The proposal by PSD and CDS-PP stipulated that in the academic year 2026/2027, “the maximum tuition fees at public higher education institutions would be equal to the value set in the academic year 2025-2026, plus the average rate of change of the consumer price index” for 2025.
According to the initiative, the inflation rate would also serve as a reference for tuition fees in mandatory master’s programs necessary for professional activities, such as teaching.
In September, the Minister of Education, Science, and Innovation announced the unfreezing of undergraduate tuition fees starting from the 2026/2027 academic year, with an increase from 697 to 710 euros.
“The Government will also include in the proposal for the State Budget Law for 2026 (OE2026) the updating of undergraduate tuition fees based on the inflation rate of 2025,” Fernando Alexandre announced at the time.
However, the proposal submitted by the Minister of Finance to the President of the Assembly of the Republic on October 9 did not reference this measure. In January, the Ministry of Education explained that “the potential unfreezing of tuition fees should be included in the State Budget Law for 2026 through the reformulation of the article regarding tuition fees.”
Following today’s vote, on the third day of specialized voting on OE2026, Lusa asked the Ministry of Education, Science, and Innovation (MECI) whether the rejection of the amendment proposal by PSD and CDS-PP would prevent the unfreezing of tuition fees in the next academic year. No response has been received so far.
