1. Application Requirements

For candidates from the Autonomous Region of the Azores, a priority quota of 3.5% was created out of the vacancies set for the 1st phase of the national competition.

Students who cumulatively prove that they meet the following criteria may apply for places in this quota:
At the time of application, the applicant must have been a permanent resident of the Azores Autonomous Region for at least three years;
During the period referred to in the preceding paragraph, he/she was enrolled in, attended, and completed a secondary education course at a secondary education institution located in the Autonomous Region where he/she resides;
He has never been enrolled in a public higher education institution.

Students who cumulatively prove the following may also apply for places in the respective priority quota:
Being the child (or under the guardianship) of an employee or agent of the central, regional, or local Public Administration, or of an economic coordination body or any other public institution, as well as of a magistrate, registrar, notary, judicial officer, member of the Armed Forces or security forces, through a declaration issued by the employer;
If their permanent residence has been changed less than two years ago to a location outside the territorial area of the aforementioned quota as a result of the parent or the person exercising guardianship over them having since moved to that location;
At the time of the change of residence referred to in the previous point, you must have resided permanently in the Autonomous Region of the Azores for at least three years, and have been enrolled in secondary education there;
Never having been enrolled in a public higher education institution.

2. Application to Higher Education

Students wishing to apply to public higher education institutions for places within this priority quota must complete a... online application to the national competition.
Candidates for vacancies in this priority quota must prove that they meet the conditions that allow them to benefit from said quotas through the ENES form.
For this purpose, they must submit to the secondary school that issues their ENES form the documents that prove they meet the aforementioned conditions.
When required, the supporting documents proving that the conditions for benefiting from this quota are met must be submitted to the Higher Education Access Office in the area of residence, along with the receipt proving the submission of the online application.
Courses they can apply for
Candidates for priority quota positions in the Autonomous Region of the Azores:
Applicants may only apply for places in this quota for courses similar to those taught at the University of the Azores, provided that, in the ordered list of application options, they also apply, before those, for places in similar courses at the aforementioned University.
They may also apply for places in this quota relating to courses similar to those taught at the University of the Azores without having to apply, before those places, in the ordered list of application options, for places in similar courses at the aforementioned University, when they have not obtained, in relation to these courses, the minimum grade set in each of the entrance exams, as well as in the application grade.

3. Regional Preference

In the first phase of the national competition, students who meet the conditions to compete for places in the priority quota for candidates from the Autonomous Region of the Azores, benefit from priority placement in 50% of the number of places set for each course at the University of the Azores, which they indicate before any others when applying.

1. Application Requirements

For candidates from the Autonomous Region of Madeira, a priority quota of 3.5% was created out of the vacancies set for the 1st phase of the national competition.

Students who cumulatively prove that they meet the following criteria may apply for places in this quota:

• At the time of application, the applicant must have been a permanent resident of the Autonomous Region of Madeira for at least three years;
• During the period referred to in the preceding paragraph, he/she was enrolled in, attended, and completed a secondary education course at a secondary education institution located in the Autonomous Region where he/she resides;
• He has never been enrolled in a public higher education institution.

Students who cumulatively prove the following may also apply for places in the respective priority quota:

• Being the child (or under the guardianship) of an employee or agent of the central, regional, or local Public Administration, or of an economic coordination body or any other public institution, as well as of a magistrate, registrar, notary, judicial officer, member of the Armed Forces or security forces, through a declaration issued by the employer;
• If their permanent residence has been changed less than two years ago to a location outside the territorial area of the aforementioned quota as a result of the parent or the person exercising guardianship over them having since moved to that location;
• At the time of the change of residence referred to in the previous point, you must have resided permanently in the Autonomous Region of Madeira for at least three years, and have been enrolled in secondary education there;
• Never having been enrolled in a public higher education institution.

2. Application to Higher Education

Students wishing to apply to public higher education institutions for places within this priority quota must complete a... online application to the national competition.
Candidates for positions within this priority quota must prove that they meet the conditions that allow them to benefit from said quotas through... ENES Fact Sheet.
For this purpose, they must submit to the secondary school that issues their ENES form the documents that prove they meet the aforementioned conditions.
When required, the supporting documents proving that the conditions for benefiting from these quotas are met must be submitted to the Higher Education Access Office in the area of residence, along with the receipt proving the submission of the online application.

