Is College Free in Portugal?

A number of students all over the world are wondering if is college free in Portugal. They have a dream to study in Europe, and Portugal seems to be more affordable for living and studying than the other European states. They aspire to do so either due to the worldwide reputation of the educational institutions in Portugal or because they desire to spend a comfortable life in Europe. If you want to do your entire graduation from abroad, Portugal must definitely be your top priority.

For those who wish to pursue higher education in their dream country, we have compiled a comprehensive guide. It explains how Portuguese universities operate, including details on the application process, expenses, and many other pertinent points of interest. First of all, let’s address the most frequently asked question is college free in Portugal? After that, we shall provide brief answers to the other frequently asked questions. 

How to Go to College in Portugal?

Before finding out if is college free in Portugal, you must know about the procedure for getting entrance to the college. There are multiple avenues for studying in Portugal and getting into its universities. 

Before continuing, it is important to know that the Concurso Nacional de Acesso, run by DGES, the Direção-Geral do Ensino Superior, is a system that is comparable to Enem in the nation. The majority of Portugal’s public universities are gathered by this system.

Nonetheless, there are alternative routes for international applicants to enter the higher education system of Portugal, including the direct university system or Enem. 

Traditional Way to Apply for College in Portugal 

• Most Portuguese colleges have simplified their traditional admissions procedure by using the National Access Competition. Tests in particular areas of the intended course are part of the procedure, which is comparable to Enem.
• Applying for a spot through the National Access Competition requires that you Have a high school diploma or a legally comparable credential;
• Take the national exams that correlate to the entrance exams needed for the various courses and institutions you plan to apply to or have taken within the last two years; 
• If the institution requires it, finish the prerequisites for the course for which you are enrolled.
• Be exempt from the requirements of Decree-Law No. 36/2014, of March 10, as revised and republished by Decree-Law No. 62/2018, of August 6. (International Student Status Regulation).

Let’s state it differently: if you are a foreign national and don’t have European citizenship, you must either possess equal rights status or have been lawfully residing in the nation for a minimum of two years. 

How to Apply to College in Portugal Through ENEM

If you are a Brazilian student and wish to enroll in a college in Portugal, Enem is the most desired model. Portuguese universities started to recognize the National High School Exam in 2014. The University of Coimbra was the first to do so.

The procedure varies depending on the college selected and how each one operates. The conversion of the Enem scores with weighting based on the course-relevant subjects is one of the common aspects, nonetheless. Thus, the weight assigned to each grade will vary based on the course. 

Just take an example: you must receive high scores in the Natural Sciences and Mathematics sections of the Enem if you plan to major in engineering in college. The humanities, languages, and codes must receive the highest scores for admission to a communication institution.

You may get all the information you need to convert your Enem score to the Portuguese scale on the websites of Portuguese universities. It’s important to keep in mind that every university has different requirements for undergraduate and integrated master’s degree programs, including cutoff scores and conversion methods. 

However, with your Enem score, you cannot study medicine in Portugal, not even veterinary medicine. This is because international students are not permitted to enroll in medical courses. If you still want to apply, you must pass the National Competition, which entails passing the test in addition to having European citizenship or residing in a nation with equivalent status.

Colleges in Portugal that Accept Enem

According to a study in 2022, there are 51 colleges and universities in Portugal that accept Enem. Here is the list of the most recent universities where you can apply if you have Enem: 

Is College Free in Portugal?

The question is college free in Portugal is very common, but the fee you have to pay for your studies depends upon the college or institute in which you are going to study. First and foremost, bear in mind that all Portuguese colleges are tuition-free. Public institutions in Portugal are paid, in contrast to federal and state institutions in Brazil.

International and native students pay varying fees at universities. The government sets a cap of €697 per year for Portuguese students pursuing undergraduate or integrated master’s degrees at public universities.

The cost might differ significantly and be up to fifteen times greater for international students than for domestic students. As an illustration, consider the Nutrition course of University of Lisbon, which charges 10,000 euros per year to overseas students. 

Undergraduate Price at a Public University in Portugal

To help you understand the values, we have included the prices of some of the most popular courses, with the most expensive and least expensive ones highlighted. These prices are for Brazilian students only, as some institutions, like the University of Porto, offer discounts to Brazilian students of up to 45% when compared to other foreign students because they are members of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP). 

The prices are for the tuition fee, which is the total amount that must be paid for the academic year 2022–2023, as each institution has its own payment plans; at UPorto, for instance, it can be paid in ten interest-free installments.

The University of Coimbra adopts a single price table for international students, with no differences in values between bachelor’s degrees and integrated master’s degrees and no differentiation in price for CPLP

Undergraduate Price at Private Universities in Portugal

The answer to your question is college free in Portugal in the case of private universities is the same as that in public universities. Since you will not get any subsidy on tuition fees in public universities, the same principle applies to private universities. 

The amount paid by international and local students at private universities is typically the same. Furthermore, it is typical for private institutions to base the annual tuition fee which is paid to the institution, on the number of credits or courses completed.

There is a set tuition price that varies for each course, and students pay according to how many courses they enroll in. 

The European Credit Transfer System is referred to as ECT. In Portugal, 30 ECTS (or more, depending on the course) is typically equivalent to one semester of college, and the cost is payable in five installments each month.

As an illustration: $370.20 × 5 months x 30 ECTS x $12.34 = $1,851 each semester or $3,702.00 per year. 

Scholarship to Go to College in Portugal

Now, let’s come to the most interesting aspect of our discussion is college free in Portugal; that is scholarship. Many young people who seek a place in Portugal have an aim to study with a scholarship.

If you want to study in Portugal, there are various scholarship options for you. The Santander scholarship, which emphasizes overseas mobility, is one of the most popular. Santander provides scholarships that include living expenses, travel costs, and educational costs. For a number of reasons, the Becas Sant Ander program accepts applications all year round.

However, there are other scholarship programs that are more appropriate for individuals who want to finish their studies in Portugal. International students may be eligible for certain university scholarships; to confirm their availability, visit their website. You can also examine the procedure for applying for a scholarship in Portugal on the DGES website.

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