Nearly 10,000 individuals have so far submitted their applications for further academic pursuits in higher education.
University Candidacy Process in Portugal for the 2025-2026 Academic Year
The university candidacy process for the upcoming academic year in Portugal has been announced. Here's a breakdown of the key dates and steps for applicants:
Application Deadlines
Applications for university admissions and related government scholarships will open in August or September, after the university enrollment periods begin. The exact deadlines can vary by institution but commonly fall around late September (e.g., September 30, 2025) for scholarship applications.
Enrollment Dates
Enrollment in public higher education institutions usually starts shortly before or around the same time as application opening, often in August or early September. Enrollment confirmation is necessary to proceed with further steps like scholarship applications.
Number of Spots Available (General Access System)
Although the search results do not specify the exact number of spots available through Portugal’s general access system ("concursos" system), this system allocates places centrally for public universities and polytechnics based on a national ranking of candidates. Each university publishes the number of available spots (vacancies) in each study program for the annual general access process, and this data is communicated on the official Directorate-General for Higher Education (DGES) website or institutional portals.
Process Steps for Admission
- Register and apply through the official DGES portal or respective institutional system.
- List preferred university courses/programs.
- Await ranking and conditional offers based on grades.
- Finalize enrollment by deadlines set by each institution.
Scholarship Applications
After enrollment, students can apply for government scholarships (e.g., the Portugal Government Scholarship for 2025-2026) typically with a deadline around September 30, 2025. These scholarships need proof of enrollment and other financial documentation.
Important Dates
- The application deadline for the first phase of higher education applications is August 4th.
- Results will be announced on 24 August.
- Candidates selected in the first phase have until 28 August to enrol.
Additional Requirements
- Students require an access password, which can be requested through the DGES website, to apply.
- Applications must be submitted on the DGES website.
- For emigrant candidates, those of Portuguese descent, or those requesting to replace their entrance exams with foreign exams, the deadline is July 28th.
For the most precise deadlines and available spots, candidates should consult the official DGES portal or the websites of target institutions directly.
This year, students can choose from more than 1,100 options at 34 higher education institutions. Compared to last year, there were 1,859 fewer applications for the first phase, with a total of 10,183 applications received by the Directorate-General for Higher Education (DGES). For the next academic year, 55,956 spots are available through the general access system, representing a 643-spot increase compared to last year.
In the university candidacy process for the 2025-2026 academic year in Portugal, students can apply for education-and-self-development opportunities by registering and submitting their applications through the official DGES portal or respective institutional systems from August or September. Additionally, students in Portugal can also pursue learning by applying for news-worthy government scholarships, such as the Portugal Government Scholarship for 2025-2026, with a deadline typically falling around September 30, 2025.
