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Master's Programs

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For Nova SBE’s Master’s Programs check here all applications’ deadlines:

 

2025/2026

Start Date

End Date

All Master’s - except IMF, IMM, CEMS MIM, and Double Degrees

20/11/2024

30/04/2025

IMF, IMM, CEMS MIM, Double Degrees and Workstreams

20/11/2024

21/03/2025

Spring Intake 2025 (2nd Call) – MSc Management
Classes to start on February 2025

20/11/2024

02/12/2024

Spring Intake 2026 – MSc Management
Classes to start on February 2026

20/11/2024

30/04/2025

 

The only program with a Spring Intake is the Master's in Management - candidates can apply for the Spring 2025 intake during the current application period. 

Important

  • Only one application per intake is allowed.
  • Acceptance decisions will be released by email within a maximum of eight weeks, starting from the application's submission. If you applied for a workstream, you would receive an answer on the acceptance email.
  • For correct use of the application platform, during the application period, we recommend the use of the Google Chrome browser
  • If you plan to apply with an email ending with @t-online.de, we highly recommend that you apply with an alternative email
  • It is also recommended to read the online application instructions, available on the application form
  • Enrollment confirmation will be subject to the presentation of an official bachelor’s graduation certificate within the first month of classes


For more information and enquiries, contact the Admissions Team via leadyourfuture@novasbe.pt or +351 213 801 699.

Click here to start your application.

 

MANDATORY DOCUMENTS for all Master’s programs:

  • Portrait/ID format photo
  • Traced copy of the front and back of the identification document (ID, Citizen's Card, or Passport), with due consent of the holder, for data validation
  • Curriculum Vitae in English.
  • Academic grade transcript with full course list and grades (in English or Portuguese)
  • One-page motivation letter in English
  • English certificate with a minimum level of B2 (mandatory for all non-native English speakers, or non-Nova SBE students)
  • Application fee payment receipt (non-refundable fee of 51€ for all candidates) - mandatory for Paypal payments


Other documents:

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


* If the diploma is not in Portuguese/English, candidates should attach the diploma supplement or the official transcript of records in English with the entire academic background: degree, final GPA, and graduation date.

If the diploma/certificate does not have the above-mentioned elements, applicants must send either the Diploma Supplement or the Official Transcript of records in English OR the certified translation of the diploma/certificate.

**All the language certificates/diplomas should state the level according to the CEFR. Nova SBE does not accept any basic or high school diplomas nor online language certificates other than Linguaskill and TOEFL iBT® Home Edition as proof of language proficiency. The Admissions Team recommends the upload of one of the following exams: Cambridge, TOEFL or IELTS.

The following candidates are excused to deliver an English certificate:

  • Those that have one of the following nationalities (should upload a nationality proof): 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. Candidates who attended a Bachelor’s program entirely taught in English (should upload a proof issued by the home school)
  • If you have studied a Bachelor’s degree (taught in English) in one of these countries, you will not have to present other evidence of English language ability
  • Nova SBE Bachelor’s students are excused to deliver an English certificate.


SPECIFIC DOCUMENTS:

For International Master’s in Finance (IMF) and International Master’s in Management (IMM) candidates:

  • English certificate with a minimum level of C1** - mandatory;
  • Second language certificate will be valued but not mandatory;
  • Motivation video (max. 3 minutes) answering the following topic: discuss your motivation for applying to the IMM/IMF at Nova SBE. In your video, along with outlining your personal goals for the program, you should share a personal experience from your professional or non-professional background that can demonstrate you are wellprepared for the  the International Master’s program. This video should feature the candidate answering these topics on camera. 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.


For Double Degree candidates:

  • Motivational Letter (mandatory, in English) for the specific Double Degree candidates are applying to


For CEMS MIM candidates:

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

- Between high school and now, how did you contribute to the communities you have been part of? Please provide concretes examples. (max. 1min)
- Describe a personal experience of success and what did you learned from it. (max. 2min)
- 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.

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

For some scholarships (namely Nova SBE Social Mobility):

  • Household Tax Return Transcript (in English or Portuguese).


Failure to deliver any of the mandatory documents for each MSc (including CEMS MIM, Double Degree, or scholarships), will result in a delay in evaluating your application, and the receipt of your application result.

