NARIC guide on Higher Education Systems in the European Union

The Universidade Católica Portuguesa (Portuguese Catholic University) occupies a special place within the system of higher
education in Portugal, since it is a legal and economic entity established by decree of the Holy See and recognised by the State
of Portugal for the purposes of internal law under the aegis of Article XX of the Concordat between the two States.
Within this legal and institutional framework, the UCP does not need permission from the government to set up or recognise
schools, courses or other units. The UCP’s representative simply informs government departments about the schools and
courses in operation.
The UCP awards the same academic degrees as those awarded by the public universities. Degree courses have the same
duration and are organised in the same way as those offered in the public education system.
Private higher education institutions
Private higher education institutions are supervised and partially supported by the Ministry of Education. Thus, it falls to the
State to grant authorisation for the creation and operation of institutions and courses and to decide upon their official
recognition.
Private higher education courses are organised on the same lines as the public higher education courses awarding the
corresponding degrees. They are of the same duration and use the same assessment system.
Degrees and diplomas awarded by these institutions have the same value and force as concerns academic or professional
effects as those issued by public higher education institutions.
Types of private higher education institutions
In private higher education we may distinguish two types of institution:
• university institutions;
• other higher education institutions.
Degrees and diplomas issued by private higher education institutions are recognised as equal to those awarded by public
higher education institutions.
II.3.5. Academic recognition of final qualifications in higher education
A first degree does not automatically entitle the holder to enter a postgraduate course. For instance, holders of a bacharel
degree are not entitled to attend a mestrado course. Only holders of a licenciado degree or a legally equivalent qualification
with a final mark of 14 along a scale of 0 to 20 are entitled to attend a mestrado course.
Examinations for a doctorate are only possible for holders of a licenciado degree or a legally equivalent qualification with a
final mark of at least 16 along a scale of 0 to 20, or holders of a mestre degree.
II.3.6. Intercommunicability between the systems of higher education
The two systems of higher education — university and polytechnic — are interlinked and it is always possible to transfer from
one to the other.
In fact, a student attending a course in a polytechnic institution may apply for a transfer to a university course and vice versa.
The relevant bodies of the higher education institution to which the student wishes to move have the power to decide whether
to accept him or her and to define the curriculum which the student will have to complete in order to finish the new study
programme.