The Minister of Education has confirmed a reversal of the 2023 rule: for 2026/2027 students will face a single entrance exam rather than two compulsory exams, a change intended to restore access for roughly 2,000 students previously blocked. The draft decree‑law (decreto‑lei) implementing the change has already received favourable opinions and will move through formal publication steps. Prospective university applicants should follow official ministry announcements and confirm which single exam and subjects will apply to their chosen courses.
Higher education returns to single entrance exam
Wednesday, 21 January 2026AI summary
Context & Explainers
Entrance exams are the national secondary‑school subject tests used to calculate admission scores for public higher education in Portugal; exam grades (national tests are typically scored on a 0–200 scale) combine with secondary‑school averages to determine places. The Education Minister's reversal of the 2023 rule that made two exams compulsory — a change that reportedly blocked about 2,000 students from entering higher education — means applicants and families should monitor which tests will be required for upcoming applications.
A decreto‑lei (decree‑law) is a government‑issued legal act that creates or changes law without first passing a full parliamentary bill; it is published in the Diário da República and takes immediate effect but remains subject to parliamentary review and possible repeal. Governments often use decreto‑lei to implement urgent policy changes — for example to alter education or health rules — so residents should watch new decreto‑lei for legal changes that affect services or rights.
