The recognition in Portugal of academic degrees and higher education diplomas awarded by foreign higher education institutions has been regulated since 1 January 2019 by the Decreto-Lei n.º 66/2018, de 16 de agosto.
The request for Recognition of a Foreign Degree is made through a specific platform of the DGES.
Presently, there are three types of recognition in Portugal:
- Automatic Recognition
The foreign higher education degree or diploma is generally recognised when its level, goals and nature are identical to the Portuguese degrees of licenciado (graduate), mestre (master) and doutor (doctorate) or the short cycle professional higher technical diplomas. Eligible degrees are listed in the degrees and diplomas determined by the commission for the recognition of foreign higher education degrees and diplomas and must have been awarded by an institution recognised or accredited by its own country’s competent authorities. You can check at DGES’ webpage if your diploma may be subject of automatic recognition.
- Level Recognition
It allows the recognition by comparison, on a case by case basis, of a foreign higher education degree or diploma as having a level corresponding to a Portuguese higher education degree or diploma.
The level recognition is submitted to an institution that awards a degree or diploma in the same field. You can check, at ULisboa’s webpage, our training fields.
The level recognition can also be established by precedence, in the cases that the degrees recognised share the same elements simultaneously:
- awarded by the same institution;
- have the same course designation;
- have the same degree;
- have the same duration or number or credits.
DGES will make available updated information on level recognition requests already concluded or denied.
- Specific Recognition
It allows the recognition by comparison, on a case by case basis, of a foreign higher education degree or diploma as having a level corresponding to a Portuguese higher education degree or diploma in a certain training field, branch of knowledge or specialty.
The specific recognition is submitted to an institution that awards the same degree or diploma in the same training area. You can check, at ULisboa’s webpage, our training fields.
This recognition can be conditional upon approval in knowledge assessment procedures.
As part of the specific recognition, degrees awarded by foreign higher education institutions following a training with 300 to 360 credits and a course curriculum between 10 and 12 curricular semesters, which correspond in Portugal:
a) in duration and syllabus content, to an integrated study cycle conducting to a degree of Master, can be recognised to the degree of Mestre (Master);
b) in syllabus content, to a degree of Licenciado (Graduate), are recognised to the degree of Mestre (Master), insofar the holder of that academic degree has successfully obtained approval in an original scientific dissertation or project work specifically carried out for this purpose, or a professional internship subject to a final report, with a duration equivalent to 30 curricular units.
For detailed information on the procedures for applying for recognition of foreign qualifications, see the University of Lisbon website.