Universities and polytechnics will open around 55,000 places for new students in the national access competition this year, with an increase in courses with higher averages, Basic Education and digital skills.
The first phase of the National Competition for Access to Higher Education kicks off on July 22 and, according to figures released today by the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation (MECI), will have 55,166 places, 158 more than last year.
Among the 34 higher education institutions, 13 will offer more places to new students and the biggest increase is at ISCTE – Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, which will go from 1,378 to 1,516 places (138 more), followed by the University of Porto, which will open 4,714, 45 more than in the previous competition.
There are seven institutions with fewer places and only the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança will have 140 fewer places, falling from 2,105 to 1,965.
In some specific courses, for which the number of places cannot be reduced, institutions go further and make more places available.
This is the case with the courses with the highest averages, which have 4,036 places (46 more), and the courses aimed at digital skills, with 9,355 places (252 more).
In the case of Medicine, there was a slight increase, from 1,541 to 1,554 places, but most faculties opted, as has been the case, to keep the number unchanged.
Of the 13 additional places compared to last year, five were provided by the University of Beira Interior and eight by the University of Coimbra.
In recent years, basic education courses have also been included in this group of exceptions, due to the lack of teachers, and there are now 38 more vacancies than in the previous competition, for a total of 993.
In addition to the national access competition, public higher education institutions will offer 2,712 places under special access schemes (1,340 fewer) and 18,084 through special competitions (1,121 more).
In a statement, the MECI also announces the opening of 17,929 places for private institutions under the General Access Regime, which increases the number of places for new students by 73.
There are also 49 new vacancies in special schemes and another 6,046 in special competitions.
