• It takes place annually, together with the Higher Education Institution (HEI) chosen by the student;
• It can be presented for access and admission to public or private higher education, with the exception of military or police higher education;
• It is intended for enrollment in undergraduate and integrated master's degree programs.

Special entrance exam for medical school holders:

• 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.

To apply, the student should consult:

• The information available on the DGES website, including the legislation that constitutes the legal framework for special competitions;
• The information available on the website of the desired higher education institution;
• The institution's regulations governing this matter, including the selection and ranking criteria established by that institution for the desired special competition modality;
• Applications for special admission processes are submitted according to the terms 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.

The deadline for completing special admission processes, including the registration and enrollment of admitted students, as set by the higher education institution, cannot exceed the last working day of October.

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 number of places available for each institution/course pair, for each of the special admission processes, are:

• Set annually by the higher education institutions;
• Published on the institution's website.

For admission in each academic year, places can only be opened for a given institution/course pair under the special admission procedures when they have also been opened under the general admission system (national competition and institutional competitions – see the information in the course index).

The total number of places opened annually in each higher education institution for applications for enrollment and registration in higher education through the special competition for holders of specially adapted tests designed to assess the capacity for attending higher education for those over 23 years of age cannot be less than 5% of the number of places set for the general access regime for all study cycles of that institution.
Military personnel who have served at least one year of effective service under a Contract Regime, four years of effective service under a Special Contract Regime, and who meet the defined age requirements, have priority access to 2.5 % of the vacancies offered through the over-23-year route. Military personnel can benefit from these incentives during their effective service and, after the contract ends, for a period equivalent to the time of service rendered, up to a limit of six years.

Within the framework of the special admission process for medical degree holders, the number of places for each medical course in each organic unit of the higher education institutions (HEIs) that offer the respective course is determined annually by an Order from the Rector of the institution, published in the II Series of the Official Gazette, and their number cannot be less than 15% of the places allocated for the national admission process for the same course in the same organic unit of the HEI.

Within the framework of the special access and admission process for international students , the number of places allocated annually for each institution/course pair by the legally and statutorily competent body of the higher education institution respects the limits arising from Decree-Law No. 36/2014 , of March 10, and the general guidelines previously established by the member of the Government responsible for the area of higher education.

• In special access and admission processes, any restrictions are set by the higher education institutions in their own regulations.
• With regard to the special admission process for medical students holding a bachelor's degree, 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.

Special admission processes are held for enrollment and registration in an academic year and are valid for the academic year to which they refer.

The recognition of previously acquired academic qualifications by students entering a study cycle through a special admission process is carried out in accordance with the terms set out in Article 45 of Decree-Law No. 74/2006 , of March 24, as amended and republished by Decree-Law No. 65/2018 , of August 16.
In accordance with Article 45-A of Decree-Law No. 74/2006, of March 24, amended and republished by Decree-Law No. 65/2018 , of August 16, each Institution approves its own regulations regarding the accreditation process, publishing them in the 2nd series of the Official Gazette and on its website, and the student must contact the desired Higher Education Institution.

Within the framework of the special admission process for the Medicine course for holders of a bachelor's degree, the Higher Education Institution (HEI) credits the candidate's prior academic training deemed relevant to the Medicine course, and is responsible for establishing the respective procedures.

For additional information, click on the special competition category you wish to apply for.

• Holders of the Specially Adapted Tests Designed to Assess the Capacity for Higher Education Attendance of Individuals Over 23 Years of Age
• Holders of a Technological Specialization Diploma
• Holders of a Higher Professional Technician Diploma
• Holders of Other Higher Education Degrees
• Holders of a Bachelor's Degree for Admission to the Medicine Course
• International Student
• Graduates of Vocational Training Programs