Special quota to access universities for Portuguese emigrants extended to Lusodescendants

The special quota to access university for Portuguese emigrants has been extended to allow all Portuguese descendants, of Portuguese nationality and residing abroad, to apply to Portuguese higher education institutions.

Access to public universities thus includes the now called "Special Quota for Portuguese emigrant candidates, family members who live with them and Lusodescendants" of the National Access Competition, reserving 7% of all places for candidates from the Portuguese diaspora. There are around 3500 vacancies in 34 public institutions and more than 1000 courses, in all public universities and polytechnic institutes.

From the next academic year 2021/2022 candidates with at least one ascendant of Portuguese nationality up to the 2nd degree in the straight line, who has not lost that nationality, may apply to the National Competition for Access through this quota.

The access to private universities will also contemplate rules allowing Lusodescendants to apply, as well as emigrant applicants and family members residing with them.

In the last two years there has been a 52% increase in the number of emigrant candidates placed by the national access competition, but the purpose is to increase this number. The Portuguese Government aims towards the end of 2030 six in every ten young people attending Higher Education and that these numbers are also filled by emigrants and their families, as well as Lusodescendants, who seek to pursue studies and wish to find in Portugal an opportunity for qualification.

In the scope of the Programme "Study and Research in Portugal", an initiative of the Government, with the involvement of the General Directorate of Higher Education, Camões - Institute for Cooperation and Language, Foundation for Science and Technology, National Agency Erasmus+ and Portuguese institutions of Higher Education, which aims to disseminate the opportunities offered by Portuguese higher education to the Portuguese communities, emigrant candidates and their families and Lusodescendants can thus access Portuguese higher education through the following ways:

• National Access Competition (NAC) to Higher Education through the special contingent for Portuguese emigrant candidates, family members living with them and lusodescendants;
• Institutional Competitions for access and admission to private higher education institutions;
• Special competitions for graduates of vocational paths, with secondary education completed in the host country through the vocational pathway;
• Entry to a technical professional higher education course in Portuguese polytechnic education, with the possibility of later entry to an integrated bachelor's or master's degree;
• Attendance of more than 1900 master's degree courses and 600 doctorate courses in the Portuguese higher education network;
• Work in research in the 350 centers and laboratories existing in Portugal, in all fields of knowledge;
• To do a study period in Portugal under the Erasmus + mobility Programme, if they already attend a higher education course in the host country.
• Further information on this subject may be consulted on the page of the Directorate General for Higher Education.