Maria Bello studied architecture at Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa (UAL), where strict work methods were applied and rigorous results demanded. She was fortunate to have as professors some of the most qualified Portuguese Architects of the actual national context, to guide her as she gave her first steps discovering concept and space in the contemporary world. She has also achieved a high knowledge on architecture history, as well as representation techniques: CAD drawings and Adobe programmes, and some experience in 3D programmes.

As one of the three higher grades of her class, she received a scholarship from Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa to realise an international master in architecture, Architektur.Studium.Generale (ASG). This was a pioneer programme in which a protocol between eight international universities in different cities was developed: Cottbus, Tallinn, Lisbon, Wroclaw, Innsbruck, Seville, Tel Aviv and Berlin. Graduating with distinction, she has worked under exacting conditions, in a very intensive work environment, with the format of different workshops. An experience that, combined with thorough group work ethics, gave her the opportunity to embrace different methods of approaching architecture, while travelling and exposing herself to other cultural environments. 

She had the honour to be selected with her master thesis project to represent UAL in the most prestigious national competition among Portuguese universities, Prémio Sécil.