Portugal's higher education hits record enrollment despite admissions drop
Portuguese Higher Education Sees Record Enrollment, Despite Drop in National Admissions
According to a report by Portugal's Directorate-General for Education and Science Statistics (DGEEC), 447,680 students were enrolled as of the first registration period for the 2025/2026 academic year—an increase of 6,705 compared to the same period in 2024/2025.
This marks the highest figure in the past decade. Looking back to 2010/2011—the earliest academic year with available DGEEC data—enrollment has risen by 44,000 students, though comparable first-period figures (which typically show lower numbers) are not provided.
The upward trend in higher education enrollment is thus confirmed, even as the number of students placed through the national admissions process declined.
By the end of the three-phase admissions process, roughly 45,000 students secured places in higher education—a 10% drop from the previous year.
Fewer Undergraduates, More Master's Students
Reflecting this decline, first-cycle (bachelor's) programs were the only level to see fewer enrollments compared to the first registration period of 2024/2025. This year, 270,830 students are enrolled in bachelor's degrees—4,445 fewer than last year.
Conversely, master's programs recorded the largest increase, with enrollments rising from 115,561 to 122,922—an additional 7,361 students.
This year also saw 2,893 more students in professional technical programs and 1,121 more doctoral candidates.
Public universities account for 79% of all higher education students, the majority of whom (54%) are women.
By institution type, only public polytechnic institutes experienced a decline, with 1,315 fewer students than the previous year.
Nearly 60,000 International Students
The first registration period for 2025/2026 also reveals a rise in international student mobility, both for full-degree and credit-based exchange programs.
Data shows that 57,581 foreign students chose Portuguese institutions for their studies, most pursuing master's degrees (22,736) or bachelor's degrees (21,985).
For credit mobility—short-term exchanges such as the Erasmus+ program—14,968 students are enrolled, predominantly in bachelor's (9,980) or master's (4,739) programs.
In both cases, second-cycle (master's) programs saw the largest growth: an 8% increase in degree mobility and a 35% rise in credit mobility.
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