Have you completed a higher education course in your country and want to see your diploma recognized in Portugal? On this page you will find information about the recognition of higher education degrees and diplomas awarded by foreign institutions.
If you wish to request recognition from the Polytechnic of Coimbra, before starting the recognition process it is important to know:
The request for Recognition is made by the holder of the Diploma, by filling out this form online.
You must complete the form with the utmost care and accuracy. Make sure that your personal details and qualification details are correct, as this is the information that will appear on the certificate of recognition and cannot be changed later.
When filling out the form, we suggest consulting the Practical Guide to Supporting the Application for Recognition.
All applications for recognition must be accompanied by one of the following documents:
a) Copy of the diploma or document issued by the foreign higher education institution proving ownership of the degree or diploma for which recognition is requested, authenticated by the competent authorities for this purpose;
b) Simple copy of a document issued by the foreign higher education institution containing the degree or diploma registration number, in the case of foreign higher education institutions that have centralized records that can be consulted publicly using a unique identifier;
c) Diploma or certificate issued by the foreign higher education institution, in original version, proving ownership of the degree or diploma for which recognition is requested.
Requests for Level Recognition or Specific Recognition must also include:
a) Document issued by the foreign higher education institution, stating the curricular units in which the applicant obtained approval and which led to the obtaining of the degree or diploma for which recognition is requested, as well as the respective program contents, duration of studies leading to the obtaining of the degree and the respective final grade;
b) In the case of a degree corresponding to the master’s level, a digital or scanned copy of the defended dissertation or project work, or the internship report;
c) In the case of a degree corresponding to the level of doctor, a digital or scanned copy of the defended thesis, except when this has been replaced by other research or artistic work, in which case the appropriate elements must be submitted in digital or scanned format to understand the content of the research carried out and the justifications that explain the process of conception and elaboration, the research capacity, and its framework in the evolution of knowledge in the field in which it is included.
NOTICE: All documents must be authenticated by the competent authority for this purpose:
–In the country of issue of the document: Hague apostille or Portuguese Consulate;
–In Portugal, by one of the following entities: CTT, notaries, lawyers, solicitors, Registry Offices, Juntas de Freguesia and Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
The values applicable to recognition requests must be consulted in the Fee Table of the Polytechnic of Coimbra.
In summary, the following values apply:
– Automatic Recognition: 40€
– Level Recognition: 750€
– Specific Recognition: 750€ (plus €150 if a test is required)
– Conversion of the final grade separately: 75€
NOTICE: Failure to submit the documentation in the form and by the deadline provided or failure to pay the fee will result in the cancellation of the application. Cancellation/withdrawal of the application, as well as refusal of recognition, does not confer the right to a refund of the amount paid.
The progress of the processes is briefly divided into three phases:
1. Instruction: administrative phase. The complete instruction of the process presupposes:
– delivery of all necessary documentation;
– authentication and certification of said documentation;
– payment of the associated fee.
2. Analysis: technical analysis phase in which the elements presented by the Applicant are considered.
– In Automatic Recognition requests, the analysis is carried out based on the Deliberations Commission for the Recognition of Foreign Degrees;
– In requests for Level Recognition and Specific Recognition, analysis is carried out by a Jury appointed for this purpose.
3. Decision: phase that concludes the request.
– In cases where there is a favorable decision, a Certificate of Recognition will be issued.
For general information about the recognition of degrees, you can use the email dga.sa@ipc.pt, or call 239 791250.
For clarification regarding the progress of your request for Level Recognition or Specific Recognition, you should contact the services of our School/Institute that you selected in the initial form. Contacts available here.
Applicable legislation (main diplomas):
– Legal regime for the recognition of foreign academic degrees and diplomas (Decree-Law no. 66/2018, of August 16, in its current wording);
– Regulation of the procedural processing of the recognition of foreign academic degrees and diplomas (Ordinance No. 33/2019, of January 25, in its current wording).
NOTICE: You can consult these diplomas in Diário da República.
Internal rules:
– Internal Quality Management System of the Polytechnic of Coimbra (available here).
More information:
For more information, we suggest consulting the Directorate-General for Higher Education (DGES) portal, in the area relating to recognition of degrees.
Types of Recognition
There are currently three types of recognition in Portugal.
You can obtain more information about the type of Recognition that may best apply to your case through a simulator made available by DGES.
