a group of people playing with toys

A member of the Dukes Education family of schools

UNITED LISBON
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

NEASC Candidate
IB Candidate School

Tomorrow’s School Today

A world-class international school in central Lisbon

ULIS is a forward facing school dedicated to preparing young people to serve and shape the world of tomorrow.

A glance at the big, wide world around us indicates that at times it appears disconnected and the future uncertain. However, this big wide world is in fact not so big and thanks to technology, it is shrinking all the time.

We believe that those who have an outward and international outlook will prevail and those who learn to collaborate and reflect will succeed because new networks and technologies will strengthen our ability to reach further and grant even greater power in the future.

So exchange and interaction triumphs over control. Shared interest will bind us all together; unite us. True learning cannot be standardised and measured purely in exam results, although we are ambitious in this arena, it is only one aspect of learning and school.

Our Pillars of Excellence

We believe that all facets of life should be developed at school and that is why we look to develop the whole child and uncover potential in everyone. We achieve this by basing all we do upon a firm foundation of 5 pillars.

1.

Technology

Embracing the digital age, our technology pillar equips students with essential digital literacy skills, preparing them to thrive in an increasingly tech-driven society. Through innovative learning approaches and state-of-the-art resources, we empower students to harness the power of technology for creativity, problem-solving, and global connectivity.

2.

Global Citizenship

At United Lisbon, we cultivate global citizens who understand and appreciate the interconnectedness of our world. Our global citizenship pillar emphasizes cultural awareness, empathy, and a sense of responsibility towards local and global communities. Through diverse perspectives and collaborative initiatives, we inspire students to become active contributors to a more inclusive and sustainable world.

3.

Entrepreneurism

Nurturing entrepreneurial spirit, our entrepreneurship pillar encourages students to think creatively, take initiative, and embrace challenges as opportunities for growth. Through experiential learning and real-world projects, we instill essential entrepreneurial skills such as critical thinking, leadership, and resilience, empowering students to turn their ideas into action and make a positive impact in society.

4.

Performing Arts

We believe in the power of the performing arts to foster creativity and confidence in our students. Through music, drama, dance, and theater programs, students develop valuable skills such as collaboration and communication. From school productions to recitals, our performing arts pillar enriches the educational experience and cultivates a lifelong appreciation for creativity and self-expression.

5.

Sports

Promoting holistic development, our sports pillar emphasizes the importance of physical fitness, teamwork, and sportsmanship. Through a variety of athletic programs and extracurricular activities, we foster a culture of healthy competition, discipline, and personal growth. Whether on the field or court, our students learn valuable life lessons that extend beyond sports, shaping them into confident and resilient individuals.

This means that life at ULIS is an unrestricted exchange of interests and talents, abilities and performance where everyone is encouraged to be purposeful and ambitious. This comes from a safe and happy backdrop where wellbeing and support for everyone is paramount while encouraging all to develop resilience and integrity within our community.

We want our students to learn how to be the best version of themselves, by developing a reflective and collaborative nature and by developing academic, emotional and technological intelligence. We thrive from discovery, creativity and adaptability.

We have created a safe and thriving community at ULIS so that we can send our students out into the world as well rounded, confident citizens who are recognised for their collaborative nature and adaptive intelligence.

We look forward to sharing this experience with you….

An interview with children at United Lisbon on what makes us special

Meet Martin Harris
United Lisbon's Executive Director

Interviews with some
of our IB graduates

United Lisbon International School

This is an exciting time to be in education and for children to look ahead to a bright future

A member of the Dukes Education family of schools, United Lisbon International School is a modern and innovative school providing education for children to prepare them for the future. Technology, Global Citizenship, Entrepreneurism, Sports and Performing Arts are all pillars for our education. We provide education founded on rigorous standards of excellence, seamlessly integrating technology into the learning environment. We want our students to embrace the opportunities created in tomorrow’s world. We live the United philosophy at school: that global problems can only be solved through being UNITED.

