Higher Education. The first phase of the national entrance exam begins

The first phase of the national competition for access to higher education begins this Monday, with almost 56,000 places available for more than a thousand courses at public universities and polytechnics.

Applications must be submitted on the website of the Directorate-General for Higher Education (DGES) and the deadline is August 4th.

For the next academic year, universities and polytechnic institutes made 55,956 places available (643 more than last year) through the general access regime, which includes the national competition and local competitions, for example, for artistic courses.

For emigrant candidates, candidates of Portuguese descent or those requesting to replace entrance exams with foreign exams, the deadline for submitting applications ends earlier, on July 28th.

Students will be able to choose from more than 1,100 options at 34 higher education institutions.

The results will be announced on August 24th and candidates placed in the 1st phase will then have until August 28th to enroll.

The 2nd phase takes place between August 25th and September 3rd, with the results being announced on September 14th, followed by the 3rd phase between September 23rd and 25th, with the results being announced on October 1st.

To apply, students need an access password — which can be requested through the DGES website — and the ENES form, issued by the school, with their final secondary school grade and entrance exam results.