MARCOS SANTOS / USP
There were 9,000 candidates. 11,513 vacancies left, the highest value of the last decade. There are already dates for those who are waiting for the 2nd phase.
More than 43 thousand students were placed in a public higher education institution, corresponding to nine out of 10 Candidates, and most got a place in the course they intended, according to official data released this Saturday.
This year there was minus nine thousand candidates To higher education, not reaching 50 thousand, and the predictions of having fewer students to enter higher education were confirmed: in the 1st phase of the National Higher Education Contest were placed 43,899 students, which corresponds to a decreased 12.1% compared to last year.
On the other hand, the percentage of candidates who got a vacancy increased, reaching the highest value ever of 90.1% of placedfour more percentage points than in 2024.
A Most (63.1%) managed to be placed in its first option and 90.9% in its first three options of candidacy, these are also the highest values of recent years.
For the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation (MECI), this percentage increase reveals “a growing adjustment between student demand and the offer of institutions.”
Record of vacancies
The numbers show that this year there were 626 vacancies and nine thousand candidates. Result: There are 11,513 vacancies leftthe highest value of the last decade.
Vacancies left by dropouts published day 2. Applications end day 3
Os students placed in the 1st phase now have four days, between Monday and Thursday, to subscribe. Since they can apply for the 2nd phase, whose candidacies also start on Monday.
In addition to the 11,513 vacancies that are now left over, in the 2nd phase new places left by students who did not realize the enrollment and registration.
These new vacancies dependent on students who give up on the place will be released only on September 2 in the Directorate-General for Higher Education (DGES), and there is still possible to change an application already made.
As applications for the 2nd phase end on September 3 And the results will be released on September 14.
The 2nd phase may apply for those who have not now been placed and those who have achieved a place intend to change their course. However, “if these students are placed in the 2nd phase, the placement in the 1st phase, as well as the enrollment and registration they made, are nullified”, recalls the guardianship.
Candidates placed in the 1st phase that did not proceed with its enrollment and registration may also enroll in the 2nd phase.
The highest averages
Aerospace Engineeringat the University of Porto, this year is the course with the highest average: the last student to get one of the 30 vacancies available in the 1st phase had a average of 19.43 values.
But there are 13 other courses taught at the Universities of Minho, Porto, Aveiro and Lisbon and one at the Cávado Polytechnic Institute and Ave – School of Technology in which only students entered grades of excellence.
Soon Aerospace Engineering follows the course of Computer Systems Engineeringin post-work regime, of the Polytechnic of Cávado and the Ave, in which the last student to enter had an average 18.95 valuesa value far above the recorded in recent years. The institution opened 32 vacancies, but only four students were placed, one exception between the excellence courses.
Here are the Aerospace Engineering courses of the University of Minho (18.85 values), Engineering and Industrial Management, at the University of Porto (18.65 values), and medicine, also in Porto, with 18.53.
Only then two courses from the University of Lisbon: Mathematics Applied to Economics and Management, from the Higher Institute of Economics and Management (ISEG) with 18.51 values, and Aerospace Engineering of the Higher Technical Institute with 18.50.
Basic Education Fires
The data also show that increased students in 20.3% undergraduate in Basic Educationnow there are 1,199 new students who occupied all vacancies available in the 1st phase.
“In the last three years the number of undergraduate education in Basic Education has increased by 64.9%, which demonstrates the growing interest of students in these formations,” says the MECI in a statement sent to the newsrooms.
The most and less competitive
In medical courses, which are again among the courses with the highest access averages, 1,647 students were placed.
Looking at the most competitive courses, that is, those in which there are more candidates in the first option with grades equal to or greater than 17 values, 4,524 new students entered, which represents a 10% increase compared to last year.
On the other hand, they decreased those placed in courses in the areas of digital skills: there are 6,447 freshmen, less 16.7% than the previous year.
The lower averages – and a warning of the polytechnics
As opposed to the most contested courses, there are 41 others in which no student will have competed, since none of the nearly 1,000 openings were occupied: almost all training taught in polytechnic institutes and most in the field of engineering.
The chairman of the coordinating council of the higher polytechnic institutes, Maria José Fernandes says that the numbers of the placements are the reflection of “a LATORALIZATION OF HIGHER EDUCATIONin addition to accentuating regional asymmetries, it calls into question territorial cohesion and the legitimate access of all young people to higher education, ”and asks, in the name of polytechnics, that the access rules change.
