diff --git a/app/app.vue b/app/app.vue
index fc2270b..f8eacfa 100644
--- a/app/app.vue
+++ b/app/app.vue
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <template>
-  <div>
-      <NuxtPage />
-  </div>
+  <NuxtLayout>
+    <NuxtPage />
+  </NuxtLayout>
 </template>
diff --git a/app/assets/css/tailwind.css b/app/assets/css/tailwind.css
index f1fc49c..15c68bb 100644
--- a/app/assets/css/tailwind.css
+++ b/app/assets/css/tailwind.css
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 @import "tailwindcss";
 @import "tw-animate-css";
 
-@custom-variant dark (&:is(.dark *));
+@custom-variant dark (&:where(.dark, .dark *));
 
 @theme inline {
   --radius-sm: calc(var(--radius) - 4px);
diff --git a/app/layouts/default.vue b/app/layouts/default.vue
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b0fbd8d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/layouts/default.vue
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+<script setup>
+import { useAuthStore } from "~/stores/auth-store.js";
+
+const authStore = useAuthStore();
+const isDark = ref(false);
+const router = useRouter();
+
+function toggleDark() {
+  isDark.value = !isDark.value;
+  if (isDark.value) {
+    document.documentElement.classList.add('dark');
+    localStorage.theme = 'dark';
+  } else {
+    document.documentElement.classList.remove('dark');
+    localStorage.theme = 'light';
+  }
+}
+
+function logout() {
+  authStore.logout()
+  router.push("/auth/login");
+}
+
+onMounted(() => {
+  if (localStorage.theme === 'dark' || (!('theme' in localStorage) && window.matchMedia('(prefers-color-scheme: dark)').matches)) {
+    isDark.value = true;
+    document.documentElement.classList.add('dark');
+  }
+});
+</script>
+<template>
+  <nav
+    class="sticky top-0 z-50 flex items-center justify-between px-6 py-4 bg-white/80 backdrop-blur-md shadow-sm border-b border-gray-100">
+
+    <div class="flex items-center gap-6">
+      <nuxt-link to="/" class="text-sm font-medium text-gray-600 hover:text-blue-600 transition-colors duration-200"
+        active-class="text-blue-600 font-bold">
+        Home
+      </nuxt-link>
+    </div>
+
+    <div class="flex items-center gap-4">
+      <button @click="toggleDark" class="p-2 rounded-lg bg-gray-200 dark:bg-gray-700">
+        <span v-if="isDark">☀️</span>
+        <span v-else>🌙</span>
+      </button>
+
+      <template v-if="authStore?.token">
+        <label class="py-2 text-sm font-semibold">{{ authStore?.user.name }}</label>
+        <button @click.prevent="logout"
+          class="px-4 py-2 text-sm font-semibold text-red-800 bg-red-100 hover:bg-red-200 rounded-lg transition-all duration-200">
+          Logout
+        </button>
+      </template>
+
+      <template v-else>
+        <nuxt-link to="/auth/login"
+          class="px-5 py-2 text-sm font-semibold text-white bg-blue-600 hover:bg-blue-700 rounded-lg shadow-sm transition-all">
+          Login
+        </nuxt-link>
+      </template>
+    </div>
+  </nav>
+
+  <main class="max-w-7xl mx-auto">
+    <slot />
+  </main>
+</template>
diff --git a/app/pages/auth-test.vue b/app/pages/auth-test.vue
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a4bf2ed
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/pages/auth-test.vue
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+<template>
+  <div>
+    <h1>Login Form</h1>
+    <div>Username: <input v-model="loginFormData.username" /></div>
+    <div>Password: <input v-model="loginFormData.password" /></div>
+    <button @click="login">LOGIN</button>
+    <button @click="reset">RESET</button>
+  </div>
+  <div v-if="token">
+    <h2>API Request Form</h2>
+    <div>
+      Request: <code>GET {{ api }}</code>/ <input v-model="loginFormData.password" />
+    </div>
+    <div>Token: {{ token }}</div>
+    <button @click="sendRequest">SEND REQUEST</button>
+  </div>
+  <div v-if="messages.length > 0">
+    <h2>Messages</h2>
+    <div v-for="message in messages">
