It is a non-degree-granting higher education study cycle, with 120 ECTS credits and a duration of two years, the successful completion of which leads to the awarding of a higher professional technician diploma.

Structure

CTeSP integrates:

• General and scientific training subjects;
• Technical training subjects;
• Work-based training. In total, considering the credits for the general and scientific training components and the technical training component, the former corresponds to approximately 30% and the latter to 70%.

70% of the class hours for technical training subjects are dedicated to practical, laboratory, or workshop application, depending on the type of profession the course prepares students for.

The work-based learning component is carried out through an internship, lasting at least one semester, which can be spread throughout the course.

Bribes

Information regarding tuition fees can be found here.

Scholarship

Information about scholarships and other support for higher education can be found here.

Access

Information regarding access and admission to this study program can be found here.

Job openings

The number of places available is determined annually by each institution, within the limits defined in the course registration.

There is a priority for filling these vacancies:
Up to 4% (and a minimum of 2 places): For students with disabilities. These students are given priority over the following.
Up to 50%: For students who complete vocational training courses at secondary level or equivalent in schools and other entities networked with the higher education institution.

CTeSP abroad

Higher education institutions may partner with other foreign higher education institutions to offer courses. However, this practice is contingent upon prior registration with IES, IP.

Creation of higher professional technical courses

The commencement of a higher professional technical course requires prior registration with IES, IP.

The degree of Bachelor is awarded to those who demonstrate:

a) Possess knowledge and comprehension in a field of study at a level that:

i) Building upon your secondary-level knowledge, develop and deepen it;

ii) Rely on and correspond to advanced-level teaching materials;

iii) In some areas of this field, be at the cutting-edge level of knowledge in that area;

b) To know how to apply the knowledge and understanding acquired, in order to demonstrate a professional approach to the work carried out in their vocational area;

c) Ability to solve problems within their field of study and to construct and substantiate their own arguments;

d) Ability to collect, select and interpret relevant information, particularly in their area of expertise, enabling them to substantiate the solutions they propose and the judgments they make, including relevant social, scientific and ethical aspects in their analysis;

e) Skills that enable them to communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions, both to audiences made up of specialists and non-specialists;

f) Learning skills that enable them to learn throughout their lives with a high degree of autonomy.

In polytechnic education, it has 180 ECTS credits and a normal duration of 6 semesters, or, exceptionally, up to 240 ECTS credits and 7 or 8 semesters.

In university education, it has 180 or 240 ECTS credits and a normal duration of between 6 and 8 semesters, and values similar to those of reference institutions in the same areas should be adopted.

The bachelor's degree is awarded to those who, through passing all the curricular units that make up the study plan of the bachelor's degree course, have obtained the required number of credits.

Structure

It is the responsibility of the competent body of each higher education institution to approve, among other matters, the curriculum structure and the study plan.

Qualification

The bachelor's degree corresponds to level 6 of the NQF and EQF.

Bribes

Information regarding tuition fees can be found here.

Scholarship

Information on scholarships and other support for higher education can be found on the IES, IP Portal.

Access

Information regarding access and admission to this study program can be found on the IES, IP Portal.

Job openings

These places are set annually by the higher education institution or establishment, and may include specific places for evening classes, distance learning, or instruction in English.

Creation of degree-granting study cycles

The creation of study programs aimed at awarding academic degrees falls under the competence of higher education institutions, but their commencement requires accreditation by the Agency for Assessment and Accreditation of Higher Education and registration with the IES, IP.

The master's degree is awarded in a specialty, and when necessary, specialties may be further subdivided into areas of specialization, and to those who demonstrate:

a) Possess knowledge and comprehension at a level that:

i) Building upon the knowledge acquired at the primary school level, develop and deepen it;

ii) They enable and form the basis for original developments and/or applications, often in a research context;

b) To be able to apply their knowledge and their ability to understand and solve problems in new and unfamiliar situations, in broad and multidisciplinary contexts, even if related to their field of study;

c) Ability to integrate knowledge, deal with complex issues, develop solutions or make judgments in situations of limited or incomplete information, including reflections on the ethical and social implications and responsibilities that result from or condition these solutions and judgments;

d) To be able to communicate their conclusions, and the knowledge and reasoning underlying them, to both specialists and non-specialists, in a clear and unambiguous manner;

e) Skills that enable them to learn throughout their lives, in a fundamentally self-directed or autonomous way.

It is an initial training study cycle taught only at the university level, comprising 300 to 360 ECTS credits and a normal duration of between 10 and 12 semesters, in cases where this duration for access to the exercise of a specific professional activity is established by legal norms of the European Union or results from a stable and consolidated practice in the European Union.

