For the purpose of assessing the capacity to attend higher education, higher education institutions may also establish entry prerequisites when they consider that physical, functional or vocational aptitudes are particularly relevant for admission to a specific course.

Therefore, whenever a student indicates in their application options, a pair or pairs of institutions/courses for which a prerequisite is required, in accordance with paragraph 2 of article 16 of Decree-Law no. 296-A/98 , of September 25, it is necessary to specify it.

You can check here which institution/course pairs are subject to meeting the prerequisites.

The deadlines for registration, assessment, and completion of prerequisites, set annually by the National Commission for Access to Higher Education (CNAES), can be found here.

Applications for institution/course pairings within the local competition are also subject to meeting the student's eligibility for higher education. Students should contact the respective higher education institution to obtain more information about the required criteria.

In the course index you can find the higher education courses that are subject to local admissions.

Holders of a bachelor's degree can apply to higher education through this special admissions process at any Higher Education Institution (HEI) that offers a Medicine course, provided that their degree is in one of the fields listed in an approved scientific body of the institution's organizational unit.

Applying to higher education through special admission processes:

• It takes place annually, together with the Higher Education Institution (HEI) desired by the student, for the courses for which the institution decides to open the application process;
• It can be presented at any organic unit of higher education institutions that offer the Medicine course;
• It is intended for attending integrated study cycles leading to a master's degree in Medicine.

Within the framework of the special competition, institutions are responsible for preparing and developing actions related to access and admission to their Medicine course, in accordance with the terms established by law, establishing, in particular, the form of application, the vacancies for the institution/course pair and the respective ranking and tie-breaking criteria.

The deadlines for completing all actions are set by the organizational units of the higher education institutions that offer the Medicine course, in their own regulations.

Consult the regulations of each higher education institution (HEI), which are available from each institution and in the Official Gazette.

Applications for the special competition must be submitted according to the terms to be established by each higher education institution (HEI), in its own regulations, which include the documentation required for the respective processing of the application.

The deadlines for completing the procedures for access and admission to higher education, in each academic year, through special admission processes, are:

• Set annually by the Higher Education Institution (HEI);
• Published on the institution's website.

In the special admission process for medical school holders, the deadlines for completing all required actions are set by the organizational units of the higher education institutions offering the medical course, in their own regulations.

In the special admission process for international students, the deadlines for completing all required actions are set by the higher education institution.

The ranking criteria for this competition are set by each Higher Education Institution (HEI), and are therefore regulated by it, duly approved and published.

These criteria should include, in particular, an assessment of the candidate's academic and professional background.

In the selection process, the placement of candidates in each institution/course pair is done in descending order of the ranked list resulting from the application of the respective ranking criteria. It is the responsibility of the higher education institution (HEI) to establish the tie-breaking rules between candidates and to decide on applications for the special selection process.

Setting quotas for special competitions

Without prejudice to the limits set out in Articles 12 to 15 of Order No. 3580/2023 of 21 March, the maximum number of places to be allocated for all special access and entry competitions and competitions for change of institution/course for the 1st year of the curriculum is equal to the result of the following expression:

Maximum vacancies CE = LMA – RGA vacancies – RE vacancies

in which:

• Maximum Vacancies CE = maximum number of vacancies to be allocated in special competitions and competitions for changing institution/course in each study cycle;
• LMA = Maximum admission limit for the study cycle;
• RGA vacancies = number of vacancies allocated in integrated competitions under the general access regime; RE vacancies = number of vacancies allocated under special access and entry regimes.

Setting quotas for special entrance exams to medical school for holders of a bachelor's degree.

1. The vacancies for the special competition referred to in Decree-Law No. 40/2007, of February 20, are determined by order of the university rector, upon proposal of the legally and statutorily competent body of the faculty, and published on the higher education institution's website.
2. The number of places allocated for enrollment and registration through the special competition referred to in paragraph 1 cannot be less than 15 % of the number of places allocated for the national competition for access to the same study cycle at the same faculty.
3. Vacancies that are fixed but not filled are transferred to the first phase of the national entrance examination for the same study cycle.
4. The application of the provisions in the preceding paragraph shall only take effect after the date of entry into force of the amendment to Decree-Law No. 40/2007, of February 20, that permits it.

The student's placement is only valid for the academic year to which it refers, therefore the right to enroll and register at the respective institution and course in which they were placed expires if this right is not exercised within the deadline set in the institution's calendar.

The contest is only valid for the year in which it takes place.

The Higher Education Institution will credit the candidate's prior academic training deemed relevant to the Medicine course, and it is responsible for establishing the respective procedures.