NOVA IMS - Information Management School

As a vital part of Nova University of Lisbon, NOVA IMS proudly boasts three decades in education, research, and value creation. It stands at the forefront of data to create impactful outcomes for society, organizations, and individuals. NOVA IMS focuses on practical applications, ensuring students acquire the knowledge and experience they need to succeed in today's competitive global job market. With a diverse student body from 100 nationalities, we foster a dynamic and globally oriented learning environment. At NOVA IMS innovation meets education for a future-ready experience.

NOVA IMS is the School of Information Management and Data Science of the Nova University of Lisbon. This School was founded in 1989 as a response to the shortage of senior managers specializing in information management, and to the growing need for the use of information technology.

Today NOVA IMS provides education at the highest level to more than 3.800 students including undergraduates, post-graduates, masters, and PhD degree students.

NOVA IMS Strategy

In the medium term, the NOVA IMS strategy focuses on developing and expanding the academic and scientific projects in progress while maintaining its values and strategic guidelines. The set of strategic components regarding medium-term objectives is quite broad. It combines excellence in teaching, learning, and research, strengthening partnerships with society and the business world, improving the quality of students entering our courses, creating a sound and motivating work environment for employees, and, continuing a policy of improving the management of NOVA IMS.

Mission

NOVA IMS´s mission is to be a smart and sustainable school that trains the future leaders of a new generation of professionals in the areas of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, providing a high-quality education that unites advanced technical knowledge with an unwavering commitment to sustainable development. Through innovative teaching approaches, cutting-edge research, and multidisciplinary collaborations, we seek to create added value for society by developing tangible and sustainable solutions to real-world challenges.

Objectives

• Academic Excellence, through quality teaching and research, provides an environment that stimulates continuous learning, teaching, creativity, and innovation;
• Social impact through the creation and continued development of an active community that extends beyond the confines of the classroom, where our Alumni assert themselves as agents of change to address and overcome global challenges, creating value and improving the quality of life in their communities;
• Sustainable Development, by the commitment to integrating the fundamental principles of the SDGs in three pillars of our action: Teaching, Research, and Value Creation;
• Internationalization, based on the ability to attract talent on a global scale, pursues the school’s affirmation based on the firm principle of preparing our students to successfully meet the challenges of the global market and thrive in it, as ambassadors of the quality of NOVA IMS.

Application process

Once you have verified that you are eligible to apply for a NOVA IMS' Program, you do so online by filling out a form and uploading the documents required for your application.

• See the Call for Applications announcement.
• Online Application through the applications form. [Portal]
• Applications for an undergraduate program, under the International Student Statute for the 2025/26 academic year will be open from October 30th to December 3rd, 2024.
• Applications for a master's degree program are open between July 23rd and August 13th, 2024.

Required Documents:

Undergraduate Degree:

1. Photocopy of personal identification document or passport, which expressly sets out the applicant's nationality
2. Declaration, under oath, that the applicant is not covered by any of the points listed in Article 2, paragraph 2
3. Photocopy of diplomas/education certificates/training, namely the qualification giving access to higher education in the country of origin and the Portuguese high school education or equivalent qualification
4. A photocopy of proof of proficiency in the language of instruction must be provided
5. Certificate of residence issued by the country where the applicant currently resides.

Master's Degree:

1. The only mandatory document during the application process is the Curriculum Vitae (in .doc or .pdf format). The applicant can upload other documents such as diploma or other certificate of their qualifications.

Entry Requirements

To be accepted for an undergraduate degree at NOVA IMS, students must fulfill the following requirements:

1. Written exam on the subjects of the entry assessment to undergraduate degrees (Mathematics)
   • The subject of the written exam will be announced when the public notice of the opening applications is released
2. Proof of proficiency in Portuguese and/or English (depending on the language in which the course is taught), in written and/or oral form (minimum access level: B2 according to CEFR - Common European Framework of Reference for Languages)
   • The following are exempt from the Portuguese language test: holders of courses obtained in countries where Portuguese is the official language, who are candidates for courses taught in Portuguese
   • Students who only have an intermediate level of knowledge of Portuguese and/or English (B1 level, according to CEFR) are eligible to apply if they commit to attending an annual Universidade Nova de Lisboa language course or at another entity recognized as competent by the Dean of NOVA IMS. The costs of registration and attendance are the responsibility of the students
3. Interview (ZOOM) with the program coordinator.

To be accepted for a master's degree at NOVA IMS, students must fulfill the following requirements:

1. Hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a compatible field (completed by September 2024)
2. Be proficient in English (spoken and written)

It’s the student's responsibility to guarantee they fulfill the requirements to be eligible for a student visa.

Applicants from EU/EFTA nations as well as some other nations do not need a visa to study in Portugal.

EU/EFTA nations students who remain in Portugal for longer than 3 months must apply for the Certificado do Registo de Cidadão da União Europeia (CRUE Certificate of Residency).

This certificate must be applied for at their local Council within the 30 days following their first three months in the national territory.

Holders of a residence permit issued by a Member State of the European Union are authorized to enter and stay in national territory for a maximum of 90 days within any 180 days. To extend their stay, they need to apply for a residence permit for higher education students with visa exemption under no. 4 of Article 91 of REPSAE.

Applicants from non-EU nations normally need a visa to study in Portugal. To find out if they need a visa and how to apply, they must contact the embassy or consulate of Portugal in their home country.

Application processing times can vary greatly depending on the volume of applications and the applicant’s home country. It is recommended to submit the complete application at least two months before the student’s departure.

As a general rule, the necessary documents for student visa applications for entry in Portugal are:

• National Visa application filled and duly signed by the applicant
• 2 Photos, even, passport-type, recent and in good condition to identify the applicant
• Passport or other travel document, valid for 3 months after the estimated date of return. Photocopy of passport (biographical data)
• Proof of regular status, if you are of a nationality other than that of the country where you are applying for a visa, valid for more than the date of expiry of the visa you are applying for
• Valid travel insurance, covering necessary medical expenses, including urgent medical assistance and possible repatriation
• Criminal record certificate, issued by the competent authority of the country of the applicant’s nationality or of the country where the applicant has resided for over a year (except for applicants under sixteen), with the Hague Apostille (If applicable) or legalized
• Request for criminal record inquiry by the Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA)
• Proof of financial resources/means of subsistence, as defined by the decree of the competent government members
• Fulfills admission criteria or has been accepted to university for a study program and has enough financial resources to attend such program
• Lodging/accommodation certificate in Portugal

The referred documents are the mandatory initial documents to be submitted. The consular post may request additional documents, at their discretion, so this information should be confirmed when requesting a Visa.