+      <pre>{{ message }}</pre>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+</template>
+<script setup>
+const config = useRuntimeConfig();
+const api = config.public.apiBase;
+const loginFormData = reactive({
+  username: null,
+  password: null,
+});
+const token = ref(null);
+const messages = ref([]);
+async function login() {
+  reset();
+  try {
+    await $fetch(`${api}/auth/login`, {
+      method: "POST",
+      headers: {
+        "Content-Type": "application/json",
+        Accept: "application/json",
+      },
+      body: loginFormData,
+      onResponse({ request, response, options }) {
+        messages.value.push({
+          method: options.method,
+          request: request,
+          status: response.status,
+          statusText: response.statusText,
+          payload: response._data,
+        });
+        if (response.status == 200) token.value = response._data;
+      },
+    });
+  } catch (e) {
+    console.error("login request failed: ", e);
+  }
+}
+function reset() {
+  token.value = null;
+  messages.value = [];
+}
+async function sendRequest() {
+  try {
+    await $fetch(`${api}/`, {
+      method: "GET",
+      headers: {
+        Accept: "application/json",
+        Authorization: `Bearer ${token.value}`,
+      },
+      onResponse({ request, response, options }) {
+        messages.value.push({
+          method: options.method,
+          request: request,
+          status: response.status,
+          statusText: response.statusText,
+          payload: response._data,
+        });
+      },
+    });
+  } catch (e) {
+    console.error("api request failed: ", e);
+  }
+}
+</script>
diff --git a/app/pages/auth/login.vue b/app/pages/auth/login.vue
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..545ad25
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/pages/auth/login.vue
@@ -0,0 +1,147 @@
+<template>
+  <div
+    class="min-h-screen bg-gray-100 dark:bg-gray-950 flex flex-col items-center justify-center p-6 transition-colors duration-300">
+    <Transition appear enter-active-class="transition duration-700 ease-out" enter-from-class="translate-y-8 opacity-0"
+      enter-to-class="translate-y-0 opacity-100">
+
+      <div
+        class="w-full max-w-md bg-white dark:bg-gray-900 rounded-xl shadow-lg p-8 border dark:border-gray-800 transition-colors">
+        <h1 class="text-3xl font-bold text-gray-800 dark:text-gray-100 mb-8 text-center capitalize">Login</h1>
+
+        <div v-if="globalError"
+          class="mb-6 p-3 bg-red-100 dark:bg-red-900/30 border border-red-200 dark:border-red-800 rounded-lg text-red-700 dark:text-red-400 text-sm text-center">
+          {{ globalError }}
+        </div>
+
+        <div class="space-y-5">
+          <div>
+            <label class="block text-sm font-semibold text-gray-600 dark:text-gray-400 mb-1.5 ml-1">Email</label>
+            <input v-model="loginFormData.email" type="email" :class="[
+              'w-full px-4 py-2.5 bg-gray-50 dark:bg-gray-800 border rounded-lg focus:ring-2 focus:ring-blue-500 outline-none transition-all text-gray-900 dark:text-white',
+              errors.email ? 'border-red-500 ring-1 ring-red-500' : 'border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700'
+            ]" placeholder="admin@mail.pt" />
+            <p v-if="errors.email" class="mt-1 text-xs text-red-500 ml-1">{{ errors.email }}</p>
+          </div>
+
+          <div>
+            <label class="block text-sm font-semibold text-gray-600 dark:text-gray-400 mb-1.5 ml-1">Password</label>
+            <input v-model="loginFormData.password" type="password" @keyup.enter="handleLogin" :class="[
+              'w-full px-4 py-2.5 bg-gray-50 dark:bg-gray-800 border rounded-lg focus:ring-2 focus:ring-blue-500 outline-none transition-all text-gray-900 dark:text-white',
+              errors.password ? 'border-red-500 ring-1 ring-red-500' : 'border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700'
