Latest news and stories about higher education in government in Portugal for expats and residents.
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.
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.
