NARIC guide on Higher Education Systems in the European Union

I. Higher education system
The general law, approved in 1986 and known as the Lei de Bases do Sistema Educativo — LBSE (law on the bases of the
education system), aimed at reforming the whole education system in Portugal, is in force throughout the whole of the
national territory.
The principle of self-government by the public universities embodied in this law was subsequently set down in the autonomy
law, Law No 108/88, dated 24 September 1988.
In accordance with this law, Portuguese public higher education
institutions are autonomous institutions and are free to manage their
academic, administrative and financial affairs. This implies the right to grant their own degrees and diplomas, to create new
courses and to establish teaching methods.
In 1990, Law No 54/90, dated 5 September, established the statute and autonomy of the polytechnic institutes.
I.1. The institutions of higher education
Under the terms of the law on the bases of the education system,
higher education in Portugal is divided into two systems:
polytechnic education (non-university higher education).
University education
University education is essentially theoretical in nature. It is designed
to inculcate innovation and critical analysis and to provide scientific
and technical training, equipping graduates to work as professionals.
It undertakes fundamental and applied research in different subject areas.
University education is provided by universities, which are organised into escolas (schools), institutos (institutes), faculdades
(faculties) or other units — for example, departamentos (departments), cursos (courses) or projectos (projects).
Universities offer courses in areas such as arts and humanities (including theology), social sciences (including economics,
anthropology, psychology, sociology, European studies), business management (including public administration), medicine
(including dentistry and pharmacy), architecture, engineering and technology, exact and natural sciences, informatics, law,
fine arts and design, agriculture and silviculture (including veterinary medicine and food sciences), physical education and
sports, communication sciences (including journalism) and other areas such as music, social work, military sciences, etc.
Polytechnic education
The purpose of education at polytechnic higher education institutions, essentially practical in nature, is to provide a thorough
cultural and
technical higher education, to develop the capacity for innovation and critical analysis and to disseminate theoretical and
practical scientific knowledge and its applications with a view to its use in professional
activities. This type of education is offered at escolas and institutos superiores. The polytechnic institutes offer courses in the
following areas: accountancy, business and management (including marketing, publicity, secretarial studies, auditing,
administration), engineering and technology, agriculture and silviculture, tourism, nursing, paramedical
activities, informatics, teacher training courses for educators and for
basic education (first and second cycle), music, drama, theatre, cinema, arts, etc.