+            ]" placeholder="••••••••" />
+            <p v-if="errors.password" class="mt-1 text-xs text-red-500 ml-1">{{ errors.password }}</p>
+          </div>
+
+          <div class="flex justify-center pt-4">
+            <button @click="handleLogin" :disabled="loading"
+              class="w-1/2 bg-blue-600 hover:bg-blue-700 disabled:bg-blue-400 text-white font-bold py-3 rounded-lg shadow-md hover:shadow-lg transform active:scale-95 transition-all duration-200">
+              {{ loading ? 'AUTHENTICATING...' : 'LOGIN' }}
+            </button>
+          </div>
+        </div>
+      </div>
+    </Transition>
+  </div>
+</template>
+
+<style scoped>
+@keyframes fadeInUp {
+  from {
+    opacity: 0;
+    transform: translateY(20px);
+  }
+
+  to {
+    opacity: 1;
+    transform: translateY(0);
+  }
+}
+
+.animate-fade-in-up {
+  animation: fadeInUp 0.6s ease-out forwards;
+}
+
+.delay-200 {
+  animation-delay: 0.2s;
+  opacity: 0;
+}
+</style>
+<script setup>
+import { useAuthStore } from "~/stores/auth-store.js";
+import { storeToRefs } from "pinia";
+
+const config = useRuntimeConfig();
+const api = config.public.apiBase;
+const authStore = useAuthStore();
+const router = useRouter();
+const { token, user } = storeToRefs(authStore);
+
+const loginFormData = reactive({
+  email: "",
+  password: "",
+});
+
+const errors = reactive({ email: null, password: null });
+const globalError = ref(null);
+const loading = ref(false);
+
+function validateForm() {
+  errors.email = !loginFormData.email ? "Email is required" : null;
+  errors.password = !loginFormData.password ? "Password is required" : null;
+
+  if (loginFormData.email && !/^\S+@\S+\.\S+$/.test(loginFormData.email)) {
+    errors.email = "Please enter a valid email address";
+  }
+
+  return !errors.email && !errors.password;
+}
+
+async function handleLogin() {
+  globalError.value = null;
+  if (!validateForm()) return;
+
+  loading.value = true;
+
+  try {
+    await $fetch(`${api}/auth/login`, {
+      method: "POST",
+      body: loginFormData,
+      onResponse({ response }) {
+        if (response.status === 200) {
+          console.log(response)
+          token.value = response._data.token;
+          user.value = response._data.user;
+          router.push("/")
+          //getUserInfo();
+        }
+      },
+      onResponseError({ response }) {
+        console.log(response.status)
+        if (response.status === 401) {
+          globalError.value = "Invalid email or password.";
+        } else {
+          globalError.value = "An unexpected error occurred. Please try again.";
+        }
+      }
+    });
+  } catch (e) {
+    if (!globalError.value) globalError.value = "Network error: Connection to server failed.";
+  } finally {
+    loading.value = false;
+  }
+}
+
+async function getUserInfo() {
+  try {
+    const data = await $fetch(`${api}/auth/user`, {
+      method: "GET",
+      headers: {
+        Authorization: `Bearer ${token.value}`,
+      },
+    });
+    user.value = data;
+  } catch (e) {
+    console.error("User info fetch failed:", e);
+  }
+}
+</script>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/app/pages/index.vue b/app/pages/index.vue
index 1e11da8..9b7905c 100644
--- a/app/pages/index.vue
+++ b/app/pages/index.vue
@@ -1,5 +1,47 @@
 <template>
-  <div>
-      <h1> This will be the home page </h1>
+  <div
+    class="min-h-screen bg-gray-50 dark:bg-gray-950 flex items-center justify-center p-6 transition-colors duration-300">
+    <div class="w-full max-w-2xl animate-[fadeInUp_0.6s_ease-out]">
+
+      <header class="text-center mb-12">
+        <h1 class="text-4xl md:text-5xl font-extrabold text-gray-900 dark:text-white mb-4 tracking-tight">
+          Academic Management System
+        </h1>
+        <p class="text-lg text-gray-600 dark:text-gray-400 max-w-md mx-auto">
+          Streamline your educational workflow, manage student records, and oversee courses in one place.