We are a K-12 school for children aged from 3-18. Although only four years old the school has a wealth of experience built up from a dedicated team of professional staff who all have one thing in common, that is to deliver a world class education to all our students with our first IB students graduating in 2024, following an American international curriculum and the IB diploma for grades 11 and 12. We are proud to be an accredited IB World School and a candidate school for NEASC. We have prioritized technology as a core for an education for the future and have worked hard to become a Microsoft Showcase School. Our state-of-the-art Maker Space teaches our kids about coding, robotics, 3D printing, Minecraft and much more. ULIS has invested in over 6,500 sqm of outdoor spaces, allowing our kids have lots of fresh air and sports during the day despite being in an urban setting. As we had the opportunity to design our facilities from scratch, our science laboratories and art spaces are kitted out with the most modern equipment to enable our faculty to work with our kids to achieve their true potential.

Our school community now boasts of over 50 nationalities – representing a truly international community. We now have over 600 students (as of January 2024) and a fabulous international faculty that brings years of international education and cultural experience. We work with good extra-curricular activity providers in the area to give our children the opportunities to work with the best in class while pursuing their activities interests. Partners include the Lisbon Racket Centre, Sporting Athletic Club and other local clubs.

Being a member of the Dukes family of schools, students at ULIS benefit enormously from international exchange and summer camp opportunities, as well as sports competitions. Dukes has superb career counselling, Internship and college counselling experience and platforms for children wishing to go to universities in the US, Europe or the UK. Teachers have access to the world-class leadership and professional development offerings of Dukes. Parents with children at ULIS will tap into a huge network of like-minded families and learning opportunities within the Dukes community.

The current and future collaboration with the United Lisbon Edu Hub for the arts, entrepreneurship, shadowing and internships makes United Lisbon one of the most innovative schools in Europe.

United Lisbon is the right choice for your family, if you are looking for a school that

  • is centrally located in Lisbon, next to the Park of Nations, truly international and fully accredited
  • continuously innovates within leading international curricula, offering highest-quality education towards a globally acknowledged high school diploma
  • builds partnerships with corporations and institutions to enrich student learning through real-life experiences and applied projects
  • commits to the purpose of a sustainable and equitable world and to instilling values and responsibility for the next generation
  • offers a diverse and holistic program to engage all learners and provides additional learning and after-school opportunities (e.g. football, the music academy, languages, tennis and much more)
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Admissions processes are always ongoing and we are looking forward to the opportunity to meet you in person at our school.

Senior Leadership Team

Martin Harris is a distinguished educator and has had an extensive experience of 19 years as Head of 3 different schools in the UK prior to arriving in Portugal - specifically at Sandroyd School in Wiltshire, Cheam School in Berkshire and St. Mary’s Calne in Wiltshire. Martin is a huge advocate of developing the whole child by offering stimulating opportunities and creating experiences both within and outside the curriculum. The schools he has led have been underpinned by kindness and happiness and he would say that his greatest pleasure from leading a school has always been to see his students thrive at school and beyond, instilled with a great sense of purpose and integrity. He is eagerly looking forward to starting at ULIS, getting to know the community and to see the school in action.
Martin Harris Executive Director
Martin Harris
Executive Director
Dr. José Azcue has more than 25 years’ experience in international education and is widely engaged with the IB (International Baccalaureate Organization). He holds a Masters from University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and a PhD from The University of Waterloo in Canada. José has served as Headmaster of an international school and held leadership and teaching positions at several international schools in Portugal. In 2000 he was awarded the Diploma of the Principal Training Center for International School Leadership. Jose has been actively involved in teaching, developing teaching material, running workshops and online teacher training.
Dr. José Azcue
Dr. José Azcue
Senior Academic Advisor

Join our Team

People matter: Good education builds on positive relations to form a learning community and engage students in a variety of both academical and personal learning processes. The role of teachers to guide student learning has transformed significantly throughout the last decades towards a varied, collaborative and holistic approach focused on formative learning processes. Technology offers new ways to enrich and personalize learning, and seamlessly extend the classroom.