– This application is the fastest, given its simplified procedure. However, it only applies to degrees or diplomas that are included in the list set by the Commission for the Recognition of Foreign Degrees.
– It allows for the generic recognition of a foreign higher education degree or diploma, whose level, objectives and nature are identical to the Portuguese bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees or the higher professional technician diploma.
– If the request is granted, you will be recognized as having higher professional technician diploma or the degree of Bachelor, Master or Doctor.
Deadlines
– Maximum of 30 days, after the complete instruction of the process (see Process Steps above).
Final grade conversion
You can make this recognition request with or without conversion of the final grade. Whenever the conversion request is made as part of the recognition request, it will not involve any additional costs.
Whenever a final grade on the Portuguese grading scale is requested, the applicant must also present:
– document(s) issued by the foreign higher education institution, indicating the final classification awarded to the academic degree or diploma and the foreign final classification scale, with the minimum classification corresponding to approval on that scale and the maximum classification.
– If the degree or diploma is not included in the list set by the Commission for the Recognition of Foreign Degrees, you must opt for this type of recognition request (or for specific recognition). The speed of the process will depend on whether there is precedence in the Institution, that is, whether there has already been a level of recognition granted to the degree or diploma requested. If there is no such recognition, the request will be analysed by a Jury appointed for this purpose (you can consult the appointed Juries below).
– This application has more aspects to assess, so more documents are required (for example, about the structure, course operation, programs and workloads – see Documentation above).
– It allows for the recognition, by comparability, on an individual basis, of a foreign higher education degree or diploma as having a level corresponding to a Portuguese academic degree or higher education diploma.
– If the request is granted, you will be recognized as having higher professional technician diploma or the degree of Bachelor, Master or Doctor.
Deadlines
– Maximum of 90 days, after the complete instruction of the process (see Process Steps above).
Final grade conversion
You can make this recognition request with or without conversion of the final grade. Whenever the conversion request is made as part of the recognition request, it will not involve any additional costs.
Whenever a final grade on the Portuguese grading scale is requested, the applicant must also present:
– document(s) issued by the foreign higher education institution, indicating the final classification awarded to the academic degree or diploma and the foreign final classification scale, with the minimum classification corresponding to approval on that scale and the maximum classification.
– This request tends to take the longest, as it always requires the formation of a Jury and has more aspects to assess (you can see the appointed Juries below).
– It allows for the recognition of a foreign higher education degree or diploma identical to a Portuguese higher education degree or diploma, through a case-by-case analysis of the level, duration and program content, in a specific area of training, branch of knowledge or specialty.
– If the request is granted, you will be awarded the degree/diploma of Higher Professional Technician, Bachelor, Master or Doctor, in a specific area of knowledge and with a classification.
Deadlines
– Maximum of 90 days, after the complete instruction of the process (see Process Steps above).
– The request for conversion of the final grade may occur as part of the Automatic and Level recognition requests. However, the conversion of the final grade may be requested independently.
– Whenever it is an independent request for conversion of the final classification, this will incur its own costs, as established in the Table of Fees.
You must present:
– document(s) issued by the foreign higher education institution, indicating the final classification awarded to the academic degree or diploma and the foreign final classification scale, with the minimum classification corresponding to approval on that scale and the maximum classification.
Deadlines
– Maximum of 30 days, after the complete instruction of the process (see Process Steps above).
Appointment of Juries
The level recognition and specific recognition processes involve a scientific and pedagogical analysis, carried out by a jury appointed for this purpose.
This section discloses the appointed Juries, considering the School/Institute of the Polytechnic of Coimbra that offers the course similar to the one you hold, selected in the recognition application form.
Level Recognition (scientific area of):
Biotechnology – Requests with entry date after 03-06-2024.
Agricultural Sciences – Requests with entry date after 03-06-2024.
Environmental Management – Requests with entry date after 03-06-2024.
Food Science and Engineering – Requests with entry date after 07-06-2024.
Forest Sciences – Requests with entry date after 03-06-2024.
Zootechnics – Requests with entry date after 03-06-2024.
Rural Development – Requests with entry date after 03-06-2024.
Tourism in Rural Areas and Ecotourism – Requests with entry date after 03-06-2024.
Agricultural Business Management – Requests with entry date after 03-06-2024.
Specific Recognition (scientific area of):
Biotechnology – Requests with entry date after 03-06-2024.
Agricultural Sciences – Requests with entry date after 03-06-2024.
