Information on the Portuguese Higher Education System Section 8 The Framework Law on the Education are subject to prior recognition by the System (Law no. 46/86 of 14 October, competent Ministry. amended by Law no. 115/97, dated 19 September and Law no. 49/2005, Licenciado degree dated 30 August, republished and Both university and polytechnic renumbered in annex to the latter) education institutions award the establishes the general legal degree of licenciado. framework of the Education System. In polytechnic education, the cycle of The educational system comprises studies leading to the degree of three levels: basic, secondary and licenciado normally lasts six curricular higher education. semesters corresponding to 180 ECTS Pre-school education is for children credits. In exceptional cases covered aged between 3 and the age of by national or European Union entering basic education, and is legislation, it may last up to seven or universal for children from the age of eight curricular semesters with up to 5. 240 ECTS credits of student work. Basic education is universal, In university education, the cycle of compulsory and free and comprises studies leading to the degree of three sequential cycles, the 1st lasting licenciado ranges from 180 to 240 four years, the 2nd lasting two years, ECTS credits, and normally lasts from and the 3rd lasting three years. six to eight curricular semesters. Secondary education comprises a In the 1st cycle of studies the degree three-year cycle (corresponding to the of licenciado is awarded to those who 10th, 11th and 12th years of schooling) pass all the course units of the and must be completed by school- licenciatura study programme, aged young people, an obligation that therefore obtaining the required ceases at the age of 18. number of credits. The degree of licenciado corresponds National Qualifications to the level 6 of the QNQ and EQF. Framework The National Qualifications Framework Mestre degree (QNQ) was adopted in 2009. It Both university and polytechnic comprises the formal qualifications of education institutions award the all education and training subsystems degree of mestre. The cycle of studies as well as the non-formal leading to the degree of mestre qualifications derived from ranges from 90 to 120 credits, and professional experience within the normally lasts from three to four framework of the National curricular semesters. In exceptional Qualifications System. It includes circumstances resulting from a stable eight levels of qualification, following and consolidated practice in that the levels and descriptors of the specific field at international level, it European Qualifications Framework may amount to 60 ECTS credits and (EQF). The QNQ is referenced to the last two semesters. EQF. In polytechnic education, the cycle of studies leading to the mestre degree Higher Education Structure must ensure predominantly that the Portuguese higher education includes student acquires a professional university and polytechnic education. specialization. In university education, University education is provided by the cycle of studies leading to the public and private university mestre degree must ensure mainly institutions while polytechnic that the student acquires an academic education is provided by public and specialization through research, private non-university institutions. innovation or development of Private higher education institutions professional competences. In university education, the mestre The CTeSP have 120 ECTS credits and degree may also be awarded upon normally last four curricular semesters completion of an integrated cycle of including general, scientific and studies, ranging from 300 to 360 technical subjects, as well as a ECTS credits and usually lasting 10 to training period at the workplace. 12 curricular semesters, in cases where the access to the practice of a Other diplomas certain professional activity depends Higher education diplomas may also on that length of time in accordance be awarded following the partial with European Union legal standards completion of a cycle of studies. In or results from a regular practice such cases, the chosen title must consolidated within the European differ from the title of the final award Union. Within this cycle of studies, the of the applicable degree. degree of licenciado is awarded to Diplomas may also be awarded for those who have obtained 180 ECTS non-degree courses, some of which credits corresponding to the first six are regulated, e.g. postgraduate curricular semesters. specialization courses in Nursing or In the 2nd cycle of studies, the degree supplementary courses in Nursing or of mestre is awarded to those who Teaching. have passed all the course units of the mestrado study programme, and who Access conditions have publicly defended an original Admission to higher education dissertation, project work or institutions is subject to numerus traineeship report, therefore obtaining clausus. the required number of credits. The mestre degree corresponds to the Admission to the first cycle of level 7 of the QNQ and EQF. studies General regime Doutor degree National and foreign students wishing The Doutor degree is awarded by to apply to the 1st cycle of studies universities and university institutes leading to the licenciado degree to those who have passed all the through the general regime must fulfil course units of the Doutoramento the following conditions: study programme, when applicable, - Have successfully completed a and who have publicly defended an secondary education course or a original thesis. It may also be national or foreign qualification legally awarded on account of a coherent and equivalent; relevant set of research works or, in - Have taken the entrance exams the field of the arts, on a work or a required for the programme the set of works or achievements. student wishes to attend with a mark The doutor degree corresponds to the equal or higher than the minimum level 8 of the QNQ and EQF. required (there are higher education institutions that accept foreign tests Cursos Técnicos Superiores or exams); Profissionais - Have fulfilled the prerequisites The técnico superior profissional (when applicable) of the programme diploma is awarded upon completion the student wishes to attend. of a non-degree higher education cycle of studies entitled curso técnico An annual competition is held by the superior profissional (CTeSP). It Directorate-General for Higher corresponds to a short cycle of studies Education for admission to public within the cycle of studies leading to higher education through the general the licenciado degree. The CTeSP are regime. provided by polytechnic higher education institutions as well as polytechnic organic units integrated in universities. Institutional competitions are held for - Holders of the licenciado degree or admission to private higher education legal equivalent; through the general regime. - Holders of a foreign academic degree dully recognised as satisfying Special conditions the objectives identical to the Besides the regime geral (general licenciado degree by the relevant regime), there are special conditions scientific body of the higher education that apply to top-level athletes, institution they wish to be admitted Portuguese citizens on an official to; mission abroad, national or foreign - Holders of an academic, scientific or diplomatic staff, permanent staff of professional curriculum vitae that is the Portuguese Armed Forces, and recognised as attesting to the capacity scholarship holders within the to carry out this cycle of studies by framework of cooperation agreements the relevant scientific body of the agreed by Portugal. higher education institution they wish to be admitted to. An annual competition is held by the Directorate-General for Higher The relevant bodies of each higher Education for admission to public education institution are responsible higher education through the special for the regulations, application conditions. requirements and selection criteria for admission to this cycle of studies. Special competitions Besides the general regime and the The access and admission to the special conditions, there are special integrated cycle of studies leading to competitions for applicants holding the mestre degree are governed the specific qualifications, thus opening norms applicable to the access and higher education to new publics in a admission to the 1st cycle of studies lifelong learning perspective, namely: leading to the licenciado degree. - Applicants over 23 years old who have passed special exams for Admission to the third cycle of assessing their capacity to accede to studies higher education; Those who meet the following - Holders of other higher education conditions may apply to the 3rd cycle courses, técnico superior profissional of studies leading to the doutor diplomas, and diploma de (doctor) degree: especialização tecnológica (a post- - Holders of a mestre (master) degree secondary course certificate). or legal equivalent; - Holders of the licenciado degree - Holders of a licenciado degree who wishing to apply to Medicine. have a particularly relevant academic - International students. or scientific curriculum vitae that is In addition, students who have been recognised as attesting the capacity to or are registered and enrolled in carry out this cycle of studies by the higher education are allowed to apply relevant scientific body of the higher for readmission or to opt for another education institution they wish to