29-07-2025
NOVA School of Science and Technology | NOVA FCT has signed today the construction contract for a new student residence — NOVA FCT Student Residence Hall — with a total investment of €7,616,790.05. The project is funded with €7,445,168.49 from Portugal’s Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), with the remaining amount co-financed by the School.
This will be the first of two new residence halls to be built under the National Student Housing Plan (PNAES), supported by the PRR.
Construction of the NOVA FCT Student Residence Hall is expected to begin in the last quarter of 2025 and be completed by June of the following year.
By the end of 2026, the School will offer a total of 614 beds, across the two new residences and the existing one. Additionally, by the end of 2027, a private residence is expected to be built on the Caparica Campus, adding 280 more beds — bringing the total to around 900 beds available.
This new residence project is part of NOVA FCT’s broader strategy to expand student housing capacity. The plan also includes the renovation and modernization of the existing Fraústo da Silva Residence, also located on Campus. Scheduled to reopen in September 2025, the upgraded residence will feature modern, functional, and more sustainable facilities, using materials with lower environmental impact to ensure maximum comfort for students.
"The construction of these new residences will allow us to offer better housing conditions for our students, many of whom come from outside the region, helping to remove one of the main barriers to accessing higher education: dignified and affordable housing," says José Júlio Alferes, Dean of NOVA FCT.
"The NOVA FCT Student Residence Hall, together with the refurbishment of the Fraústo da Silva Residence and the construction of additional new facilities, will significantly expand student housing on our Campus — aiming to create a more sustainable, inclusive environment that enhances the educational and academic journey of our students," adds.
Currently, NOVA University Lisbon also operates two other residence halls: the Alfredo de Sousa University Residence, in Campolide (Lisbon), with 180 beds, and the Lumiar University Residence, in Lisbon, with 70 beds. Additionally, through SASNOVA (NOVA’s Social Action Services), the University has established several partnerships and agreements with other institutions to meet student housing needs.