Courses they can apply for
Candidates for the special quota positions for the Autonomous Region of Madeira:

• Applicants may only apply for places in this quota for courses similar to those taught at the University of Madeira, provided that, in the ordered list of application options, they also apply, before those, for places in similar courses at the aforementioned University.
• They may also apply for places in this quota relating to courses similar to those taught at the University of Madeira without first applying, in the ordered list of application options, for places in similar courses at the aforementioned University, when they have not obtained, in relation to these, the minimum grade set in each of the entrance exams, as well as in the application grade.

3. Regional Preference

In the first phase of the national competition, students who meet the conditions to compete for places in the priority quota for candidates from the Autonomous Region of Madeira benefit from priority placement in 50% of the number of places set for each course at the University of Madeira, which they indicate before any others when applying.

1. Concept of Emigrant, Family Member of a Portuguese Emigrant, and Person of Portuguese Descendant

Portuguese emigrant

A Portuguese emigrant is a national who has resided permanently in a foreign country for at least two years, where they have been employed, either self-employed or working for someone else.

Relative of a Portuguese emigrant

A family member of a Portuguese emigrant is defined as the spouse, relative or in-law in any degree of the direct line and up to the 3rd degree of the collateral line who resides with them permanently abroad for a period of not less than two years and who is not older than 25 years on December 31st of the year of application.
Example: Parents, Children, Grandparents, Grandchildren, Great-grandparents, Great-grandchildren, Siblings, Uncles and Nephews (Relatives), Parents-in-law, Stepparents, Sons-in-law, Daughters-in-law or Stepchildren, Parents of Parents-in-law or Stepparents, Children of Stepchildren, Brothers-in-law and Sisters-in-law, Children of Brothers-in-law and Sisters-in-law, and Siblings of Parents-in-law or Stepparents (Relatives by affinity).

A person who lives with a Portuguese emigrant in a de facto union or shared household, as defined in specific legislation, is also considered a family member of that emigrant.

Portuguese descendant

A citizen is considered a person of Portuguese descent if they have resided permanently in a foreign country for at least two years and have at least one ancestor of original Portuguese nationality up to the second degree of consanguinity in the direct line who has not lost that nationality, and who holds Portuguese nationality under paragraph 1 of Article 1 of Law No. 37/81 of October 3, as amended.

The document proving the emigrant status, that of a family member, or of Portuguese descent – Certificate of residence – must be issued by a Portuguese diplomatic or consular authority, in accordance with one of the templates published in the annexes of the national competition regulations.
Certificates that do not conform to the following templates will not be accepted for admission to the quota:

Draft Certificate of Residence — Portuguese Emigrant

For the purposes of applying to Portuguese higher education, I certify that the Portuguese national … (applicant's name), holder of citizen card number … (CC no.), valid until … (validity), is/was (*) a Portuguese emigrant in … (name of the country of emigration), where he/she performs/performed (*) paid activity and resides/resided (*) in … (address) continuously and permanently for/during (*) more than two years, starting on … (indicate the start date) and ending on … [indicate the end date (*), if applicable].
This certificate is issued for the purpose of applying to Portuguese higher education institutions through the priority quota for emigrants, family members residing with them, and people of Portuguese descent.
(*) Use the appropriate expression, depending on whether the candidate is a current emigrant or a former emigrant.

Draft Certificate of Residence — Family member of a Portuguese emigrant

I certify that, according to the investigations I have carried out, the citizen … (candidate's name), … (identification document), born on … (date and place), resides permanently with … (degree of kinship), … (family member's name), a Portuguese emigrant in … (country of emigration), holder of citizen card … (number), valid until … (validity), for a period of not less than two years, beginning on … (indicate the start date) and ending on … [indicate the end date (*), if applicable], at the address … (indicate the address).
This certificate is issued for the purpose of applying to Portuguese higher education institutions through the priority quota for emigrants, family members residing with them, and people of Portuguese descent.

Draft Certificate of Residence — Portuguese Descendant

I certify that, according to the investigations I have carried out, the Portuguese citizen … (candidate's name), with Portuguese nationality under paragraph 1 of article 1 of Law no. 37/81, of October 3, in its current wording, holder of citizen card … valid until …, is of Portuguese descent, having resided for at least two years, on a permanent basis in this country, with … (name of ancestor and degree of kinship — up to the 2nd degree in the direct line) of original Portuguese nationality under paragraph 1 of article 1 of the Nationality Law, holder of citizen card … valid until …
This certificate is issued for the purpose of applying to Portuguese higher education institutions through the priority quota for emigrants, their family members residing with them, and people of Portuguese descent.

