Third phase adds 1,168 new students

The third phase of Portugal's national access competition for higher education placed 1,168 new students, according to the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation, which announced the results in a communiqué on Saturday, 17 October. The ministry's analysis counts 1,813 students placed in this phase, of whom 645 were re-placements. Placements rose 31.2% compared with the third phase of 2025, while valid applications grew 48.5% over the same period. Across all three phases, 52,008 students have been admitted for 2026/2027. Official figures show 6,718 more new students than in 2025/2026, a year with an exceptionally low number of placements, which is a rise of 14.8%.

Who applied in the third phase

The third phase drew 4,524 valid candidates. Of these, 250 applied for the first time this year, while 2,047 had applied in earlier phases without being placed. Another 501 had been placed earlier but did not enrol, and 1,726 had already enrolled after an earlier placement and applied again for a course or institution they preferred more. Students placed in this phase can enrol at their institution from Sunday, 18 October, until 20 October.

First-time applicants250

Applied earlier, not placed2,047

Placed earlier, did not enrol501

Already enrolled, reapplied1,726

First-time applicants

250 candidates

Applied earlier, not placed

2047 candidates

Placed earlier, did not enrol

501 candidates

Already enrolled, reapplied

1726 candidates

Data from the article text

Seats and occupancy

Institutions offered 56,228 seats across the three phases, and 92.5% were filled. Universities reached 97.2%, admitting 31,203 students for 32,098 seats, while polytechnics admitted 20,805 students for 24,130 seats, an occupancy rate of 86.2%. In the third phase, institutions started with 3,526 seats, added 638 places freed by students who had enrolled in earlier phases, and created 21 extra places for candidates without a final grade. After this phase, 2,103 seats remained unfilled.

Universities31,203

Polytechnics20,805

Universities

31203 students

Polytechnics

20805 students

Data from the article text

Institutions at the top and bottom

The Estoril Hotel and Tourism School filled 102.1% of its initial seats, the highest rate listed, followed by ISCTE at 99.8%. The University of Porto admitted 5,078 students at 99.4%, and the University of Lisbon admitted 7,749 students for 7,800 initial seats, or 99.3%. The University of Coimbra admitted 3,843 students at 97.9%, and the Porto polytechnic filled 99.3% of its 3,247 seats with 3,224 admitted. At the other end, the Beja polytechnic filled 66.5%, the Guarda polytechnic 64.3%, the Tomar polytechnic 63.7%, and the Bragança polytechnic 49.3%, admitting 954 students, the lowest rate among the institutions listed in the results.

Estoril Hotel and Tourism School102.1%

ISCTE99.8%

University of Porto99.4%

University of Lisbon99.3%

Porto polytechnic99.3%

Nova University of Lisbon99.1%

Beja polytechnic66.5%

Guarda polytechnic64.3%

Tomar polytechnic63.7%

Bragança polytechnic49.3%

Estoril Hotel and Tourism School

102.1 %

ISCTE

99.8 %

University of Porto

99.4 %

University of Lisbon

99.3 %

Porto polytechnic

99.3 %

Nova University of Lisbon

99.1 %

Beja polytechnic

66.5 %

Guarda polytechnic

64.3 %

Tomar polytechnic

63.7 %

Bragança polytechnic

49.3 %

Data from the article text

Subject areas with empty seats

Humanities and transport services filled all their seats. Information and journalism reached 90.4%, social and behavioural sciences 98.9%, and law 98.6%. At the other end, agriculture, forestry and fisheries filled 48.8% of places, security services 54.3%, and manufacturing 60.2%. These are the areas where the largest share of seats was left empty after the competition.