Environmental Management – Requests with entry date after 03-06-2024.
Food Science and Engineering – Requests with entry date after 07-06-2024.
Forest Sciences – Requests with entry date after 03-06-2024.
Animal Science – Requests with entry date after 03-06-2024.
Rural Development – Requests with entry date after 03-06-2024.
Tourism in Rural Areas and Ecotourism – Requests with entry date after 03-06-2024.
Management of Agricultural Companies – Requests with entry date after 03-06-2024.
Level Recognition (scientific area of):
Art and Design – Requests with entry date after 23-04-2024.
Visual Arts – Requests with entry date after 03-12-2019.
Social Communication – Requests with entry date after 06-12-2019.
Physical Education and Sports – Requests with entry date after 18-06-2020.
Gerontology – Requests with entry date after 03-12-2021.
Gastronomy – Requests with an entry date after 30-06-2022.
Multimedia – Requests with entry date after 03-12-2019.
Music – Requests with entry date after 25-07-2024.
Pedagogical Practice of Early Childhood Education – Requests with entry date after 06-12-2019 until 04-02-2025.
Pedagogical Practice in Early Childhood Education and Teaching in the 1st Cycle of Basic Education – Requests with entry date after 05-02-2025.
Psychology and Educational Sciences – Requests with entry date after 20-02-2020.
Theater – Requests with entry date after 20-02-2020.
Tourism – Requests with entry date after 26-09-2024.
Specific Recognition (scientific area of):
Art and Design – Requests with entry date after 23-04-2024.
Arts – Requests with entry date after 16-01-2023.
Visual Arts – Requests with entry date after 16-01-2023.
Social Communication – Requests with entry date after 16-01-2023.
Design – Requests with entry date after 16-01-2023.
Physical Education and Sports – Requests with entry date after 18-06-2020.
Gastronomy – Requests with an entry date after 30-06-2022.
Gerontology – Requests with entry date after 06-12-2021.
Multimedia – Requests with entry date after 16-01-2023.
Music – Requests with entry date after 25-07-2024.
Psychology and Educational Sciences – Requests with entry date after 16-01-2023.
Pedagogical Practice of Early Childhood Education – Requests with entry date after 28-09-2022.
Theater – Requests with entry date after 16-01-2023.
Tourism – Requests with entry date after 24-09-2024.
Level Recognition (scientific area of):
Audiology – Requests with entry date after 09-01-2024.
Biomedical Laboratory Sciences – Requests with entry date after 09-01-2024.
Dietetics and Nutrition – Requests with entry date after 09-01-2024.
Pharmacy – Requests with entry date after 09-01-2024.
Clinical Physiology – Requests with entry date after 09-01-2024.
Physiotherapy – Requests with entry date after 09-01-2024.
Medical Imaging and Radiotherapy – Requests with entry date after 09-01-2024.
Environmental Health – Requests with entry date after 09-01-2024.
Specific Recognition (scientific area of):
Audiology – Requests with entry date after 09-01-2024.
Biomedical Laboratory Sciences – Requests with entry date after 09-01-2024.
Dietetics and Nutrition – Requests with entry date after 09-01-2024.
Pharmacy – Requests with entry date after 09-01-2024.
Clinical Physiology – Requests with entry date after 09-01-2024.
Physiotherapy – Requests with entry date after 09-01-2024.
Medical Imaging and Radiotherapy – Requests with entry date after 09-01-2024.
Environmental Health – Requests with entry date after 09-01-2024.
Level Recognition (scientific area of):
Computer Engineering – Request No. 66/RN/IPC/2/2021 – Caroline Relva de Moraes.
Administration – Request No. 66/RN/IPC/97/2021 – Vitor Ângelo Meneghetti Braz.
Computing – Request No. 66/RN/IPC/42/2022 – Marco Antonio Lemes de Proença.
Computing – Request No. 66/RN/IPC/130/2023 – Vitor Alexandre Fragoso Barbosa do Nascimento.
Management and Marketing – Request No. 66/RN/IPC/9/2023 – Milai Vieira Dias Quaresma.
Computer Science – Request No. 66/RN/IPC/40/2023 – Heloi Maria Borges Furtado.
Management and Marketing – Request No. 66/RN/IPC/184/2024- Denise Barreiro do Nascimento.
Management and Marketing – Request No. 66/RN/IPC/229/2024- Allison Fellipe Pinto de Melo.
