Portugal second-phase university admissions open with 6,639 seats remaining

Portugal’s Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation released the first-phase results of the 2026 national higher-education admissions contest on Friday, placing 49,991 students into degree programs and filling 88.9% of available slots.

The University of Porto’s Aerospace Engineering program again recorded the highest entry grade, 19.5 out of 20, exhausting all 30 first-phase places for the third consecutive year. The same course at the University of Minho followed with a cutoff of 18.98, while the University of Porto’s integrated master’s in Medicine ranked third at 18.67. Across the 1,100-plus programs on offer, 58 received no applicants, and five courses set minimum entry grades below 10 .

More than half of admitted students—26,800—secured their first choice, 19.3% were placed in their second choice, and 84.5% landed in one of their top three selections, according to ministry data. Universities in Lisbon and Porto filled 99% of their seats, with ISCTE at 98.8%. Among polytechnics, the Estoril School of Hospitality and Tourism led with a 101.2% occupancy rate, followed by the newly rebranded Polytechnic University of Lisbon and Polytechnic University of Porto .

The ministry reported 60,513 valid applications overall, an increase of 13.9% in placed candidates compared with 2025. Polytechnic placements rose 24.5% and university placements 8.1%. Special contingents saw gains: 1,625 students from the lowest-income bracket (A) entered, up 5%; 266 candidates with disabilities, up 75%; 406 emigrants, family or lusodescendents, up 33.6%; and military applicants, up 85%. Digital-skills programs placed 7,579 students, reversing a prior-year decline, and 1,663 students entered Medicine programs .

Only 6,639 seats remain for the second phase, a 42.3% drop from 2025. The phase runs Aug. 24–Sept. 20 and, for the first time, includes candidates sitting extraordinary exams Sept. 3–8, a measure introduced after grading issues affected national exams. Results will be published Sept. 30 .

Students placed in the first phase have until Aug. 27 to enroll.