Structure

The master's degree is awarded upon completion of an integrated master's degree program to those who, through passing all the curricular units that make up the study plan of the program and passing the public defense of the dissertation, project work, or internship report, have obtained the required number of credits.

In this study program, a bachelor's degree is awarded to those who have completed the 180 ECTS credits corresponding to the first six semesters of coursework.

Bribes

Information regarding tuition fees can be found here.

Scholarship

Information on scholarships and other support for higher education can be found on the IES, IP Portal.

Access

Information regarding access and admission to this study program can be found on the IES, IP Portal.

Job openings

These places are set annually by the higher education institution or establishment, and may include specific places for evening classes, distance learning, or instruction in English.

Training areas

Currently, there are no restrictions on the areas of study in which integrated master's degrees can be offered. However, starting in the 2021-2022 academic year, integrated master's degrees will only be offered in the following areas of study:

• Architecture and Urban Planning
• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Medicine
• Dentistry
• Veterinary Medicine

Creation of degree-granting study cycles

The creation of study programs aimed at awarding academic degrees falls under the competence of higher education institutions, but their commencement requires accreditation by the Agency for Assessment and Accreditation of Higher Education and registration with the IES, IP.

Job openings

These places are set annually by the higher education institution or establishment, and may include specific places for evening classes, distance learning, or instruction in English.

The master's degree is awarded in a specialty, and, when necessary, specialties may be further subdivided into areas of specialization, and to those who demonstrate:

a) Possess knowledge and comprehension at a level that:

i) Building upon the knowledge acquired at the primary school level, develop and deepen it;

ii) They enable and form the basis for original developments and/or applications, often in a research context;

b) To be able to apply their knowledge and their ability to understand and solve problems in new and unfamiliar situations, in broad and multidisciplinary contexts, even if related to their field of study;

c) Ability to integrate knowledge, deal with complex issues, develop solutions or make judgments in situations of limited or incomplete information, including reflections on the ethical and social implications and responsibilities that result from or condition these solutions and judgments;

d) To be able to communicate their conclusions, and the knowledge and reasoning underlying them, to both specialists and non-specialists, in a clear and unambiguous manner;

e) Skills that enable them to learn throughout their lives, in a fundamentally self-directed or autonomous way.

In university education, it must ensure the acquisition of academic specialization through research, innovation, or the development of professional skills.

In polytechnic education, the primary goal should be to ensure the acquisition of a professional specialization.

Duration

It has 90 to 120 ECTS credits and a normal duration of 3 to 4 semesters.

In exceptional cases, it may have 60 credits and a normal duration of 2 semesters, in the following situations:
When there is a strong vocational focus, the entry requirements in these cases are suitable for the exclusive recruitment of students with a minimum of five years of prior experience, duly proven.
This may be a consequence of a stable and internationally established practice in this specialty.

Structure

Integra:

A specialization course, consisting of an organized set of curricular units, called a master's course, which corresponds to a minimum of 50% of the total credits of the study cycle.
A scientific dissertation or project work, original and specifically carried out for this purpose, or a professional internship subject to a final report, depending on the specific objectives pursued, under the terms established by the respective regulatory norms, corresponding to a minimum of 30 credits.

The master's degree is awarded to those who, through passing all the curricular units that make up the master's course study plan and passing the public defense of the dissertation, project work, or internship report, have obtained the required number of credits.

It is the responsibility of the competent body of each higher education institution to approve, among other matters, the curricular structure and study plan, as well as the rules regarding the dissertation, project, or internship report component, including supervision, presentation, defense, and jury.

Qualification

The master's degree corresponds to level 7 of the NQF and EQF.

Bribes

Information regarding tuition fees can be found here.

Scholarship

Information on scholarships and other support for higher education can be found on the IES, IP Portal.

Access

Information regarding access and admission to this study program can be found on the IES, IP Portal.

Creation of degree-granting study cycles

The creation of study programs aimed at awarding academic degrees falls under the competence of higher education institutions, but their commencement requires accreditation by the Agency for Assessment and Accreditation of Higher Education and registration with the IES, IP.
In university education, it must ensure the acquisition of academic specialization through research, innovation, or the development of professional skills.

A doctoral degree is awarded in a branch of knowledge or specialty to those who demonstrate:

a) Capacity for systematic understanding in a scientific field of study;

b) Skills, abilities and research methods associated with a scientific field;

c) Ability to conceive, design, adapt and carry out meaningful research while respecting the requirements imposed by academic quality and integrity standards;

d) To have carried out a significant body of original research that has contributed to expanding the frontiers of knowledge, some of which deserves national or international dissemination in publications with a selection committee;

e) To be able to critically analyze, evaluate, and synthesize new and complex ideas;

f) To be able to communicate with their peers, the wider academic community, and society in general about their area of expertise;

(g) To be able to promote technological, social, or cultural progress in a knowledge-based society, within an academic and/or professional context.