Specific Recognition (scientific area of):
Computer Engineering – Request No. 66/RE/IPC/51/2020 – Caroline Relva de Moraes.
Accounting and Administration – Request No. 66/RE/IPC/91/2022 – Joaquina Luciano Menezes.
Management and Marketing – Application No. 66/RE/IPC/135/2023- Citlalli Lopez Morales.
Level Recognition (scientific area of):
Business – Requests with entry date after 17-11-2022.
Business – Requests with entry date after 21-10-2024.
Accounting – Requests with entry date after 17-11-2022.
Accounting – Requests with entry date after 21-10-2024.
Law – Requests with entry date after 17-11-2022.
Law – Requests with entry date after 21-10-2024.
Finances – Requests with entry date after 17-11-2022.
Finances – Requests with entry date after 21-10-2024.
Management – Requests with entry date after 17-11-2022.
Management – Requests with entry date after 21-10-2024.
Computing – Requests with entry date after 17-11-2022.
Computing – Requests with entry date after 21-10-2024.
Marketing – Requests with entry date after 17-11-2022.
Marketing– Requests with entry date after 21-10-2024.
Secretarial Studies – Requests with entry date after 09-05-2024.
Secretarial Studies – Requests with entry date after 21-10-2024.
Specific Recognition (scientific area of):
Business – Requests with entry date after 17-11-2022.
Business – Requests with entry date after 21-10-2024.
Accounting – Requests with entry date after 17-11-2022.
Accounting – Requests with entry date after 21-10-2024.
Right – Requests with entry date after 17-11-2022.
Right – Requests with entry date after 21-10-2024.
Finances – Requests with entry date after 17-11-2022.
Finances – Requests with entry date after 21-10-2024.
Management – Requests with entry date after 17-11-2022.
Management – Requests with entry date after 17-11-2022.
Computing – Requests with entry date after 17-11-2022.
Computing – Requests with entry date after 21-10-2024.
Marketing – Requests with entry date after 17-11-2022.
Marketing – Requests with entry date after 21-10-2024.
Secretarial Studies – Requests with entry date after 09-05-2024.
Secretarial Studies – Requests with entry date after 21-10-2024.
Level Recognition (scientific area of):
Civil Engineering – Requests with entry date from 28-10-2022 to 06-10-2024.
Civil Engineering – Requests with a submission date after 07-10-2024.
Industrial Engineering and Management – Requests with entry date from 28-10-2022 to 06-10-2024.
Industrial Engineering and Management – Requests with a submission date after 07-10-2024.
Electrical and Electronics Engineering – Requests with entry date from 28-10-2022 to 06-10-2024.
Electrical Engineering – Requests with a submission date after 07-10-2024.
Computer and Systems Engineering – Requests with entry date from 28-10-2022 to 06-10-2024.
Computer and Systems Engineering – Requests with a submission date after 07-10-2024.
Mechanical Engineering – Requests with entry date from 28-10-2022 to 06-10-2024.
Mechanical Engineering – Requests with a submission date after 07-10-2024.
Chemical and Biological Engineering – Requests with entry date from 28-10-2022 to 06-10-2024.
Chemical and Biological Engineering – Requests with a submission date after 07-10-2024.
Electromechanical Engineering – Requests with entry date after 22-01-2025.
Specific Recognition (scientific area of):
Civil Engineering – Requests with entry date from 28-10-2022 to 06-10-2024.
Civil Engineering – Requests with a submission date after 07-10-2024.
Industrial Engineering and Management – Requests with entry date from 28-10-2022 to 06-10-2024.
Industrial Engineering and Management – Requests with a submission date after 07-10-2024.
Electrical and Electronics Engineering – Requests with entry date from 28-10-2022 to 06-10-2024.
Electrical Engineering – Requests with a submission date after 07-10-2024.
Computer and Systems Engineering – Requests with entry date from 28-10-2022 to 06-10-2024.
Computer and Systems Engineering – Requests with a submission date after 07-10-2024.
Mechanical Engineering – Requests with entry date from 28-10-2022 to 06-10-2024.
Mechanical Engineering – Requests with a submission date after 07-10-2024.
Chemical and Biological Engineering – Requests with entry date from 28-10-2022 to 06-10-2024.
Chemical and Biological Engineering– Requests with a submission date after 07-10-2024.
Electromechanical Engineering – Requests with entry date after 22-01-2025.