-certificate exemptions:

• Hold nationality from: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, United States of America; (upload copy of ID as proof); or
• Completed a Bachelor’s fully taught in English (upload school proof); or
• Have a certificate of English language proficiency issued by the candidate's school of studies, confirming the minimum levels required (according to the CEFR - Common European Framework for Reference for Languages); or
• Are completing/have completed your Bachelor’s Program at Nova SBE (This exemption does not apply to candidates applying to the IMF or IMM).

All language certificates should state CEFR level. We do not accept basic/high-school diplomas nor online language certificates other than Linguaskill and TOEFL iBT® Home Edition. Recommended exams: Cambridge, TOEFL, IELTS.

Optional documents:

• Documents in English or Portuguese, that you think may enrich your application, such as a reference letter, language certificates and/or GMAT/GRE
• Bachelor’s diploma (when available) *
• Other language certificates than English and mother-tongue

* If the diploma is not in Portuguese/English, attach a Diploma Supplement or official transcript in English showing degree, final GPA, and graduation date. If these elements are missing, submit either the Diploma Supplement, the official transcript in English, or a certified translation of the diploma/certificate.

All certifications, including language proficiency, GMAT, and GRE, will be cross-verified with the issuing institutions. 
 

PROGRAM-SPECIFIC DOCUMENTS:

International Master’s in Finance (IMF) & International Master’s in Management:

• English certificate: minimum level of C1 (mandatory)*.
• Second language: Mother tongue or another language certificate at level B1 (if English is the mother tongue).
• Motivation video (max. 3 minutes, in English), answering the following 3 questions:

1. Reflecting on your professional experience so far, is there a moment you would choose to revisit or approach differently?

2. Please describe this moment (which experience, when it took place, and what your role was).

3. Why does it stand our, and how has it shaped your mindset, perspective, and skills you are bringing to this program?

This video should feature the candidate answering these topics on camera. Content beyond the time limit won’t be considered. To submit the video while guaranteeing your privacy you should upload it on YouTube, under the option “unlisted video” in the visibility settings. The link should then be added to the application form.

Double Degree:

• Motivational Letter (mandatory, in English) specific to the target Double Degree.

CEMS MIM:

• Motivation video (max. 5 minutes, in English) answering the following three questions:

1. Between high school and now, how did you contribute to the communities you have been part of? Please provide concretes examples. (max. 1min)

2. Describe a personal experience of success and what did you learned from it. (max. 2min)

3. Describe a personal experience of failure and what did you learned from it. (max. 2min)

This video should feature the candidate on camera answering these topics. Any information provided over the time limit will not be considered. To submit the video while guaranteeing your privacy you should upload it on YouTube, under the option “unlisted video” in the visibility settings. The link should then be added to the application form.

• CEMS Language Requirements File (download here)
• English certificate: minimum level of C1 (mandatory).

Please refer to the CEMS MIM page for details on these documents.

Scholarships (namely Nova SBE Social Mobility Scholarship & the Continuity Scholarship):

• Candidades whose household obtained and declared income in Portuguese territory: IRS Model 3 concerning the previous fiscal year available at the time of the application, complete and fully identified. 
  • Candidates in shared custody must present documentation from both legal guardians 
  • Candidates who present their own IRS Model 3 must also present the IRS Model 3 of the remaining household members, unless the candidate ensures and shows proof of their autonomous subsistence and has no financial ties to other individuals. 
  • Candidates whose household is exempt from presenting the IRS Model 3 must submit additional documentation which allows the assessment of the household’s income and financial situation 
• Candidades whose household obtained and declared income in other territories: a household tax return concerning the most recent fiscal year, which should be a document (or documents) issued by a governmental or certified authority and should reflect your household’s composition in terms of members, gross annual income and most recent financial situation. 
  • All documents must be in Portuguese or English. If written in another language, they must be translated by a certified translation agency or translator, and must include the entire document — partial or autonomous translations are not accepted. 
  • When the tax returns are submitted individually, the candidate must present all tax returns from all the members who are a part of the household. 
  • Candidates who present their own tax return must also present the tax returns of the remaining household members, unless the candidate ensures and shows proof of their autonomous subsistence and has no financial ties to other individuals, as well as a declaration of honor stating this matter. 

All documentation for scholarships must be submitted in a single PDF in the respective field.  

STEP 1 - ONLINE APPLICATION:

Submit your application with all required documents (and any program-specific motivation video).

The payment of an application fee (€51) is mandatory per application.

No exceptions will be authorized. In cases of multiple applications within the same round without prior results, any refund requests will be subject to analysis by Nova SBE.
In case of eventual refund, it will be done through bank transfer, and it may take up to 6-9 months.

Motivation letter: Tell us about your motivation, interests, values, and ambitions. Show extracurriculars, leadership/teamwork, why Nova SBE, and what you’ll bring to our community. Keep it specific to this application. (Personal statements are not accepted in place of a motivation letter.)