2. Application Requirements

For Portuguese emigrant candidates, family members residing with them, and people of Portuguese descent, a priority quota was created with 7% positions from the vacancies allocated for the 1st phase of the national competition and 3.5% positions from the vacancies allocated for the 2nd phase.

Students who cumulatively meet the following conditions may apply for places in this priority quota, within the scope of the 1st and 2nd phases of the National Competition:
a) They are or have been Portuguese emigrants, or family members residing with them, or descendants of Portuguese emigrants;
b) Submit your application within a maximum of three years after returning to Portugal;
c) Have obtained in their foreign country of residence:
A diploma from a secondary education course in that country or obtained there that constitutes a qualification for access to higher education or that is legally equivalent to Portuguese secondary education;
Holding a Portuguese secondary education qualification;
d) At the time of completing secondary education, they have resided permanently in a foreign country for at least two years;
(e) They must not hold a higher education degree, whether Portuguese or foreign;
f) Candidates who meet the requirements of points a), b) and e) and who have cumulatively completed the following in their foreign country of residence may also apply for places in the priority quota for emigrant candidates and their family members residing with them, as well as those of Portuguese descent:

i) part of the secondary education course in that country, when it is legally equivalent to Portuguese secondary education, or part of a course in Portuguese secondary education;
ii) the entire educational cycle preceding secondary education in the education system in question.

These conditions may, at the student's request, be replaced by obtaining a secondary education diploma from a foreign country bordering the country of residence, provided that the Portuguese diplomatic authority verifies that the completion of the secondary education course in that country was due to the greater proximity between the secondary school and the residence; and to greater ease of transport from the residence to the school.

3. Application to Higher Education

Students wishing to apply to public higher education institutions for places within this priority quota must complete a... online application to the national competition.

The documents required for the application, proving that the applicant meets the conditions to benefit from this priority quota, are submitted by the applicant through the online application platform.

ONLINE APPLICATION

Candidate Identification

Candidates are identified in the higher education access information systems using their civil identification number (citizen card or identity card).

In all situations where candidates do not possess a Portuguese identification document, the assignment of an internal identification number is required.

To receive an internal identification number, the candidate must wait until the end of May and submit a... Request for Password and Identification Number Assignment. Following this request, a validation code and a temporary internal number will be sent to your email address. This number must be presented at a Higher Education Access Office (GAES) for the request to be validated. After validation, you will receive your access password to the application platform via email, along with the final internal number to access the online application platform.

If the identification document presented at GAES is expired, the applicant must also present proof that they are awaiting the issuance of a new identification document. If you have a valid identification number (citizen card or internal number assigned by your school) on this date, you can already submit a Request for Password Assignment to Access the Application System.

Request a password assignment.

The password assignment request is made at online application site It begins with a prior registration by the student, in which they indicate their identification number, name, the email address they wish to use, and the delivery address for the order.

The system then sends a message to the indicated email address with a confirmation link.

By accessing this link, the student must print the application confirmation receipt and submit it to the Secondary School or the Higher Education Access Office they indicated, for confirmation and validation of the identification details included in the application.

If the student is a minor, the application receipt must be signed by their legal guardian or by someone who demonstrates parental or guardianship authority.

After the request is validated by the Secondary School or the Higher Education Access Office, the password is immediately sent to the student's email address.

Get an activation code

For candidates who have taken Portuguese national final exams, the activation code is included in the ENES form issued by the secondary school where they took the exams.

Candidates who have not taken Portuguese national final exams must request an Activation Form (which will contain the activation code) by going to a Higher Education Access Office, which will then submit the request directly to the DGES (Directorate-General for Higher Education).
The Activation Form is generated after the password request is confirmed and sent to the candidate's email for use when completing the online application.
After these 3 steps, the candidate must access the online application site, To start the session, enter your identification number and access password and follow the steps that appear on the screen.

The access password assigned in previous years does not allow the submission of the application in the current year.

Once the password to access the online application has been assigned, the applicant can use the same password in any of the application phases.

Notice: We kindly ask that you contact the Higher Education Access Office by phone or email before visiting in person to discuss matters related to your higher education application. Currently, some Higher Education Access Offices operate by appointment only.

