Study in Portugal Network (SiPN)

What Study in Portugal Network (SiPN) does

Study in Portugal Network (SiPN) is a non-profit multi-university consortium, founded in 2014 and operated by the Luso-American Development Foundation (FLAD), that delivers study abroad programs in Portugal to U.S. university students. Headquartered in Lisbon with six employees, SiPN serves as a single-entry consortium coordinating academic access across four Lisbon-based universities (ISCTE-IUL, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, University of Lisbon, NOVA University Lisbon) plus the University of the Azores for summer programs. Its primary customer segments are U.S. college students seeking semester, summer, internship, or faculty-led study abroad experiences, and U.S. university faculty/advisors organizing programs for their home institutions.

SiPN's product portfolio includes three semester tracks (Social Sciences/Humanities/Business, STEM/Engineering/Sustainability, and Advanced Liberal Arts), a flexible Summer Mix & Match program across Lisbon and the Azores, internship placements, and customized faculty-led study tours. The underlying "platform" is essentially a consortium coordination layer: students enroll in courses alongside local degree-seeking students at the host universities rather than in dedicated SiPN-run classrooms, with SiPN providing the application, billing, housing, cultural programming, and on-the-ground support services wrapped around the academic placement. The most recent program addition is the FLAD Reengagement Program, launched in February 2026 to support the return of U.S. students to Portugal.

SiPN generates revenue through all-inclusive program fees — covering tuition, lodging, cultural activities, tours, public transportation, travel, and health insurance — billed on an annual cadence per program. Pricing is positioned as the most cost-effective in the Portugal study abroad market, a positioning enabled by FLAD's grant funding that subsidizes direct program costs. The go-to-market is sales-led through institutional partnerships with U.S. universities and faculty, with direct applications accepted via the SiPN website. No revenue figures are publicly disclosed, but the Spring 2025 cohort of 69 students plus expanded partnership and programming activity suggests annual throughput in the low hundreds of students.

Name

Study in Portugal Network (SiPN)

Legal name

Study in Portugal Network

Website

https://studyinportugalnetwork.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Study in Portugal Network (SiPN) is a non-profit consortium, operated by FLAD, that delivers U.S.-to-Portugal study abroad programs across four Lisbon universities and the University of the Azores, offering semester, summer, internship, and faculty-led programs to U.S. university students and faculty.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Study Abroad Programs

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Direct Enrollment & Third-Party University Study Abroad Programs (EDAIAAAB)

Keywords

• Study abroad programs
• Education abroad services
• University consortium programs
• Faculty-led programs
• International student internships

Headquarters

HQ city

Lisbon

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Study Abroad Program Fees: All-inclusive fees covering tuition, lodging, cultural activities, city and country tours, public transportation passes, travel, and health insurance. The program is positioned as the most cost-effective study abroad opportunity in Portugal, enabled by FLAD foundation support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

SiPN operates a multi-university consortium providing study abroad programs in Portugal for US college students. Programs include semester, summer, full-year, internship, and faculty-led formats, with all-inclusive fees covering tuition, lodging, cultural activities, tours, transportation, travel, and health insurance. Students enroll directly in courses alongside local Portuguese students at four Lisbon-based partner universities (ISCTE-IUL, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, University of Lisbon, NOVA University Lisbon) and at the University of the Azores for summer sessions.

Product overview

Study in Portugal Network (SiPN) is a multi-university consortium offering a portfolio of study abroad programs in Portugal. The portfolio includes three semester program tracks (Social Sciences/Humanities/Business, STEM/Engineering/Sustainability, and Advanced Liberal Arts), a Summer Mix & Match program with options in Lisbon or the Azores, Internship opportunities for experiential learning, and Customized Faculty-Led Programs. All offerings are operated by the Luso-American Development Foundation (FLAD) and provide access to four Lisbon-based partner universities plus the University of the Azores for summer programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Semester at SiPN Lisbon: Semester program focusing on Social Sciences, Humanities & Business
• Summer at SiPN Mix & Match
• Internships at SiPN
• Faculty-Led Programs / Customized Study Tours

Products and services

• Semester at SiPN Lisbon - Social Sciences, Humanities & Business A semester-long study abroad program allowing US students to enroll in courses in social sciences, humanities, and business at partner universities in Lisbon, Portugal, alongside local students.
• Semester at SiPN: Emerging Topics in STEM - Engineering, Technology and Sustainability A semester-long study abroad program focusing on STEM disciplines including engineering, technology, and sustainability at Portuguese partner universities in Lisbon.
• Semester at SiPN: Advanced Liberal Arts Program in Lisbon (ALA) An advanced liberal arts semester program offered in Lisbon, Portugal, as part of SiPN's network of partner universities, designed for US students seeking rigorous humanities coursework abroad.
• Summer at SiPN Mix & Match A flexible summer study abroad program where students can choose to take courses in Lisbon, the Azores, or both locations, with cultural activities and site visits included.
• Internships at SiPN International internship opportunities providing professional experience, resume building, networking, language learning, and cultural immersion for capstone, gap-year, or study abroad students.
• Customized Study Tours / Faculty-Led Programs Tailored short-term faculty-led programs designed for the specific needs and requirements of program directors and their US home universities, coordinating cohorts of US students through SiPN's partner universities in Portugal.