STEP ONE - ONLINE APPLICATION:

The admissions process starts with an online application submission, with all relevant documents, including motivation letters and videos. It is recommended that applications are submitted in the early months of the application period since Nova SBE works on a rolling admission basis

Some considerations:

A Motivation Letter is required for all applicants - this is a candidate’s opportunity to tell us more about their motivation and detail interests, values, and ambitions. We will be looking for evidence of extra-curricular activities, examples of leadership and teamwork, reasons to pursue a Master’s at Nova SBE and what you will bring to our community. This Motivation Letter is a vital part of your application, and we recommend you spend some time in its preparation. It must be specific to the current application you are doing. Personal statements instead of a Motivation Letter will not be accept.

Videos

Mandatory for the IMF/IMM candidates: 3-minute video discussing your personal motivation for applying to the IMM and/or IMF. In your video, along with outlining your personal goals for the program, share a personal o experience from your professional or non-professional background that can demonstrate you are well prepared for the International  master’s program.

Mandatory for the CEMS MIM candidates: See specific application requirements here.

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 acceptance 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 TWO - INTERVIEW:

General Admission: 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. Given the limited number of slots and high number of applications in the program, not all applications will go through the video review.Candidates may have to attend an interview with the International Master’s Team to assess the provided information about academic potential and professional international orientation. Early applications for these programs are recommended as slots in the last month will be limited.

Double Degrees: Candidates already accepted into a Nova SBE Master’s program and successfully pre-screened for the Double Degree are invited to an interview between January and May with the Double Degree Team (sometimes also with the Partner School). Slots per Double Degree are very limited which means that by March only a limited number of options might be available.

CEMS MIM: Candidates accepted 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.  

STEP THREE - 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 Head of Admissions, the Director of Institutional Relations and International Development and 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, letter of motivation/objectives and profile of the candidate for the specific program to which one is applying.

For the ranking of candidates, a general algorithm is applied.

Occasionally, for each program, and/or intake, and/or for each application phase, the ranking algorithm may be reviewed.

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

  • Accept
  • Not Accept
  • Waiting list: In this case we need more time before making a final decision. Applicants can expect to remain on the waiting list until the following period of evaluations, which can be extended for more 8 weeks. No further documentation or updated information is required while on the waiting list.


After a final decision on all candidates, the Admissions Committee will produce a final report with the list of accepted 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 or call the Admissions Team. Admitted candidates who do not confirm their acceptance by the stipulated deadline will miss their place.

If you applied for the CEMS MIM or Double Degree, you will receive feedback directly from that team regarding the Assessment/Interview date and time.

Candidates may request to see the results of their position in the Admissions process in strict compliance with EU GDPR No. 2016/679 of 27 April 2016 (General Data Protection Regulation).

STEP FOUR - ENROLLMENT:

Accepted 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.

No exceptions or late payments will be accepted.

Enrollment in the CEMS MIM and Double Degree programs becomes effective after payment of an additional 1500€ non-refundable fee (on top of the 1250€ Master’s enrollment fee), to be deducted from the total tuition fee.

Postponements

Accepted students must pay the enrollment fee to secure their place and send an email requesting the postponement, before the deadline of the 2nd tuition installment, to leadyourfuture@novasbe.pt. The request will be submitted through a form, along with a valid reason and proof (in English or Portuguese) for requesting this deferral. Not complying with the deadline, or making an unsuccessful request to postpone, will require a new application submission.

The postponement may be subject to a re-entry fee.

For any inquiries, contact the Admissions Team at leadyourfuture@novasbe.pt

Master's Programs 2025/26

Applications are open for the following intakes:

• Fall (September 2025): all Master's Programs
• Spring (February 2026): Master's in Management only

For more information, please contact us by emailing leadyourfuture@novasbe.pt or calling +351 213 801 699.

 
 

Contact us

The Admissions Team will be happy to answer all your questions about the experience of studying at Nova School of Business & Economics.

Office hours are with the following schedule:

In-person walk-ins: Monday, Wednesday and Friday - 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Phone support (+351 213 801 699): Tuesday, Thursday and Friday - 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

During office hours, the team is also available via email at  leadyourfuture@novasbe.pt.