Portugal - Higher Education

Higher education consists of university education and polytechnic education. Both are supervised by the Direcção Geral do Ensino Superior (General Office for Higher Education). Each university has a general assembly, a faculty council, and a pedagogical and scientific council. The head of each university is the reitor (rector), and all rectors are members of the National Board of Education.

The aim of higher education is to provide students scientific, cultural, and technical preparation for their professional career. The Licenciatura ranges from four to six years. Further specialization can be pursued with a mestrado (master's degree) and doutorado (doctorate degree).

Higher education is also undertaken in polytechnic institutes with the purpose of developing specific skills and knowledge in professional activities. These institutes offer a Bacharelato (bachelor's degree) after six semesters or a Licenciatura following eight semesters of pedagogical training.

The most traditional universities are in Lisbon, Coimbra, and Oporto. The University of Coimbra is the nation's oldest university. Like other universities, it has several colleges and institutes.

There is an entrance examination for the university that can be waived if the secondary school degrees are very high. In 1975 the Revolutionary Council approved a law obliging students to perform one year of public service before entering the university.

Faculty is organized in four ranks: lecturer, assistant professor, associate professor, and full professor. Universities recruit their faculty through competitive examination and appropriate credentials.