Government: University admissions news in Portugal

Deadline for higher education applications ends this Thursday with the number of applicants already above 2025

Higher Education: 1,168 placed in the third round of the national admission contest

The third round of the National Access Contest (CNA) for higher education has placed 1,168 new students, bringing the total number of admitted students for the 2026/2027 academic year to 52,008. Data released by the Institute for Higher Education (IES) shows that 92.5% of the 56,228 total available places were filled. Universities saw a 97.2% occupancy rate, while polytechnics reached 86.2%. Engineering and construction fields hold the highest number of vacancies, and significant disparities remain between the coastal and interior regions, with coastal institutions maintaining a 96.6% occupancy rate compared to 76.7% in the interior.

Higher Education: Second placement phase sees more students

Just as in the first phase, the second phase of university student placements also resulted in more students entering higher education.

More than 9,000 placed in the 2nd phase, 4,069 vacancies remain

The majority of unfilled vacancies are in polytechnics and in the interior. Lisbon and Porto have occupancy rates above 95%; Bragança, Beja, and Viseu remain below 50%.

National Federation of Education welcomes increase in Education placements, but warns that needs are still greater

Results of the 1st phase of the National Access Competition for Higher Education (CNAES) were published on Sunday and confirmed the entry of 1,302 young people into a degree in Basic Education.

Minister attributes increase in placements to change in rules

49,991 young people were placed in a public higher education institution, 6,092 more than in the previous year. The minister links the increase to the possibility of applying with only one exam.

Second phase of higher education applications starts today with 6,639 vacancies. See here which courses still have places

The second phase of the national higher education access competition begins this Monday, August 24, with 6,639 vacancies available, according to information provided by the Ministry of Education. The results will be released on September 30. Of the 56,228 vacancies put up for competition, 6,639 remained for the second phase, representing...

Record number of placements, but students from low-income backgrounds drop to 3%

Around 1,600 students from the lowest income bracket were placed in the first phase of the national university admissions process — more than in 2025, but representing a smaller share. SNESup warns of a socioeconomic filter in the most competitive courses.

3 PM. Attack at a school in Sweden killed a 17-year-old student

Swedish police say the victim of a sword attack at a school is a 17-year-old student. Furthermore,

Higher Education: "We have not officially received the results"

Luís Loures, president of the Coordinating Council of Higher Polytechnic Institutes, reveals that they have not yet received the document from the ministry and argues that fewer exams lead to more candidates.

Why are there more students placed in Higher Education?

Luís Ferreira, president of the Council of University Rectors, states that the increase in the number of placements may have several explanations. He also adds that the information leak is not normal.

10am Higher Education: fewer exams, more admissions

An update on higher education policy indicating a reduction in examination requirements alongside an increase in student intake.

4h. Glória Funicular. Final report only in 2027

The delay is justified by the enormous complexity of the technical assessments. Additionally, Chega has called for the resignation of the Minister of Internal Administration in a parliamentary initiative.

See where the 6,639 vacancies are for the 2nd phase

This year, the second phase is also intended for students taking the extraordinary exam period. In this table, you can see which courses and institutions have vacancies.

1h. Results of the 1st phase of Higher Education access released

The Aerospace Engineering course at the University of Porto has the highest grade point average. Additionally, Chega has requested the resignation of the Minister of Internal Administration in a parliamentary initiative.

See all Higher Education access vacancies

Almost 50,000 students (49,991) were placed in Higher Education, an increase of 14% compared to 2025.

10 PM. Higher Education placements to be released on Sunday

Errors continue to emerge in grade reviews and issues persist in linking the ENES form due to platform failures. Furthermore, the PS accuses the Government of opening the door to the privatisation of part of the Social Security system.

Students who could not change their higher education application can do so with a 'Complaint ENES form'

There are still students who have been unable to update their higher education applications after receiving the results of their grade reviews. The platform is rejecting activation codes and not displaying updated grades. The Ministry guarantees that schools 'have been informed that they must issue a Complaint ENES form, which allows access to the application platform'.

Higher education application deadline extended for students who only received grade reviews today

Students who only received their grade reviews for the first phase of exams this Monday will have an additional three days to apply for higher education.

Applications end with more registrants than in 2025

Despite glitches in digital exams and delays in grades, there are already more than 55,000 registered candidates. Placements will be announced on August 23rd.

Higher education applications exceed the total of last year's 1st phase

More than 51,000 students had applied for the national higher education access competition by Monday, surpassing the total number of candidates from last year's 1st phase with three days left in the application period. According to data from the Directorate-General for Higher Education (DGES), 51,480 applications had been submitted by Monday, 1,885 more than in the same period last year. The increase may be even more significant, as students have 18 days to apply this year, three more than in the previous competition. The initial slow start was attributed to student uncertainty regarding grades following technical issues with the new digital assessment process for national exams, which caused delays in grade releases and the issuance of the necessary ENES forms. Despite these challenges, the Ministry of Education maintained the application calendar, with the 1st phase ending on August 6th, while also creating a special exam period for September.

Did the digital chaos actually bring more students to higher education?

Higher education applications hit records following the earthquake of digital corrections. Meanwhile, the tax authority quietly changes leadership with promises of modernisation by 2031.

It is no longer possible to guarantee equality among all students in access to higher education

Failures in the exam process have left students in different situations and raise doubts about equal conditions in applications, points out CNN Portugal commentator Pedro Tadeu.

Minister announces that 97% of second-phase exams have been graded

The hearing at the extraordinary meeting of the Standing Committee takes place just days before the second-phase exam results are released and the first phase of higher education applications concludes.

Higher Education applications exceed 2025 figures

Open until August 6th, the national competition for access to higher education already has 47,960 applications, and it is expected that the 2025 figure of 49,595 candidates will be surpassed.

Nine thousand fewer students enrolled in higher education this year in the first five days of the first phase

In the first five days of the first phase of the national competition for access to public higher education, 19,986 students enrolled, down from 28,809 in the same period last year. According to the Directorate-General for Higher Education, 5,795 students submitted their applications on Friday, July 24. The first phase of the application process, running from July 20 to August 6, follows issues with national secondary school exams, where many students struggled to access their grades due to failures in the digital grading system. This year's exam period was marked by controversy over grading errors and incorrect grade postings, as acknowledged by Minister of Education Fernando Alexandre. Without assigned grades, schools could not issue the 'ENES' form required for higher education applications. For the first time, approximately 300,000 national exams were graded digitally. There are 56,790 vacancies available for the upcoming academic year, an increase of 834 compared to last year.

Applications for the 2nd phase of higher education end two days early

Applications for the 2nd phase of the national higher education access competition will end on September 20th, two days earlier than planned. The change comes after the Government created a special exam period to address issues recorded in the digitisation of national tests.