+        </p>
+      </header>
+
+      <nav class="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 gap-6">
+
+        <nuxt-link to="/auth/login"
+          class="group p-8 bg-white dark:bg-gray-900 border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-800 rounded-2xl shadow-sm hover:shadow-xl hover:-translate-y-1 transition-all duration-300">
+          <div class="text-3xl mb-4 group-hover:scale-110 transition-transform">🔐</div>
+          <h2 class="text-xl font-bold text-gray-800 dark:text-gray-100 mb-2">Access Portal</h2>
+          <p class="text-sm text-gray-500 dark:text-gray-400">Sign in to manage your personalized dashboard and academic
+            data.</p>
+        </nuxt-link>
+
+        <nuxt-link to="/auth-test"
+          class="group p-8 bg-white dark:bg-gray-900 border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-800 rounded-2xl shadow-sm hover:shadow-xl hover:-translate-y-1 transition-all duration-300">
+          <div class="text-3xl mb-4 group-hover:scale-110 transition-transform">🛠️</div>
+          <h2 class="text-xl font-bold text-gray-800 dark:text-gray-100 mb-2">System Test</h2>
+          <p class="text-sm text-gray-500 dark:text-gray-400">Verify API connections and authentication state
+            persistence.</p>
+        </nuxt-link>
+
+      </nav>
+
+      <footer class="mt-16 text-center">
+        <div
+          class="inline-flex items-center gap-2 px-4 py-2 rounded-full bg-gray-200 dark:bg-gray-800 text-xs font-medium text-gray-600 dark:text-gray-400">
+          <span class="relative flex h-2 w-2">
+            <span class="animate-ping absolute inline-flex h-full w-full rounded-full bg-green-400 opacity-75"></span>
+            <span class="relative inline-flex rounded-full h-2 w-2 bg-green-500"></span>
+          </span>
+          System Operational
+        </div>
+      </footer>
+    </div>
   </div>
-</template>
+</template>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/app/stores/auth-store.js b/app/stores/auth-store.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1db925e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/stores/auth-store.js
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+import { defineStore } from "pinia";
+
+export const useAuthStore = defineStore("authStore", () => {
+  const token = useCookie("auth_token", { maxAge: 60 * 15 });
+  const user = useCookie("auth_user", { maxAge: 60 * 15 });
+
+  if (process.client) {
+    token.value = localStorage.getItem("auth_token");
+
+    const savedUser = localStorage.getItem("auth_user");
+    if (savedUser) {
+      try {
+        user.value = JSON.parse(savedUser);
+      } catch (e) {
+        console.error("Failed to parse user from storage", e);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  watch([token, user], ([newToken, newUser]) => {
+    if (!process.client) return;
+
+    if (newToken) {
+      localStorage.setItem("auth_token", newToken);
+    } else {
+      localStorage.removeItem("auth_token");
+    }
+
+    if (newUser) {
+      localStorage.setItem("auth_user", JSON.stringify(newUser));
+    } else {
+      localStorage.removeItem("auth_user");
+    }
+  }, { deep: true });
+
+  function logout() {
+    token.value = null;
+    user.value = null;
+  }
+
+  return { token, user, logout };
+});
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/nuxt.config.ts b/nuxt.config.ts
index b9d1747..2d111ff 100644
--- a/nuxt.config.ts
+++ b/nuxt.config.ts
@@ -1,32 +1,20 @@
 import tailwindcss from "@tailwindcss/vite";
 
-// https://nuxt.com/docs/api/configuration/nuxt-config
 export default defineNuxtConfig({
-  compatibilityDate: "2025-07-15",
+  compatibilityDate: "2026-01-01",
   devtools: { enabled: true },
 
   css: ["~/assets/css/tailwind.css"],
+  
   vite: {
     plugins: [tailwindcss()],
   },
 
-  modules: [
-    "@nuxt/fonts",
-    "@nuxt/icon",
-    "@nuxt/image",
-    "@nuxt/eslint",
-    "shadcn-nuxt",
-  ],
-
-  shadcn: {
-    /**
-     * Prefix for all the imported component
-     */
-    prefix: "",
-    /**
-     * Directory that the component lives in.
-     * @default "./app/components/ui"
-     */
-    componentDir: "./app/components/ui",
+  runtimeConfig: {
+    public: {
+      apiBase: "http://localhost:8080/academics/api/v1",
+    },
   },
-});
+
+  modules: ["@pinia/nuxt"], 
+});
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 9f6b78c..c0d7953 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -20,7 +20,9 @@
     "clsx": "^2.1.1",
     "eslint": "^9.39.0",
     "lucide-vue-next": "^0.552.0",
+    "@pinia/nuxt": "0.11.3",
     "nuxt": "^4.2.0",
+    "pinia": "^3.0.4",
     "reka-ui": "^2.6.0",
     "shadcn-nuxt": "^2.3.2",
     "tailwind-merge": "^3.3.1",