📝 Admissions — Portugal

Updated June 2026

Portugal is one of the most attractive study destinations in Europe for students who want a recognised European degree, moderate tuition compared with many Western European countries, and access to cities such as Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra, Braga, Aveiro, Évora, Faro and Covilhã. However, admissions in Portugal are not handled through one single system. The correct procedure depends on your nationality, residence status, degree level, previous education, chosen institution, and whether the institution is public or private.

The most important distinction is between the DGES National Access Contest, mainly used by Portuguese, EU/EEA and equivalent applicants for public first-cycle studies, and the International Student Statute, used by many non-EU applicants applying directly to universities and polytechnic institutes. Applying through the wrong route is one of the most common reasons students lose time, miss deadlines or submit the wrong documents.

Quick summary

Applicant or degree	Typical route	What to check
Non-EU student applying for a bachelor’s degree or integrated master’s	Direct application to each institution under the International Student Statute	Each university or polytechnic sets its own deadlines, criteria, exams, documents and international fees.
Portuguese, EU/EEA or equivalent applicant for public first-cycle studies	DGES Concurso Nacional de Acesso	Requires Portuguese secondary access rules, entrance exams or accepted equivalent foreign exams.
Private university applicant	Institutional application directly to the private institution	Check that the degree is official and accredited.
Master’s applicant	Direct application to the institution	The institution evaluates your bachelor’s degree, grades, subject fit, language and documents.
PhD applicant	Direct application to university, doctoral school or research centre	Usually requires academic CV, research proposal, supervisor fit and previous degrees.
CTeSP applicant	Usually direct application to a polytechnic institution	Short-cycle professional higher technical programme, usually 120 ECTS over four semesters.

Official sources to keep open

DGES, Portugal’s Directorate-General for Higher Education.
DGES course and institution search, for official programmes and institutions.
Study & Research in Portugal, an official entry point for international students and researchers.
DGES non-EU students page, for the international student route.
DGES National Call information, for the national access route.
DGE foreign school qualification equivalence, for primary and secondary education equivalence.
DGES foreign higher education degree recognition, for recognition of university degrees.
A3ES, the Portuguese agency that evaluates and accredits higher education institutions and study programmes.

The Portuguese higher education system

Portugal has a dual higher education system: universities and polytechnic institutes. Universities are usually more academic and research-oriented. They are common for medicine, law, engineering, architecture, sciences, economics, humanities, international relations and PhD pathways. Polytechnic institutes are more applied and professionally oriented. They are strong for management, tourism, IT, health sciences, applied engineering, design, education and professional training.

Both universities and polytechnics may be public or private. Public institutions are usually cheaper for Portuguese, EU and equivalent students, but non-EU international students often pay special international tuition fees. Private institutions manage their own admissions and fees, so students must verify recognition carefully.

Important: A programme being offered in Portugal does not automatically mean it is the right degree for immigration, postgraduate study or professional recognition. Always check DGES and A3ES before paying application or enrolment fees.

Degree types in Portugal

CTeSP

CTeSP stands for Curso Técnico Superior Profissional. It is a short-cycle professional higher technical programme, normally offered by polytechnic institutions. It usually has 120 ECTS and lasts four semesters, including technical training and a work-based component or internship.

Licenciatura

A Licenciatura is the Portuguese first-cycle degree, usually comparable to a bachelor’s degree. It normally has 180 ECTS and lasts three years, although some fields may be longer due to national or European rules.

Mestrado integrado

An integrated master’s combines first and second cycle studies in a longer programme. It is found in certain regulated or highly structured fields, including medicine and some architecture or engineering-related pathways. Always check the exact course page because degree structures have changed over time.

Mestrado

A master’s degree is usually 90 to 120 ECTS and commonly takes one and a half to two years. Admission is normally handled directly by the institution.

Doutoramento

A PhD is awarded by universities. Admission usually involves academic merit, research fit, previous degrees, a research proposal and sometimes a potential supervisor.

Route 1: International Student Statute for non-EU applicants

The International Student Statute is the main route for many applicants who are not Portuguese, not EU/EEA nationals, not family members of Portuguese or EU/EEA citizens, and not long-term residents in Portugal under the legal conditions. It is mainly used for admission to bachelor’s degrees and integrated master’s degrees, although many institutions also have international procedures for other levels.

Under this route, applications are normally submitted directly to each university or polytechnic. There is no single national portal for all non-EU bachelor’s applications. Each institution decides its own application rounds, documents, application fee, number of seats, ranking formula, accepted exams, language requirements and international tuition fees.

Eligibility

In general, applicants need a qualification that gives access to higher education in the country where it was obtained, or Portuguese secondary education or an equivalent qualification. Some applicants are excluded from the international student route, such as EU/EEA nationals, certain family members of Portuguese or EU citizens, and certain long-term residents in Portugal.

Selection

Selection may use secondary school grades, national exams from the country of origin, Portuguese national exams, Brazilian ENEM results where accepted, institutional tests, interviews, prerequisites, portfolio assessment or language proof. The formula changes from one institution to another.

Route 2: DGES National Access Contest

The Concurso Nacional de Acesso is the national system for access to public higher education. It is mainly for Portuguese, EU/EEA and equivalent applicants. A foreign secondary school graduate using this route normally needs secondary equivalence, an access grade, and entrance exams. Some foreign final exams may replace Portuguese entrance exams if they are national or nationwide recognised and correspond to the required Portuguese subject.

For 2026, DGES lists the first phase for most candidates from 20 July to 6 August 2026, with first-phase results on 23 August 2026. Later phases continue in August and September. These dates are for the national contest and should not be confused with each university’s international student deadlines.