4. Application Instructions

1 – Candidates for priority quota positions for Portuguese emigrants, their family members residing with them, and people of Portuguese descent must submit their applications through the online application system:

a) Document proving the status of emigrant, of a family member or of Portuguese descent, issued by a Portuguese diplomatic or consular authority*;
b) When competing with the holding of a Portuguese secondary education qualification:
i) Document proving completion of Portuguese secondary education;
c) When competing with the holding of a foreign secondary education diploma from the respective country or obtained therein:
i) Document proving the completion of secondary education obtained in the country of emigration and the respective grade – this document must be authenticated by the official education services of the respective country and recognized by the Portuguese diplomatic or consular authority or bear the apostille of the Hague Convention, the same applying to translations of documents whose original language is not Spanish, French or English;
ii) Certificate of equivalence to Portuguese secondary education issued by the competent national entity, with a record of the final grade;
iii) Students holding non-Portuguese qualifications legally equivalent to Portuguese secondary education may apply for replacement of entrance exams by final examinations in subjects from those courses, in accordance with the provisions of Article 20-A of Decree-Law No. 296-A/98, of September 25, as amended.

2 – In situations where candidates have completed, cumulatively, in their foreign country of residence, part of the secondary education course in that country, when it is legally equivalent to Portuguese secondary education, or part of a course in Portuguese secondary education, and the entirety of the educational cycle preceding secondary education in the education system in question, they must submit, through the online application system:

a) Proof that they or a family member have been emigrants, issued by a Portuguese diplomatic or consular authority;
b) documentary proof that they have completed part of the secondary education course and the entirety of the educational cycle preceding secondary education in the education system in question, issued by the competent national authority.
c) the documents referred to in point b) of the preceding paragraph when secondary education was completed in Portuguese secondary schools, in Portugal or in the foreign country of residence or a bordering country;
d) the documents referred to in point c) of the preceding paragraph when secondary education was completed in the foreign country of residence or a neighboring country.

Foreign documents must be authenticated by the official education services of the respective country and recognized by the Portuguese diplomatic or consular authority, or bear the apostille of the Hague Convention. The same applies to translations of documents whose original language is not Spanish, French, or English.

*NOTE: Certificates that do not conform to the templates published in the regulations will not be accepted for admission to the quota.

**Additional NOTE: Order No. 7714/2020, of August 6, establishes procedures for simplifying the processing of equivalencies for foreign secondary education qualifications and for registration for national final exams for citizens residing outside the national territory.

1. Application Requirements

For candidates currently serving in the military, a priority quota of 2.5% has been created, out of the vacancies allocated for the first phase of the national competition.

Students who meet the following conditions at the time of application may apply for places in this priority quota, within the framework of the 1st phase of the national competition:

1) Have completed at least one year of effective service on a voluntary basis (RV):

• Whether they are still providing services in RV;
• Whether they have already ceased providing services under the RV regime and a period exceeding the time they provided services under the RV regime has not elapsed since the cessation, up to a limit of six years;
• They have never been enrolled in a public higher education institution.

2) Have completed two years of effective service under a contract regime (RC):

• Whether they are still providing services in RC;
• Whether they have already ceased providing services in RC and a period longer than the time they provided services in RC has not elapsed since the cessation, up to a limit of six years;
• They have never been enrolled in a public higher education institution.

3) Have completed four years of effective service under a special contract regime (RCE):

• Whether they are still providing services in RCE;
• Whether they have already ceased providing services under the RCE regime and a period longer than the time they provided services under the RC regime has not elapsed since the cessation, up to a limit of six years;
• They have never been enrolled in a public higher education institution.

2. Application to Higher Education

Students wishing to apply to public higher education institutions for places within this priority quota must complete a... online application to the national competition.

Candidates for vacancies in this priority quota must submit, through the online application platform, a document issued by the legally competent military entity, proving that, at the time of application, they meet one of the conditions previously indicated in 1), 2) or 3):

• Whether they are still providing services, please indicate the start date of that arrangement;
• Whether they have already ceased providing services, and since the cessation a period longer than the time they provided services under contract has not elapsed, up to a limit of six years, indicating the start and end dates of the contract.

1. Application Requirements

To be eligible for priority admission to candidates with disabilities, candidates must hold a multi-purpose disability certificate assessing a disability rating of 60 % or higher.

The certificate must be valid at the time of application.

By presenting a multi-purpose disability certificate that assesses a disability equal to or greater than 60 %, the application is automatically admitted to the priority quota.

Students who cumulatively meet the following conditions may apply for places in this priority quota:

• To hold a secondary education qualification or legally equivalent qualification;
• Having taken the entrance exams required for that institution/course combination;
• To have obtained the minimum grade set by the Higher Education Institution in each of the entrance exams established for that institution/course combination;
• To have met the prerequisites, when established, for admission to that institution/course;
• To have obtained, in the application grade, the minimum grade set by the Higher Education Institution;
• To hold a Multipurpose Disability Medical Certificate equal to or greater than 60%.