Structure

Integra:

The preparation of an original thesis specifically for this purpose, suited to the nature of the field of knowledge or specialty, or the compilation of a coherent and relevant set of research papers, or, in the field of arts, a work or set of works or achievements, accompanied by written justification.
The potential implementation of curricular units aimed at training for research, which together constitute a doctoral course, whenever the respective regulatory norms so provide.

The duration of the doctoral degree program and the corresponding number of ECTS credits are not defined. Most frequently, it lasts 6 to 8 semesters and comprises 180 to 240 ECTS credits.

The doctoral degree is awarded to those who have obtained approval in the public defense of their thesis.

It is the responsibility of the competent body of each higher education institution to approve, among other matters, the curricular structure and study plan, when it exists, and the rules regarding the thesis component, including supervision, presentation, defense, and jury.

Qualification

The doctoral degree corresponds to level 8 of the NQF and EQF.

Bribes

Information regarding tuition fees can be found here.

Access

Information regarding access and admission to this study program can be found on the IES, IP Portal.

Creation of degree-granting study cycles

The creation of study programs aimed at awarding academic degrees falls under the competence of higher education institutions, but their commencement requires accreditation by the Agency for Assessment and Accreditation of Higher Education and registration with the IES, IP.
In polytechnic education, the primary goal should be to ensure the acquisition of a professional specialization.

OTHER DEGREES THAT CAN BE OBTAINED IN HIGHER EDUCATION
In higher education, other non-degree courses may be offered and diplomas awarded, including:

a) By completing part of an undergraduate degree course of no less than 120 credits;

b) By completing a master's degree course of no less than 60 credits;

c) By completing a doctoral course;

d) Through the provision of other non-degree-granting courses, integrated into its educational project.

Through enrollment in these programs, institutions, within the scope of their autonomy, can set the amount of tuition fees to be paid.

Because these courses do not confer academic degrees, they are not subject to control by the supervisory authority. Therefore, only higher education institutions can provide information about the courses they offer and their respective application and operational requirements. However, they are still considered training provided within higher education.

In either case, the diplomas in question must adopt a name that is not confused with the name of the final academic degree obtained, if one exists.

POST-GRADUATE STUDIES
"Postgraduate studies" is the name given to a course that is accessed after a first "graduation," usually a bachelor's degree, taught at a higher education institution, within the scope of its training vocation and educational project, but in no case conferring any degree, which is why it is not subject to authorization by the supervisory authority.

The terms "postgraduate" and "postgraduate training" (and others that suggest higher education training) are reserved for higher education institutions and correspond, for example, to a specialization course that constitutes part of a master's degree cycle, but is not sufficient for obtaining the degree, although the concept of "postgraduate" is broader, encompassing other examples besides this.

POST-DOCTORAL
Postdoctoral programs are specialized courses undertaken after the completion of a doctoral degree program, offered at higher education institutions.

Offer

Since these courses do not require registration with IES, IP, you should consult the public and private higher education institutions or their websites.

LEGISLATION

• Law No. 62/2007, of September 10 – Establishes the legal regime for higher education institutions, regulating in particular their constitution, attributions and organization, the functioning and competence of their bodies and, also, the public tutelage and supervision of the State over them, within the framework of their autonomy, paragraph a) of No. 1 of Article 8.
• Decree-Law No. 74/2006, of March 24 – Approves the legal regime for academic degrees and diplomas in higher education, paragraph 3 of article 4.

Modified By

Decree-Law No. 107/2008, of June 25

Decree-Law No. 230/2009, of September 14

Decree-Law No. 115/2013, of August 7

Decree-Law No. 63/2016, of September 13

Decree-Law, nº 65/2018, of August 16

Decree-Law, No. 27/2021, of April 16

• Decree No. 268/2002, of March 13 – Approves the general regulations for postgraduate specialization courses in Nursing.

• Decree No. 260-A/2014, of December 15 – Regulates the acquisition of professional qualifications for teaching in recruitment groups that already hold, or will obtain, certified training in the field of English teaching in the 1st cycle of basic education, and the levels of English language proficiency from the 3rd to the 12th grade in basic and secondary education.

Modified By

Ordinance No. 197/2017, of June 23

The integration of pre-Bologna courses within the current legal framework.

With the implementation of the legal framework resulting from the Bologna Process, no mechanism for automatic correspondence or conversion of previous and subsequent degrees was foreseen, and neither the IES, IP nor any other supervisory body has the competence to grant equivalencies. The bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees have the same validity regardless of when they were obtained, while the bachelor's degree (which does not appear in the current framework) retains its validity as the degree it was awarded under the previous legal regime.
Similarly, there is no general mechanism for the equivalence of older, non-higher education qualifications to current higher education qualifications.