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Luso-American Development Foundation (FLAD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFLAD is a private Portuguese non-profit grant-making Foundation dedicated to funding initiatives that promote scientific and cultural exchanges between Portugal and the United States. FLAD created SiPN in 2014 and operates the program, providing substantial funding that enables all-inclusive fees at the lowest rates in the market.
• ISCTE - Instituto Universitário de LisboacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four Portuguese partner universities in the SiPN consortium. Students can enroll in courses alongside local students at this Lisbon-based institution.
• Universidade Católica PortuguesacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four Portuguese partner universities in the SiPN consortium. Students can enroll in courses alongside local students at this Lisbon-based institution.
• University of Lisbon (ULisboa)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four Portuguese partner universities in the SiPN consortium. FLAD and the University of Lisbon signed a protocol renewal. Students can enroll in courses alongside local students at this institution.
• NOVA University LisboncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four Portuguese partner universities in the SiPN consortium. Students can enroll in courses alongside local students at this Lisbon-based institution.
• University of the AzoressupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner institution available during summer programs, with courses offered at its Ponta Delgada campus on the Azores islands.
• Study in LisbonsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn initiative of the municipality of Lisbon to promote student mobility to the city. SiPN/FLAD is a founding member of this initiative.
• Made of LisboasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe entrepreneur community of Lisbon-based innovators. SiPN/FLAD is a founding member of this initiative.
• Ministry of Science of PortugalsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerInstitutional partner supporting the study abroad initiative.
• U.S. Embassy in PortugalsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerInstitutional partner supporting the study abroad initiative.
• Lisbon City Council (CML)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerInstitutional partner supporting the study abroad initiative through the Study in Lisbon program.
• Fulbright PortugalsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerInstitutional partner supporting academic exchange initiatives.
• Gilman ScholarshipsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerInstitutional partner providing scholarship opportunities for study abroad students.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• API (Academic Programs International): US-based study abroad provider offering direct-enrollment and study center programs across Europe and Latin America. Comparable in target market, direct enrollment at host universities, and faculty-led customization, though API serves many destinations while SiPN focuses exclusively on Portugal.
• ISA (International Studies Abroad): Provider of study abroad, internship, and service-learning programs across Europe, Latin America, and Asia. Comparable in program offerings (semester, summer, internships, faculty-led), US student target market, and direct enrollment at host universities.
• SAI Programs: US-based study abroad provider specializing in European destinations including Italy and France. Comparable business model of partnering with European universities for direct-enrollment programs targeting US students, though SAI does not currently focus on Portugal.
• USAC (University Studies Abroad Consortium): Non-profit study abroad program based at University of Nevada, Reno, offering programs across multiple countries. Comparable as a consortium-style provider focused on US university students, though USAC operates a broader geographic portfolio.
• Study in Lisbon: Lisbon municipal initiative to promote Lisbon as a study destination. SiPN/FLAD is itself a founding member of this initiative, making it both a peer and an ecosystem partner. Comparable in mission to attract international students to Portuguese institutions.
• IES Abroad: One of the largest US-headquartered study abroad program providers, offering semester, summer, and faculty-led programs across multiple European and global destinations including Lisbon. Directly comparable in program structure, target market (US students), and consortium-style academic integration model.
• CEA Study Abroad: Study abroad provider offering semester, summer, and faculty-led programs across multiple European cities including Lisbon. Directly comparable in program format, US university student target market, and consortium-style course integration at host universities.
• CIS Abroad: Study abroad provider offering semester, summer, and faculty-led programs across multiple global destinations. Comparable in target market (US students), institutional partnerships with US universities, and direct-enrollment academic model at host institutions.

Regional players

• DIS - Study Abroad in Scandinavia: Non-profit study abroad provider focused exclusively on Denmark and Sweden with similar program structure (semester, summer, faculty-led). Comparable in single-region specialization, direct enrollment model, and non-profit/foundation backing, though serving a different European geography.

Broad incumbents

• CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange): A large, established non-profit study abroad organization operating programs across dozens of global cities including Lisbon. Comparable in target customer (US university students), program breadth, and institutional partnership model, though with much broader geographic coverage.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/study-in-portugal-network

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Study in Portugal Network (SiPN)