A total of 49,991 candidates have secured places in public higher education institutions across Portugal during the first phase of the National Access Competition, leaving 412 degree courses with remaining vacancies for the second round.
Data from the national admissions process shows that 758 of the 1,170 public higher education courses available nationwide filled all of their available places in the initial phase, leaving the majority of programs completely full.
Following the first phase of placements, 6,639 vacancies remain available for prospective students entering the second application phase. Among the country's public institutions, the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança has the highest number of unfilled spots, with 1,138 vacancies remaining. In contrast, the Estoril Higher Institute for Tourism and Hotel Studies recorded the fewest remaining places, with only 5 vacancies left unfilled.
University and Polytechnic Placements
Polytechnic institutes experienced a substantial surge in admissions, increasing their total number of placed candidates by almost 25 percent. A total of 19,311 applicants gained entry into polytechnic institutions, representing an increase of 3,798 students compared to the previous year. Portuguese public higher education is split into two complementary sectors: universities, which emphasize academic research, and polytechnic institutes, which focus on practical vocational training.
University admissions also grew, placing 30,680 candidates in the first phase. This represents an 8.1 percent increase over 2025, with 2,294 more students entering university programs than last year. The University of Lisbon, situated in Portugal's capital city, emerged as the single institution with the highest number of placed students, admitting 7,711 candidates.
Most Popular Fields and Top Entry Grades
Engineering degree programs dominated student preferences across the nation, securing the largest share of successful applicants with 8,557 candidates placed. Medical degree courses recorded 1,663 candidates admitted during the first phase, while Basic Education degree programs accounted for 1,302 successful candidate placements. Figures associated with the national admissions drive also showed that more than 1,600 low-income students secured places in higher education institutions.
Academic entry scores reached their highest levels in engineering and medical disciplines, which operate on a national competitive scale of up to 200.0 points. Aerospace Engineering at the University of Porto recorded the highest entry grade for the final admitted student, with the last applicant entering with 195.0 points. The same Aerospace Engineering degree at the University of Minho required an entry average of 189.8 points for the final candidate placed, followed by Medicine at the University of Porto, where the last entry score stood at 186.7 points.
Across all 1,170 public higher education courses offered in Portugal, a total of 18 programs required an entry average equal to or higher than 180.0 points for the final admitted candidate. Admissions to Portuguese public universities and polytechnics require applicants to complete national entrance examinations, with final placement determined by competitive ranking based on secondary school performance and exam scores.
Next Steps for Applicants
Candidates who were not placed or who wish to apply for the remaining seats can submit applications for the second phase of the National Access Competition, which opens tomorrow.
