The number of applicants for the first phase of the National Higher Education Access Contest (CNAES) has dropped by about 15% compared to last year, falling below 50,000 students and reaching figures similar to those recorded seven years ago, in 2018.
The National Federation of Associations of Polytechnic Higher Education Students (FNAEESP) expresses concern over the decrease in applicants, attributing this trend to “two structural causes”: the cost of attending higher education and the requirement to take at least three national exams, one of which is in Portuguese.
In a statement sent to the press, the FNAEESP calls for the removal of the mandatory Portuguese exam, advocating that this would provide “greater flexibility for candidates in choosing entrance exams that match their profiles and the courses they apply for.”
Polytechnic students further demand that exams become mandatory only for those aspiring to higher education, rather than contributing 30% to the final secondary internal grade.
This year, only 76,939 students took the Portuguese exam in the first phase, with over 18,000 (23%) scoring below passing, according to data from the National Examination Jury (JNE) released last month.
The president of the Porto Academic Federation (FAP), Francisco Fernandes, disagrees with the notion that the drop in applicants is linked to the higher education access model.
Nevertheless, both leaders agree on the issue of “high costs of attending higher education.”
The president of the University of Lisbon’s Academic Association (AAUL), Gonçalo Osório de Castro, has also supported this view today.
In statements to the press, the AAUL president recalled data from the Student Housing Observatory report, which confirms the increase in room rental prices in the student housing market and illustrates that “it is very expensive to study in major urban centers.”
At the beginning of this summer, the average cost in the country was 415 euros, with Lisbon being the most expensive district, followed by Porto.
“With average room prices of 400 euros, we are blocking many students from ever becoming students,” warned Francisco Porto Fernandes, who is convinced many students wish to study in Porto but end up giving up.
According to the FAP president, between 2018 and 2024, there was a 10% reduction in young people relocating to the city.
The FNAEESP also raises concerns regarding the statements by the Minister of Education about unfreezing the tuition value, which has created uncertainty and fear among families worried about being unable to bear the costs associated with higher education studies.
This year, more than 160,000 11th and 12th grade students registered for national exams, but only half (55%) stated that their goal was to apply for higher education.
In the first phase of national exams, student scores were also lower this year: out of 25 subjects, 15 had worse averages compared to last year’s first phase results.
There are about 55,000 slots in the general public higher education access regime, along with another 21,000 from special regimes and contests, such as those for people over 23 years old or course changes. In the private sector, there are around 25,000 places.
The placement results will be announced on August 24, with students having that week to enroll. The application for the second phase of the national competition takes place between August 25 and September 3, which usually has far fewer available slots.
