Education & Schooling in Portugal

Compulsory education in Portugal lasts nine years, taking pupils from the age of six to fifteen. In state-run (public) schools this basic education is free. Financial assistance may be available for extra expenses such as school meals, transport and textbooks, depending on the family's circumstances.

The Ministry of Education (Ministério da Educação) is responsible for the administration of state schools in Portugal.

• Ministério da Educação website (in Portuguese)

The School Year

The school year runs from the middle of September to the end of June, for compulsory schooling, or to the middle of June for secondary schools. Individual schools set the actual dates but there must be at least 180 school days in each year.

Pre-school/Kindergarten (Jardims de Infância)

Pre-school attendance is optional and children may be accepted from the age of three. Pre-schools may be run by State organisations, charitable institutions, private or cooperative organisations.

Basic compulsory education

Basic compulsory education (ensino básico) is divided into three consecutive cycles:

• A first cycle (1°Ciclo) lasting four years (for pupils aged six to ten)
• A second cycle (2° Ciclo) lasting two years (for pupils from ten to twelve)
• A third cycle (3° Ciclo) lasting three years (for pupils from twelve to fifteen)

The first cycle of education is provided by primary schools (escolas básicas), while the second and third cycles are provided by combined primary and secondary schools (escolas básicas/secundárias).

Entry requirements

Children who are six by 16 September are eligible to attend the first cycle of basic education. Those reaching this age by 31 December may also be admitted, but priority is given to older children when allocating places.

Enrollment

Pupils must attend an educational establishment in the area where they reside, or in the area in which the parents are employed, although exceptions can be made in certain cases. A number of documents are necessary to register a child in a school.

• Registration papers (available from the school)
• Health certificate
• Three passport photos
• Proof of identity  
• A leaving certificate (confirmation of the last level passed by the student) 

Assessment

Pupils are assessed at the end of each school year, and at the end of each cycle. Those who are considered satisfactory will go on to the next stage. Pupils who do not meet the required standards may be asked to repeat all or part of the year.

Pupils who achieve the required standard in the general assessment at the end of the third cycle are awarded a certificate of basic education (diploma do ensino básico) by the school.

Secondary Education (Ensino Secundário)

After successfully completing their compulsory nine years of education children aged fourteen to fifteen may decide to continue secondary education, either as preparation for higher education or for more vocational/technical education. Secondary education is not free; students must pay for enrolment and tuition as well as for their textbooks and other materials, although financial assistance may be available. 

Assessment

In post-compulsory schooling there are two type of assessment – internal and external. Internal assessment consists of a general written test in every subject at the end of the tenth and eleventh years and in some subjects at the end of the final year. Based on a general test plus continuous assessment the Class Council decides whether the student should advance to the next class or repeat the year. External assessment takes the form of final written examinations in the twelfth year in most of the subjects. In order to pass, students must achieve a pass mark in every one of their course subjects.

On successfully completing their secondary education students are awarded a certificate (diploma de estudos secundários) indicating the courses and the final marks obtained. Those who complete a technical course will also receive a level III vocational training certificate (diploma de qualificação profissional de nivel III).

Higher Education (Ensino superior)

The higher education system consists of public universities (universidades), polytechnics (escolas politécnicas), and a number of private or cooperative institutions of higher education. 

Students who have successfully completed the three years of secondary education and have a secondary school diploma, or legally equivalent qualification, may apply. Depending on what type of higher educational establishment they apply to, students may also have to pass either a national examination organised by the Directorate-General of Higher Education (Direcção – Geral do Ensino Superior), or an entry examination set by the institution.

Graduate qualifications may be a bachelor degree (bacharelado), which requires three years of study, or licentiate (licenciatura) degree, needing four to six years.

Languages

The teaching of a foreign language (English, French or German) is compulsory in the second cycle of basic compulsory education. However, some pupils may begin learning a foreign language in the first cycle. 

In the third cycle, pupils will take on a second foreign language (English, French, German or Spanish). This means that within their basic and secondary education students will have to study at least two foreign languages, and many learn a third.

Disabled and Special Needs Pupils

Disabled children have priority in attendance at state kindergartens. Primary and secondary schools that integrate disabled children (a maximum of two per class) must not have more than twenty pupils in their class.

If a regular state school is not sufficient to meet the needs of a pupil with disabilities, a special school may be recommended.

More information on schooling for disabled children is available from the Ministry of Education (Ministério da Educação), the Regional Offices of Education (Direcções Regionais de Educação), the Area Centres for Education (Centros de Área Educativa) and schools.

• See the AngloINFO INFOrmation Page on Special Needs Education in Portugal

International Schools

There are a number of International Schools throughout Portugal. They are well-attended, with a mixture of international and Portuguese pupils. Pupils may study on the International Baccalaureate (I.B.) programme, or for the British GCSE and GCE examination systems. Term dates and school holidays may differ from those of Portuguese schools.

• For the British Embassy's list of English-medium International schools in Portugal: Click here
• For schools with English-language education in Lisbon see The AngloFILE directory Schools & International Schooling
• For schools with English-language education in the Algarve see The AngloFILE directory Schools & International Schooling

Further Information

• Directorate–General for Educational Administration (Direcção – Geral da Administração Educativa)
• Ministry of Education (Ministério da Educação)
• Europa – has information on the Portuguese education system
• PLOTEUS is the official EU website with specific reference to education and learning opportunities
• European Council for International Schools (ECIS)