Latest news and stories about higher education in education in Portugal for expats and residents.
The National Union of Higher Education (Sindicato Nacional do Ensino Superior or SNESup) has expressed concern after data showed that students from the lowest income bracket represent only 3% of placements in the first phase of university admissions. While the total number of placed students increased, union president José Moreira warned that socioeconomic barriers continue to limit access to competitive courses.
The first phase of the National Higher Education Access Competition (Concurso Nacional de Acesso ao Ensino Superior or CNAES) saw nearly 50,000 students placed in universities. Polytechnic institutions experienced a 24.5% growth in placements, a trend attributed to their recent rebranding as polytechnic universities and relaxed entrance requirements. Aerospace Engineering at the University of Porto remains the most competitive course, requiring an entry grade of 19.5.
The National Higher Education Access Competition (Concurso Nacional de Acesso ao Ensino Superior or CNAES) is the centralized system used by students to apply for public university and polytechnic degree programs in Portugal. Managed by the Directorate-General for Higher Education, it allocates spots based on national entrance exam scores and secondary school grades.
Nearly 50,000 students secured places in the first phase of the national higher education access competition, filling 88.9% of available spots. The Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation (MECI) reported this as the highest placement figure in the last decade, excluding 2020, with over half of candidates accepted into their first choice.
The Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation (Ministério da Educação, Ciência e Inovação, MECI) is Portugal's national ministry responsible for education policy from pre‑school through higher education and for national science and innovation policy. In this story MECI announced that public higher education will have 78,283 places for the 2026/2027 academic year, an increase of 1,465 from the current year, which affects university admissions and capacity planning for students and institutions.
The Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation (Ministério da Educação, Ciência e Inovação or MECI) reports that only a residual number of exam re-evaluation requests remain pending. Officials guarantee that no student will be prevented from applying to the first phase of higher education access due to these delays. The National Exams Jury (Júri Nacional de Exames or JNE) has sent the vast majority of results to schools.
The Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation (Ministério da Educação, Ciência e Inovação, MECI) is Portugal's national ministry responsible for education policy from pre‑school through higher education and for national science and innovation policy. In this story MECI announced that public higher education will have 78,283 places for the 2026/2027 academic year, an increase of 1,465 from the current year, which affects university admissions and capacity planning for students and institutions.
The National Examination Jury (Júri Nacional de Exames or JNE) is the public body responsible for organizing, managing, and overseeing national exams in Portugal. It ensures the integrity of the testing process, including the distribution of exam papers to teachers for grading and the final certification of student results.
Over 60,000 students have applied for the first phase of higher education, marking the highest figure in 30 years outside of the pandemic period. While the Ministry of Education views the 22% increase as a positive sign, some universities have expressed concern regarding potential drops in academic standards and increased first-year dropout rates.
The Institute for Higher Education has announced that the application deadline for the second phase of national university access has been moved forward by two days. Students now have until September 20th to submit their applications.
The Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation has announced an extraordinary national exam session for secondary school students from September 3 to 8. This measure follows technical issues in the electronic grading system, allowing all students eligible for the second phase to retake their exams, with the best grade counting toward their final results. Registration for this special session is open from July 27 to July 31.
The Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation (Ministério da Educação, Ciência e Inovação, MECI) is Portugal's national ministry responsible for education policy from pre‑school through higher education and for national science and innovation policy. In this story MECI announced that public higher education will have 78,283 places for the 2026/2027 academic year, an increase of 1,465 from the current year, which affects university admissions and capacity planning for students and institutions.
Socialist Party (Partido Socialista or PS) Secretary-General José Luís Carneiro has called for an urgent meeting between the government and the Council of Rectors to address the current instability in the education sector. Carneiro suggested extending the application deadline for higher education and potentially delaying the second phase of national exams by one or two days to ensure student security. This follows widespread disruption caused by errors in the national exam grading process.