Students applying for places in this quota may, if they meet the requirements, simultaneously apply for places in one of the following priority quotas:

• Priority quota for candidates from the Autonomous Region of the Azores;
• Priority quota for candidates from the Autonomous Region of Madeira;
• Priority quota for Portuguese emigrant candidates whose families reside with them;
• Priority quota for military candidates under contract.

Students whose applications for places in this priority quota are rejected will be considered within the general quota or, if applicable, within another priority quota they have indicated.

2. Application Instructions

Students with disabilities who wish to apply for places within the respective priority quota must request this on the online application form, and must submit a multi-purpose disability certificate assessing a disability equal to or greater than 60 % on the online application platform during the opening of the competition within the deadlines set by order of the President of IES, IP.

3. Application to Higher Education

Students wishing to apply to public higher education institutions for places within this priority quota must complete a... online application to the national competition.
The multi-purpose disability medical certificate assessing a disability of 60 % or higher, which proves that candidates meet the conditions to benefit from this priority quota, must be submitted by candidates on the online application platform.

Online application

Candidate identification

Candidates are identified in the higher education access information systems using their civil identification number (citizen card or identity card).

In all situations where candidates do not possess a Portuguese identification document, it is necessary to assign an internal identification number, which can be done by the Higher Education Access Offices.

To obtain an internal identification number, the candidate must present a valid official identification document (residence permit, passport, or other legally admissible official document).

If the document presented is expired, the candidate must also present proof that they are awaiting the issuance of a new identification document.

Request a password assignment.

The password request is made on the online application website and begins with a prior registration by the student, in which they indicate their identification number, name, the email they wish to use, and the address where the request should be submitted.

The system then sends a message to the indicated email address with a confirmation link.

By accessing this link, the student must print the application confirmation receipt and submit it to the Secondary School or the Higher Education Access Office they indicated, for confirmation and validation of the identification details included in the application.

If the student is a minor, the application receipt must be signed by their legal guardian or by someone who demonstrates parental or guardianship authority.

After the request is validated by the Secondary School or the Higher Education Access Office, the password is immediately sent to the student's email address.

Get an activation code

For candidates who have taken Portuguese national final exams, the activation code is included in the ENES form issued by the secondary school where they took the exams.

For candidates who have not taken Portuguese national final exams, the activation code is generated after the password request is certified and sent to the candidate's email for use when completing the online application.

After these 3 steps, the candidate must access the online application website, log in by entering their identification number and password, and follow the on-screen instructions.

The access password assigned in previous years does not allow the submission of the application in the current year.

Once the password to access the online application has been assigned, the applicant can use the same password in any phase of the application process.

1. Application Requirements

For candidates benefiting from the School Social Action program, a new priority quota was created with 2 out of the places allocated for the 1st phase, or, if fewer, two places.
The following candidates may apply for priority quota places for those receiving school social support:

a) Students who have never been enrolled in a degree-granting course at a public higher education institution and who are beneficiaries of level A of the school social support program;

b) Students from the Autonomous Region of the Azores who have never been enrolled in a degree-granting course at a public higher education institution and who are beneficiaries of levels I and II of the school social action referred to in Article 94 of Regional Legislative Decree No. 18/2007/A, of July 19, as amended;

c) Students from the Autonomous Region of Madeira who have never been enrolled in a public higher education institution in a degree-granting course and who are beneficiaries of level i of the educational social action referred to in articles 4 and 6 of Ministerial Order No. 58/2023, of January 31, amended and republished by Ministerial Order No. 561/2023, of July 28, of the Regional Secretariats of Education, Science and Technology and Finance of the Regional Government of Madeira.

IMPORTANT: The secondary school must include in the ENES 2025 form the information that the student is a beneficiary of school or educational social action.

If the information is not included in the ENES 2025 form and the student is a beneficiary of school or educational social support, they must ask the school to make the necessary change in the ENES 2025 form.

2. Application to higher education

Students wishing to apply to public higher education institutions for places within this priority quota must complete a... online application to apply to the national competition and indicate the quota on the online application platform.

Proof of eligibility for school social support is provided through the ENES 2025 form. Candidates who are beneficiaries of school social support must confirm that the secondary school indicates this status on the ENES 2025 form.

3. Courses they can apply for

All courses at all public higher education institutions with vacancies in the 2025 National Access Competition include priority quotas for candidates who are beneficiaries of school social support programs.