On 1 March 1290, King Dom Dinis decreed by royal charter the creation of the "Istudo Ceral (General Studies). On 9 August of that year. Pope Nicholas IV confirmed by bull the foundation of the University of Coimbra . The University functioned alternatively in Lisbon and Coimbra , finally being established at Coimbra in 1537. It is one of the oldest Universities in Europe . For centuries the University of Coimbra has been the country's only university and so received students from Azores and Madeira and from the former overseas provinces ( Brazil , Angola , Mozambique , Macau, Timor , etc.). Many of these students played an important role in the political, religious, legal, scientific and cultural life of the Portuguese-speaking world and have created in Coimbra an enduring tradition of academic excellence.

According to its tradition, internationalisation continues to be one of the main goals of the University. Portugal 's centruries –old experience as a link between Europe, Africa, Asia and America , has allowed the UC to play a significant tole in the TEMPUS Programme, the ACP Programme, and the EU-CHINA, EU-USA, EU-CANADA, EU-AUSTRALIA and ALFA programmes. The democratic structure of the University was strengthened with the promulgation, on 28 August 1989, of its Statutes, approved in an Assembly of Representatives of each body of the university community. The University of Coimnra offers an international environment well worth living in.

As a whole, the University offers 49 Undergraduate Courses, 226 Postgraduate and Master's Degree Courses, 37 Areas of Ph.D, 85 titles/year of periodical publications and study collections, 176 Units of R&D, 1 general Library, 31 Libraries and Specialised Documentation Centers and 9 thematic Museums. The University of Coimbra includes eight faculties - Arts and Humanities, Law, Medicine, Science and Technology, Pharmacy, Economics, Psychology and Education, and Physical Education and Sports Sciences. It aspires to being a center of continuing modernization.