José Luís Carneiro is a Portuguese politician and member of the Socialist Party (Partido Socialista or PS). He served as the Minister of Internal Administration (Ministro da Administração Interna) from 2022 to 2024 and currently holds a seat in the Assembly of the Republic (Assembleia da República).
Health cards are private membership or discount schemes sold by companies that offer access to consultations, tests or reduced fees at private clinics; they are not the public health service. The Socialist Party (Partido Socialista or PS) has proposed regulation to increase transparency and protect consumers from misleading marketing or unexpected charges.
With the uncertainty resulting from delays in posting 12th-grade exam grades, students are calculating the deadlines for the second phase of exams and higher education applications. These are the key dates.
The government has revised its proposal for higher education access, removing the previously planned minimum requirements for numeracy and English proficiency. This change follows significant debate over the initial proposal presented in March, which aimed to set new aptitude standards for various academic levels. Students and educators remain concerned about how ongoing changes to grade calculation formulas may impact access to higher education.
The Council of Ministers has approved a new social action model for higher education, raising the average annual grant from 1,734 euros to 2,660 euros. The government is increasing its total investment to 220 million euros for the 2026/2027 academic year, with maximum grants reaching up to 7,818 euros for displaced students from low-income households.
Education Minister Fernando Alexandre proposed a new legal framework (Regime Jurídico dos Graus e Diplomas) for university admission. Candidates would need to meet minimum levels in English, literacy, and numeracy to enter bachelor's or master's programs. Families with students should note that while the government aims to raise standards, student groups warn these requirements could exclude some applicants.
Fernando Alexandre is the Minister of Education, Science, and Innovation in Portugal's current government, which took office in April 2024. An economist by training, he previously served as a Secretary of State and is now responsible for managing the national school system and university funding. He recently sparked debate by suggesting that university tuition fees should be adjusted to account for inflation.
The Regime Jurídico dos Graus e Diplomas (Legal Regime for Higher Education Degrees and Diplomas) is the national law governing how academic titles are awarded in Portugal. The government is currently reviewing this regime to introduce mandatory proficiency standards in English and mathematics for student enrollment. Prospective university students should be aware that these changes may affect admission requirements in the near future.
Rector Paulo Pereira requested an urgent meeting with the Ministry of Education following reports that the Nova School of Business and Economics (Faculdade de Economia or Nova SBE) seeks formal separation from the Universidade Nova de Lisboa. While the school denies wanting an institutional divorce, it continues to push for greater management autonomy and the use of English-language branding. Students and staff should note that the university leadership maintains there has been no interference in the school's internal affairs.
Paulo Pereira is the Rector of the Universidade Nova de Lisboa (NOVA University Lisbon), having started his term in 2022. A professor at the university's medical school, he is currently involved in discussions with the Ministry of Education regarding the management and autonomy of the university's various specialized schools. Those involved in higher education should note that his leadership influences the strategic direction of the institution.
The Universidade Nova de Lisboa (NOVA University Lisbon) is a public research university founded in 1973 to provide a modern alternative to traditional Portuguese higher education. It is organized into nine schools, including the internationally recognized Nova School of Business and Economics located in Carcavelos. Students and researchers should note that NOVA is one of Portugal's most internationalized universities, with many programs taught in English.
A study from the Reflection Centre of the Belmiro de Azevedo Foundation, Edulog, finds students from rural areas and low‑resource backgrounds remain the most disadvantaged when accessing higher education, with distance and costs cited among key barriers, Dinheiro Vivo reports. The research examines regional inequalities and student mobility over the past decade and flags persistent gaps despite policy efforts. Families and students planning higher‑education paths should consider distance, transport and financial support options early. What is the Belmiro de Azevedo Foundation? and What is Edulog? (see explainers).
The Belmiro de Azevedo Foundation (Fundação Belmiro de Azevedo) is a private philanthropic foundation set up by the family of businessman Belmiro de Azevedo to fund education, research and social projects. It also commissions studies on higher education access and mobility, so its research is often used by universities and policymakers when planning scholarships and regional support.