Recognition in Portugal of a course completed in Macau.

There is a possibility of recognizing, within the Portuguese higher education system, for all purposes, the courses taught by the University of Macau, the Macau Polytechnic Institute, and the School of Tourism, as well as their respective degrees and diplomas, provided they meet certain requirements, the verification of which is carried out by expert committees.
Therefore, the aforementioned institutions will have to request recognition of the courses they teach within the Portuguese higher education system, a recognition granted by joint decree.
If it is confirmed that the course in question has been recognized under those terms, such recognition will be recorded on the back of the course certificate, either by the higher education institution where it was completed or by IES, IP, as appropriate.
In cases where the registration of the diploma on the course certificate is the responsibility of the Higher Education Institution (IES, IP), you will need to go to these services with the original diploma. Fees are charged for this registration.
If it is not possible to apply this mechanism due to a lack of proof of recognition of the course within the Portuguese higher education system, the regime that establishes the terms under which the equivalence of foreign higher education qualifications to corresponding Portuguese qualifications may be requested may be applied.

Equivalence of the former General Nursing Course

Until December 31, 2005, the granting of equivalence to a bachelor's degree or a Diploma of Specialized Higher Studies in Nursing was the responsibility of IES, IP.
From that date, IES, IP, was no longer able to grant equivalencies.
Currently, in order to obtain an academic degree, with a view to continuing studies, previously acquired training may be credited.
If you obtained your equivalency from IES, IP within the stated timeframe and wish to obtain a duplicate, you may submit your request to our services, indicating your full name and identification document number.
The established fees are charged for issuing the certificate in question.

EQUIVALENCE OF FORMER HEALTH TECHNOLOGY COURSES

Following a positive decision by a jury constituted within the scope of the Ministry of Health, IES, IP issues a certificate recognizing the holder's bachelor's degree or DESE (Diploma of Specialized Higher Studies) in the field of Health Technologies, in accordance with the provisions of applicable legislation.

Fees are charged for issuing the certificate in question.

Given that recognition is initially requested from the jury president, please consult www.acss.min-saude.pt/ for more information.

EFFECTS OF HOLDING A SPECIALIZED HIGHER EDUCATION DEGREE

According to the provisions of the Basic Law of the Education System, a diploma of specialized higher studies is equivalent to a bachelor's degree for professional and academic purposes.
This legal provision makes its observance mandatory, without the need for any other authorization.

EFFECTS OF HOLDING TITLES FROM FORMER EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHER TRAINING COURSES

Holders of the former Early Childhood Education and Primary Teacher Training courses, who are working at any level of education or in equivalent roles, have been granted the equivalent status of a bachelor's degree for the purpose of continuing their studies.
The provision for equivalence makes its observance mandatory, without the need for any other title.

EFFECTS OF HOLDING OLD PHYSICAL EDUCATION INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATES

The IES, IP has residual competence to grant equivalencies for Physical Education Instructor courses from the former Schools of Physical Education Instructors and the National Institute of Physical Education to bachelor's and licentiate degrees.
The established fees are charged for issuing the certificate in question.
Thus, graduates of the Physical Education instructor course, with three years of good and effective teaching service in that discipline in any official educational establishment, or who have provided an equal period of good and effective service in official bodies, in functions of a pedagogical, scientific or technical nature related to Physical Education, may be equated to Bachelor's degree holders in Physical Education, for the purposes of appointment to positions in the teaching career of basic, secondary and high school education and for the purposes of continuing studies.
Graduates from the National Institute of Physical Education, with three years of good and effective teaching service in this discipline at any official educational establishment, or who have provided an equal period of good and effective service in official bodies, in functions of a pedagogical, scientific or technical nature related to Physical Education, may be considered equivalent to graduates in Physical Education.

Former courses that were equated to a bachelor's degree.

Some changes in the legal framework for higher education have led to a set of equivalencies for the new degrees.
Thus, they were once generically equated to a bachelor's degree:

• the old Agricultural Regent courses;
• The Accounting courses offered by the former Commercial Institutes and the Military Technical Institute of the Army Pupils;
• The courses in Electrical Engineering and Machinery, Civil Construction and Mining, Laboratory and Industrial Chemistry, from the former Industrial Institutes, and the Electrical Engineering and Machinery course from the Military Technical Institute of the Army Pupils.

The provision for a generic equivalence makes its observance mandatory, without the need for any other title.

• Decree-Law No. 353/99, of September 3 – Approves the general rules governing nursing education within the scope of higher polytechnic education.