Videos:

• IMF/IMM: 3-minute motivation video (see above).
• CEMS MIM: follow the CEMS-specific instructions above.

International Applicant/Student: If you are applying from outside of the European Union, please consider that visa processing times can take longer than three months after your first interview with the Consulate. We recommend that you start the visa application process as soon as you receive confirmation of your admittance at Nova SBE. Remember that the responsibility for initiating and following the visa application process is entirely yours. Nova SBE does not influence the issuing time to process the visa.

STEP 2 - INTERVIEW/SELECTION:

General Admission: Due to the high volume of applications, not all will be reviewed. The selection will be made through an algorithm, as explained below (STEP 3 - DECISION). Candidates may have to attend an interview with either Alumni or Nova SBE’s Faculty assigned to examine the information provided in the application and evaluate the applicant’s eligibility and suitability for the program. The interview is required by the Master’s Admissions Committee in case of need.

IMF and IMM: A pre-screening of the candidates’ CV and application form is done, followed by the evaluation of the videos. Due to high volume and limited places, not all applications proceed to video review. Selected candidates may be invited to an interview with the International Master’s Team. Early applications are recommended.

Double Degrees: Applicants already admitted to a Nova SBE Master’s and pre-screened for a Double Degree may be interviewed Jan–May (sometimes with the partner school). Places are very limited.

CEMS MIM: Candidates admitted into a Nova SBE Master’s degree will go through a specific selection process for the CEMS MIM. This process starts with a pre-screening of the candidates’ CV and application form, and is then followed by the evaluation of the videos. Given the limited number of slots and high number of applications in the program, not all applications will go through the video review. Those successfully screened will be invited for an assessment interview scheduled between January and May (depending on the application round).  

STEP 3 - DECISION:

After evaluating the application, the Admissions Committee will make the final decisions based on all the information at its disposal.

The Admissions Committee is chaired by the Deputy Dean, responsible for Pre-Experience Programs, and includes, among other operational members, the Academic Director of each Master's program, the Executive Director of Pre-Experience Programs, the Director of Student Affairs, the Director of Business Development, the Head of Admissions, the Director of Institutional Relations and International Development and/or the Director of the Quality Department.

When assessing applications, the following elements are considered: final classification of the degree (or previous degree held, or classification at the date of submission of the application for the degree attending), school of origin, curriculum vitae, internship or other experiences (national or international), extracurricular and volunteering experiences, GMAT/GRE, language proficiency, quantitative background (statistical and mathematical) letter of motivation/objectives and profile of the candidate for the specific program to which one is applying.

All applications are assessed based on the submitted materials and receive a final score that determines the ranking of the candidates. Occasionally, for each program, application phase and/or intake, the ranking formula may be revised. 

When reviewing an application, the Admission Jury will make one of the following decisions:

• Accept (in this case, you will receive an official offer letter).
• Exclude (this can happen if your application has missing documents or incorrect information; you may submit a new application in a later round).
• Reject (application did not reach the ranking score required for admission, based on the elements submitted; you may reapply in a later round, either to the same program - if you have new supporting elements, as for instance GMAT/GRE results -, or to a different program)
• Waiting list: In this case we need more time before making a final decision. Applicants can expect to remain on the waiting list until June of 2026. No further documentation or updated information is required while on the waiting list.

Additionally, and for the Master’s in Management only, candidates initially applying for the Fall intake may be offered a Spring intake place, depending on visa constraints and/or seat availability for the Fall semester.

After a final decision on all candidates, the Admissions Committee will produce a final report with the list of admitted, excluded and rejected candidates.

Decisions are communicated individually to each candidate by email. Candidates are responsible for checking their emails regularly during this process (including spam and the trash folder).

If candidates do not receive any communication from the School, they should send an email to the Student Recruitment & Scholarships. If you applied and got pre-selected for CEMS MIM or a Double Degree, those teams will contact you directly about assessment/interview scheduling.
Candidates who receive an offer letter and miss the acceptance deadline will forfeit their place. The deadline will be communicated in the offer email.

STEP 4  - ENROLLMENT:

Admitted candidates will have to pay a 1499€ fee. This fee includes a non-refundable enrollment fee (1250€), and a donation for Nova SBE’s scholarship fund (249€). If you do not wish to include the donation, you must opt-out when completing the enrollment form (you may find more information regarding the donation here). The non-refundable enrollment fee will be deducted from the total tuition fee.

The enrolment fee value may vary according to the candidate’s nationality. Please verify the dedicated fees webpages of each Master’s program.

No exceptions or late payments are accepted.

Enrollment in CEMS MIM and Double Degrees requires an additional non-refundable €1,500 (on top of the €1,250 Master’s enrollment fee), also deducted from total tuition.

It is not possible to reserve or defer a study place before or after the enrolment fee has been paid. Should a student wish to temporarily suspend their studies after enrolment, they may request a formal study interruption through the Academic Services team, which can only be submitted after payment of the second instalment of the tuition fees. All requests are subject to academic regulations and approval by the School.