Special Admission Requirements
The special regimes for higher education access and admission are intended for students who meet specific qualifications and personal conditions, as identified in each of the regimes. They are an autonomous form of access outside of the National Admissions process (application to public higher education), the Institutional Admissions process (application to private higher education), and the Special Admissions process (application to public and private higher education for students with specific qualifications).
The following profiles are included in the special regimes:
- Portuguese Diplomatic Mission Abroad
- Portuguese Fellows Abroad and Public Employees on Official Mission abroad
- Officers of the Portuguese Armed Forces
- National Fellows of Portuguese-speaking African Countries
- Accredited Diplomatic Mission in Portugal
- High-performance Athletes
- Natives of East Timor and Their Children
For more information about these regimes, please refer to the website of the Directorate General of Higher Education (DGES).
Apply online at the Higher Education Access Office (GAES).
FAQ
Information on the procedure, the necessary documents, and the calendar, which are approved annually, can be found here: http://www.dges.mctes.pt/
You should refer to the information found here: http://www.dges.mctes.pt/
If you are a Portuguese official on a Portuguese diplomatic mission abroad or an accompanying family member, you can apply to a higher education program through the Special Regimes at the time and place set for the application process in the year in question, as provided by article 8 of Decree-law No. 393-A/99 of October 2. The following conditions apply:
- A foreign secondary education program completed in a foreign country while on mission or as an accompanying family member on mission, which constitutes as sufficient academic qualifications for admission into an official higher education program in that country
- Portuguese secondary education program completed in a foreign country while on mission or as an accompanying family member on mission
- Information on the necessary documents and the calendar, which are approved annually, can be found here: http://www.dges.mctes.pt/
If you are a Portuguese citizen (or an accompanying family member) and have been in a foreign country for more than two years as of the date of the application for registration and enrollment as:
- a recipient of a scholarship, or the equivalent, from the Portuguese Government
- a public employee on official mission abroad
- a Portuguese official of the European Union
And if you have:
- concluded a foreign secondary education program in a foreign country that constitutes as sufficient academic qualifications for entry into an official higher education program in that country
- concluded a Portuguese secondary education program in a foreign country
You can apply to a higher education program through the Special Regimes at the time and place set for the application process in the year in question, pursuant to article 10 of Decree-law No. 393-A/99 of October 2.
Information on the necessary documents and the calendar, which are approved annually, can be found here: http://www.dges.mctes.pt/
Under the terms of specific training agreements between officers on the permanent staff of the Portuguese Armed Forces and higher education institutions, within the context of meeting the specific training needs of those institutions, these officers may apply to higher education programs through the Special Regimes at the time and place set for the application process in the year in question, pursuant to article 12 of Decree-law No. 393-A/99 of October 2.
Information on the necessary documents and the calendar, which are approved annually, can be found here: http://www.dges.mctes.pt/
If you are a foreign official on an accredited diplomatic mission in Portugal or a family member residing here, under the regime of reciprocity, and have:
- concluded a foreign secondary education program in a foreign country or at a foreign institution in Portugal that constitutes as sufficient academic qualifications for entry into an official higher education program in that country
- concluded a Portuguese secondary education program.
You can apply to a higher education program through the Special Regimes at the time and place set for the application process in the year in question, pursuant to article 16 of Decree-law No. 393-A/99 of October 2.
Information on the necessary documents and the calendar, which are approved annually, can be found here: http://www.dges.mctes.pt/
If you are from a Portuguese-speaking African country and the recipient of a national scholarship and comply with the conditions provided in article 14 of Decree-Law No. 393-A/99 of October 2, you can apply through the special regimes.
The application for admission to register and enroll in a public Portuguese higher education program must done by diplomatic means within the respective period set in the calendar.
Information on the necessary documents and the calendar, which are approved annually, can be found here: http://www.dges.mctes.pt/
If you are a native or the child of a native of East Timor and have graduated from a secondary education program or have a legally equivalent qualification, you can apply to a higher education program through the Special Regimes in the respective period set in the calendar, as provided by article 20 of Decree-law no. 393-A/9 of October 2.
As for completing the entrance exams required by the institution/program pair you intend to apply to, you only need to demonstrate that you have passed the corresponding subjects with the Certificate of Completion issued by the secondary education program.
Information on the necessary documents and the calendar, which are approved annually, can be found here: http://www.dges.mctes.pt/