Located in Lisbon’s vibrant Park of Nations district, United Lisbon International School (ULIS) provides a world-class learning environment for children aged 3 to 18. With a student body representing over 50 nationalities and state-of-the-art facilities—including 6,500 square meters of outdoor space and a recent expansion adding 7,300 square meters of classrooms, labs, and sports areas—ULIS combines academic excellence, cultural diversity, and innovation.
In its fifth year of operation, United Lisbon International School (ULIS) is revolutionizing education for its students with a forward-thinking curriculum designed to inspire curiosity, foster independence, and prepare students for success in the modern world.
Redefining Middle School: The Golden Years
For Grades 6–8 (ages 11-14), described by Executive Director Martin Harris as “the Golden Years of learning,” ULIS is creating a dynamic and stimulating curriculum that balances core academic subjects with a wide array of new disciplines to foster well-rounded development aligned with the school’s pillars.
“We are building a carousel of experiences around the core subjects of Maths, English, Portuguese, Science, and sport while introducing greater opportunities in the Creative Arts, Performing Arts, IT (coding, AI, and filmmaking), financial literacy, study skills, and adventure,” says Martin Harris. “As students emerge from the primary school, they have a growing awareness of the world around them, the excitement of discovering all that is out there, and the boundless possibilities that exist. These years are so exciting as we begin to explore and help students discover their passions and develop critical skills for the future.”
Students will engage with each of these subjects, laying the groundwork for more specialized learning in Grades 9 and 10. Guided by our mentors and the specialist university and careers team, this approach empowers students to make informed choices about their educational and career pathways.
Individualized Pathways in High School
In Grades 9 and 10, greater breadth and depth are added while offering students the opportunity to construct a more individual academic program around core subjects, allowing them to specialize in greater depth in areas like languages, sciences, humanities, the creative arts, and technology—or a mixture of these if the individual pathway is still not clear.
Martin Harris explains, “Students are able to specialize or remain on a broader pathway. However, whichever route they choose, they are beginning to hone skills that will help them while studying for the IB Diploma, at university, and in life beyond.”
This tailored approach ensures students are well-prepared for university and beyond.
Equipped with the skills needed to navigate an ever-changing global landscape, ULIS goes beyond academics to emphasise creativity, adventure, and personal growth. The school integrates entrepreneurship, sustainability, and cutting-edge fields like AI and filmmaking into its curriculum, alongside its core values of responsibility, integrity, curiosity, resilience, and empathy.
By fostering a balance of skills, experiences, and values, ULIS ensures students are prepared not just for university but also for life in a rapidly evolving world. At ULIS, students thrive in an inclusive, innovative community designed to help them grow into confident, global citizens ready to make a meaningful impact.
These students are our future global citizens and leaders.
