Portugal higher education admissions see record placements

The first phase of Portugal’s National Access Contest for Higher Education (CNAES) 2026 has concluded with nearly 50,000 students placed, occupying 88.9% of available spots. This represents the highest number of placements in a decade, excluding the 2020 pandemic year. Enrollment saw a significant rise in polytechnic institutions, which grew by approximately 24.5%, outperforming the general higher education average.

Various institutions reported specific trends: the University of the Algarve saw an 18.9% increase in placements, while the University of the Azores achieved its best results in a decade. The University of Beira Interior and the Polytechnic University of Setúbal also reported positive growth. However, medical students have raised concerns that increasing course vacancies without a national strategy may not effectively address shortages in the National Health Service.

Social equity remains a point of discussion. While the number of disadvantaged students (beneficiaries of social action tier A) placed in the first phase increased, they represent only about 3% of the total placed students. Additionally, unions have highlighted the need for more training to meet a projected requirement of 38,000 new teachers by 2034.