Route 3: private institutions

Private universities and private polytechnics usually run their own admissions. This can be useful for students seeking flexible calendars or English-taught options, but fees are often higher. The essential check is whether the institution and degree are officially recognised. Use DGES and A3ES before assuming a private programme is equivalent to a public university degree.

Master’s admission

Master’s applicants normally apply directly to the university or polytechnic. Common requirements include a bachelor’s diploma, transcript, grading scale, CV, motivation letter, passport, language certificate, recommendation letters if required, work experience for some applied programmes, and portfolio for fields such as design, architecture and arts.

Many universities can evaluate your foreign bachelor’s degree internally for admission. However, formal recognition through DGES may still be needed for legal validity, regulated professions or later professional use in Portugal.

PhD admission

PhD admission is direct to universities, doctoral schools or research centres. Applicants may need a master’s degree, thesis abstract, publications, research proposal, supervisor fit, recommendation letters and proof of language. Funding is often separate from admission, so students should check FCT, institutional scholarships and project-funded positions.

Medicine and regulated fields

Medicine in Portugal is usually an integrated master’s degree and is highly competitive. It is generally taught in Portuguese. Some medical faculties publish international student calls, but seats are limited and requirements may include science exams, equivalent foreign exams, Portuguese knowledge and strict document checks. Do not market Portugal as a simple “MBBS” route. Students interested in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, nursing, architecture, engineering, law, psychology or teaching must also consider professional recognition after graduation.

Documents usually required

Passport or national ID.
Secondary school certificate and transcript for bachelor’s or CTeSP.
Proof that the school certificate gives access to higher education in the issuing country.
National or final exam results, if relevant.
Bachelor’s diploma and transcript for master’s.
Master’s diploma and transcript for PhD.
Grading scale.
CV and motivation letter.
Language certificate.
Recommendation letters, where required.
Portfolio, interview or audition for creative fields.
Legalised or apostilled copies, where required.
Certified translations, where required.

Legalisation, apostille and translations

Portuguese institutions may require foreign documents to be authenticated. If the issuing country is part of the Hague Apostille Convention, an apostille is often used. If not, diplomatic or consular legalisation may be required. Some DGES access procedures state that official translation is needed if the certificate is not in Portuguese, English, French or Spanish. However, individual universities may still request Portuguese translations, especially for enrolment, equivalence or recognition.

Practical rule: check whether the original must be apostilled before translation. In many cases, the safest order is: obtain original document, apostille or legalise it, then translate the legalised document if translation is required.

Foreign secondary equivalence

If you completed secondary education outside Portugal, you may need equivalence to Portuguese secondary education, especially for the national access contest or when requested by the institution. The official Portuguese services portal explains that equivalence of foreign primary and secondary qualifications can be requested, and lists a typical 30-day decision period. Start earlier because document preparation, legalisation and translations can take longer.

Recognition of foreign university degrees

DGES explains three main types of recognition for foreign higher education degrees: automatic recognition, level recognition and specific recognition. Admission to a master’s does not always mean your foreign degree is fully recognised for all legal or professional purposes in Portugal. If you need professional recognition, legal use of a title, or access to a regulated profession, check the recognition requirements separately.

Tuition fees

For Portuguese, EU and equivalent students in public higher education, fees are regulated. DGES states that for 2025/2026 the maximum fee for public CTeSP, bachelor’s and integrated master’s programmes is €697. Portugal’s 2026 State Budget Law indicates that for 2026/2027 the public higher education fee for each cycle cannot exceed the amount fixed for the same cycle in 2025/2026, with particular rules for some non-integrated master’s and PhD cases.

For non-EU international students, fees are usually set by each institution and are often significantly higher. Many bachelor’s and master’s programmes fall roughly between €2,500 and €7,000 per year, but some programmes are lower and others, especially medicine, business and private programmes, can be much higher.

Visa planning

Admission and visa approval are separate. Non-EU students normally need a national study visa for long-term study and then residence procedures in Portugal. Portugal’s official visa guidance links means of subsistence to the national minimum monthly salary, listed in 2026 as €920. Consulates may require proof of funds, accommodation, health insurance, criminal record documents, tuition payment, admission letter and a credible study plan.

Suggested timeline

12 months before intake: choose degree and route, search DGES and university pages, check language and entrance subjects.
9 months before intake: shortlist institutions, compare fees, collect diplomas, transcripts and grading scales.
6 months before intake: prepare legalisation, translations, language tests, CV, motivation letter and portfolio.
3 to 4 months before intake: accept offers, pay enrolment fees if required, prepare visa file and search housing.
After admission: complete enrolment, apply for visa quickly and keep original documents ready.

Common mistakes

Using the national DGES route when you should apply as an international student.
Assuming all universities have the same deadlines.
Ignoring entrance subject requirements.
Submitting documents without required apostille or legalisation.
Assuming English-taught bachelor’s degrees are widely available.
Not checking whether a private degree is official and accredited.
Thinking admission automatically guarantees a visa.
Leaving housing too late in Lisbon or Porto.

FAQ

Do international students apply through DGES?

Usually no. Many non-EU students apply directly to each institution under the International Student Statute. Portuguese, EU and equivalent applicants usually use the DGES national access contest for public first-cycle programmes.

Are there English-taught programmes?

Yes, especially at master’s and PhD level. English-taught bachelor’s programmes exist but are less common.

Do I need Portuguese?

For Portuguese-taught programmes, yes. For English-taught programmes, it may not be required for admission, but it is very useful for housing, daily life, internships and work.

Can Jisr help?

Yes. Jisr can help identify your correct route, prepare a document checklist, compare institutions, review requirements and build a realistic admission and visa timeline.

Official sources

This is starter guidance and changes often — always confirm on the official source before applying.

Not sure where you qualify?

Use the free Scholarship Finder and country comparison, then get a personal plan.

Open the Finder Get help