The University of Coimbra (UC) is a public institution established in 1290, comprising twelve academic and research units. These include eight faculties: Arts and Humanities, Law, Medicine, Science and Technology, Pharmacy, Economics, Psychology and Education Sciences, and Sport Sciences and Physical Education. The university also includes nine cultural and academic support units, e.g., General Library, 25 de Abril Documentation Center, Archive, Press, Science Museum, Gil Vicente Academic Theater, University Stadium, Health Sciences Library, Botanical Garden. These facilities are spread across three campuses, encompassing a total of approximately 124 buildings.

The university's main activities focus on teaching, research, and knowledge transfer. Currently, UC offers 36 undergraduate degrees, 110 master's programs, 12 integrated master's programs, and 68 doctoral programs. Internationalization is a key priority, both through teaching activities and R&D initiatives. As of 2023, the university hosted around 4,351 international students from more than 98 countries. UC also provides advanced training programs in various technological fields, with a strong emphasis on partnerships with MIT Portugal, UT Austin, and Associate Laboratories.