Student life at the Polytechnic Institute of Lisbon (IPL) is vibrant, multicultural, and closely connected to the academic, cultural, and professional opportunities offered by Portugal's capital city. With more than 13,500 students studying across its eight specialized schools, IPL provides an inclusive environment where students from Portugal and around the world collaborate in engineering, business, health sciences, communication, education, music, dance, theatre, and film. At the beginning of each academic year, the institute organizes the Welcome IPL programme in partnership with the Academic Federation of IPL (FAIPL) and student associations, helping new and international students integrate through orientation activities, cultural performances, and social events.

Beyond academics, students can participate in a wide range of student associations, cultural festivals, workshops, seminars, artistic performances, volunteer initiatives, sports activities, and entrepreneurship programmes. The institute regularly hosts conferences, exhibitions, concerts, theatre productions, film screenings, and innovation events, reflecting the diverse disciplines taught across its schools. Students also have opportunities to engage in international exchange programmes through Erasmus+, join research and innovation projects, and develop leadership and professional skills through extracurricular activities.

The Polytechnic Institute of Lisbon (IPL) places a strong emphasis on graduate employability through practical education, internships, employer engagement, and dedicated career support rather than relying solely on traditional campus placement drives. Each of IPL's eight schools provides career and employability services that help students transition successfully into the labour market. In 2023, the institute launched the Career Center by JobTeaser, an online employability platform that connects students and alumni with employers by providing exclusive job and internship opportunities, career events, recruitment sessions, webinars, company presentations, digital career resources, and direct contact with human resource professionals. As of 2024, the platform included more than 430 registered companies, creating extensive recruitment opportunities across multiple disciplines.

IPL maintains strong partnerships with private companies, public organizations, municipalities, research institutions, and professional associations across sectors such as engineering, business, accounting, health sciences, communication, education, technology, media, and the creative industries. Many academic programmes include curricular internships, practical laboratory work, and company-sponsored projects that allow students to gain hands-on professional experience before graduation. Students also participate in seminars, workshops, employer presentations, and real-world projects led by industry partners, ensuring that their knowledge and skills remain aligned with labour market needs.