IMPORTANT NOTE:
The information provided below does not exempt you from reading the International Student Statute [Decree-Law no. 36/2014, of March 10, amended by Decree-Law no. 62/2018, of August 6], or the regulations in force at the Polytechnic University of Coimbra.
What requirements do I need to meet to be considered an International Student?
– Not have Portuguese nationality or nationality of a Member State of the European Union;
– Not be a family member of nationals of a Member State of the European Union, regardless of their nationality. Family members considered for this purpose are as follows:
a. Spouse of a citizen of the European Union;
b. Partner with whom the European Union citizen lives in a de facto union, established in accordance with the law or with whom the citizen maintains a permanent relationship, duly certified by the competent authority of the Member State where he/she resides;
c. Direct descendant under 21 years of age or who is dependent on a citizen of a Member State of the European Union, as well as the spouse or partner defined in the previous paragraph;
– Not be a beneficiary, on January 1st of the year in which you intend to enter higher education, of the status of equality and duties of the international treaty granted between the Portuguese State and the State of which you are a national;
– Not having resided in Portugal for more than two years, uninterruptedly, on January 1st of the year in which you intend to enroll.
If I have dual nationality (one of which is Portuguese), can I apply for the Special Contest for Access and Admission for International Students?
No. In this case, the nationality that prevails is Portuguese, and you will have to enter the Polytechnic University of Coimbra through one of the available means for national students.
If I have more than one nationality, where one of them corresponds to the nationality of a European Union country – except Portugal, can I apply for the Special Contest for Access and Admission for International Students?
No, in that case, you will be considered equivalent to Portuguese students and must apply for higher education through the National Admission Process (Concurso Nacional de Acesso), either under the general regime or one of its special regimes/contests, if applicable.
Can I apply for more than one course?
In 2025/26, the application is multi-course, and each candidate may choose to apply for up to three courses on the same form – as long as they are taught in the same teaching unit –, which will be ordered in order of preference. If the candidate is not placed in the 1st option course due to lack of vacancies, they will automatically be considered for placement in the next option, provided they also meet all the admission conditions.
Does the Polytechnic of Coimbra recognize high school/ensino médio (in Brazil) as equivalent to Portuguese secondary education?
Yes, it does.
Does the Polytechnic of Coimbra recognise ENEM to apply to its degree courses? What is the validity period of ENEM?
Yes, it does, provided it was carried out within the 4 calendar years prior to the application.
What is the minimum score of ENEM?
In order to use ENEM to apply to the Polytechnic University of Coimbra, you must have an average ENEM score above 500 and present the minimum score in the specific component(s) of ENEM required for the course you wish to attend.
If it is not possible to prove the specific academic qualification through ENEM, what other ways can I do it?
– Submit a document issued by the official education services of your country containing a breakdown of the syllabus (menus) of the subjects corresponding to the entrance examinations required for the degree you wish to apply for and in which you passed your secondary education. This document will be analysed by the selection board to determine whether or not there is equivalence of contents taught in your secondary school and our secondary school. If there is equivalence, you will not need to take any other test;
or
– Take the exams of the Polytechnic University of Coimbra for International Students, under the terms defined by the announcement of the opening of the contest.
Where do the entrance exams referred to in the previous point take place?
The exams are held in Portugal, at the School of the Polytechnic of Coimbra to which you are applying.
I want to enroll in a course that requires the completion of prerequisites. Do I have to take them in Portugal?
Yes, the prerequisite tests are all held in Portugal, at the School of the Polytechnic of Coimbra to which you are applying.
When can I apply for the special contest for access and admission for international students?
The application period opens at the beginning of each calendar year and is announced on our website and on the social networks of the Polytechnic University of Coimbra.
Do I have to go to Coimbra to complete my application?
No. The application is made online on the platform available at the link https://inforestudante.PUC.pt and can only be submitted within the deadlines set for the Contest in force at the time.
How can I pay the application fee?
After submitting your application, you will be given 2 options to pay the application fee (75€):
Multibanco Reference: made through an account in Portugal, using the Multibanco reference data generated after sealing the application.
Paypal: This payment method allows you to safely make the payment online.
Payment made through any of these options will be automatically identified by our platform (check the update in the application status – it will change to “In validation”).
Do the originals of my application have to be sent by post to make the application?
No. All the necessary documentation is only sent in digital format by uploading it on the online application platform.
How do I know if I have been approved?
The ranking lists can be accessed in your reserved area on the Inforestudante platform, and all those placed in the final ranking lists are also formally notified by email.
When does the school year start in Portugal?
The school year in Portugal usually starts in September and ends in July.
What is the cost of attending a degree course at the Polytechnic of Coimbra?
The tuition fee for international students at Polytechnic University of Coimbra may vary between 1.500€ and 3.000€/year, depending on the degree course to be attended. You can consult the amount applied to each course in 2025/26 here.
Can I pay the tuition fee in instalments?
Yes, it is possible to pay in phases starting from the 2nd academic year. In the year of entry, the annual fee is paid in full immediately after placement in the desired course.
What social support can I have?
International students benefit from canteen catering services and the use of the institution’s technical, sports and cultural facilities at student prices. They may also have access to student residences at the prices set for non-grant students, upon application.
I have already done one year of university in my country, can I take advantage of the subjects already completed?
After you have enrolled, you can request an analysis of the subjects taught and check whether or not they are compatible for accreditation purposes. In this case, you will have to provide proof of your course program, as well as the content of the subjects of each Curricular Unit for which you intend to request accreditation.
If I am studying in Portugal, can I also work there?
Yes, you can work. A student visa is not a work visa, but after you are residing in Portugal with a student visa you can apply for a work visa at AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo).
What do I need to do to request a visa and the authorization to stay as a student in Portugal?
You should apply for a residence permit to attend a higher education study programme in Portugal at the Portuguese Consulate/ Embassy closest to your area of residence. Then, in Portugal, you can apply for a Residence Permit at AIMA.
What should I do upon arriving in Portugal?
– Go to the institution where you were placed to finalize your academic process and learn about the procedures related to the course;
– Request a tax identification number (NIF) from the Tax Authority;
– Register with the National Health Service in your area of residence;
– Open a bank account in Portugal;
– Always carry and keep the following documents valid:
a. Proof of residence;
b. Proof of university registration;
c. Proof of income during your stay as an International Student.