Portugal higher education sees highest student placements in a decade

Portugal's first phase of the National Access Contest for Higher Education (CNAES) saw nearly 50,000 students placed, marking the highest number of placements in a decade, excluding the 2020 pandemic year. A total of 60,513 valid applications were received, the highest since 1996, excluding pandemic years.

Approximately 82.6% of candidates secured a spot, with 84.5% admitted to one of their top three choices. Aerospace Engineering at the University of Porto recorded the highest entry grade at 19.5. Conversely, the lowest entry grade was 9.7 in Management and Informatics at the Lamego School of Technology.

The polytechnic subsystem experienced significant growth, with placements rising by 24.5% compared to the previous year. Officials from the Coordinating Council of Polytechnic Institutes (CCISP) attribute this increase to the new legal designation of these institutions as “Polytechnic Universities,” which they believe has enhanced their perceived quality and equity within the higher education system.

Additionally, over 1,600 disadvantaged students (ASE A category) secured placements, with many benefiting from a priority quota. A new incentive grant of 1,075 euros has also been introduced to support these students in their first year of higher education.