Studying
School system in Portugal
Education system in Portugal is universal, compulsory and free of charge for nine years.The education provided by the Ministry of Education (http://www.min-edu.pt/np3/4.html) consists of: pre-school education for children aged 3 to 6; basic education that lasts for 9 years and begins at the age of 6; it’s composed of 3 cycles, the 1st one of 4 years , the 2nd 2 years and the 3rd one lasts 3 years.
The Ministry of Education also provides vocational courses, initial vocational education and training courses, specialised artistic education courses, adult basic education and 15-18 courses programme, besides the regular education; they all are equivalent to the 9th year of basic education. Secondary Education includes the 10th, 11th and the 12th years of schooling. It’s structured in general courses for those who want to go to higher education and technological courses for those who want to enter the labour market., although students may change from one to another. It’s also provided for adults.
Higher Education includes university courses, providing Licenciaturas, Mestrados e Doutoramentos, and polytechnic courses that provide Bacharelatos and Licenciaturas.
Studying in Portugal for foreigners
Before leaving your country…
If you want to study in Portugal, it’s essential to get information at the embassy or Portuguese consulate about the documents you will have to present. In order to attend a Portuguese school it’s necessary to apply for a study visa; you can do that at a Portuguese diplomatic mission or consular station.
To apply for this visa you have to present several documents: application according to a set model, valid travel document (3 months after visa validity), 3 photos, Criminal Register Certificate, insurance policy or health certificate, proof of housing conditions in Portugal, proof of means of living in Portugal, school enrolment proof. If you have any doubts about this procedure, you can seek more information at Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras site ( www.sef.pt) or send an email to ACIDI (estudante@acidi.gov.pt). Another document you can’t forget is the school certificate that must be legalized by the Portuguese Embassy. Otherwise, your qualifications won’t be recognised in Portugal and therefore you can’t apply for study equivalence.
If you intend to apply to a college of higher education, take note that the Portuguese admission system provides no special coverage for EU citizens. Holders of foreign qualifications apply in the same way as any Portuguese student. Students have to pass national admission examination and some establishments demand specific requirements which have to be met prior to application.
This examination takes place once a year. For further information, you can accede the Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior site (http://www.mctes.pt/). Often, students have some problems trying to choose the right course or school. In such a case, there are 2 sites available:
Acesso ao Ensino Superior
Gabinete de Planeamento, Estratégia, Avaliação e Relações Internacionais - provides useful information about how to choose a school
Housing
A pleasant study environment is very important, so you must check beforehand every issue related with housing, trying to find out if the initial conditions you are proposed will be kept during your whole stay. Some schools have residences for their students; you should get detailed information about this at the school you are going to attend. Some municipalities and non governmental organizations grant support for student housing.. Also former student associations and/or friends studying in Portugal can be of great support.
In all university cities, there are usually a lot of rooms to let. You can look for information at the universities social services, most of them have a list of rooms to let.
Grants and scholarships
EU students and students from outside the EU whose countries have established co-operation agreements with Portugal and may apply for grants. Applications are made directly to the Student Attendance Services of the school or college where the student is enrolled; each case is examined individually.
As established in cultural agreements between Portugal and several foreign universities, the Camões Institute (http://www.instituto-camoes.pt/index.php) gives grants to students attending annual and summer courses in Portuguese language and culture. Applications should be sent to the Portuguese Embassy in the country of origin until 10 February. It’s advisable to contact the Portuguese Embassies since application dates may vary from one country to another.
There are several organizations that give financial support to foreign students living in Portugal:
Instituto Português de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento (http://www.ipad.mne.gov.pt/); Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (http://www.fct.mctes.pt/);
Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian (www.gulbenkian.pt/index.php?section=65);
Fundação BCP - Banco Comercial Português (http://www.millenniumbcp.pt/multimedia/archive/00364/VOL_1_RS_FSM_01_Fun_364956a.pdf).
Before leaving your country and if you don’t know the country you’re moving to, ensure yourself someone is waiting for you on your arrival.
Documents you should have when you arrive…
As soon as you arrive, don’t forget to:
- make your enrolment at the school you are going to attend;
- make your enrolment at the nearest Health Centre;
- get information about the advantages of an health insurance;
- buy a travel card;
- solve any details still pending about housing.
Don’t forget, also, to inform yourself about the student card, how it works and what kind of benefits you can get, get the library card and renew your student visa, which you have to do every year at Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras: telephones - Blue Line: local call, all over the country-808 202 653; telephone 808 962 690; timetable: working days, from 8:00 to 20:00
School is begining
School begins between September and October, according to the school; so, as soon as you arrive to Portugal, address yourself to the school you are going to attend to know the precise date.Keep in mind you’ll have to pay the university/school matriculation and the annual fees (only for universities); they are variable according to school and course.
Studying and working
Besides studying, you may also want to work. In this case, get information at Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras about what you have to do. You can also contact the Unidades de Inserção na Vida Activa (there’s one at Centro Nacional de Apoio ao Imigrante - CNAI) or Instituto de Emprego e Formação Profissional.
If you have any doubts…
If you have any doubt, you can phone to:
Centros Nacionais de Apoio ao Imigrante:
CNAI – LisboaRua Álvaro Coutinho n.º 14/161150-025 Lisboa
Phone: 808 257 257
Fax: 21 810 61 17
E-Mail: acime@acime.gov.pt
Timetable: Monday to Saturday, 08:30h to 14:30h By phone: Monday to Friday, 10:00h to 22:00h / Saturday, 10:00h to17:00h
CNAI Porto
Rua do Pinheiro, n.º 9 4050-484 Porto
Telefone: 808 257 257Fax: 22 204 61 19
E-Mail: acime@acime.gov.pt
Timetable: Monday to Saturday, 8:30h to 14:30h/By phone: Monday to Friday, 10:00h to 22:00h / Saturday, 10:00h to 17:00h
If you have any problems, you can also have recourse to the student association of your school and the embassy of your country in Portugal.
Linha SOS Imigrante - 808 257 257 The phone line Linha SOS Imigrante can also provide information in case of need: this phone line aims at giving immigrant’s information and counselling about general matters and specific issues like aggression, housing and work problems; it’s available in 3 languages, Portuguese, English and Russian