Academic Recognition

The juridical regime for the recognition of foreign academic degrees is regulated by the Decree-Law No. 341/2007, of 12 October, regulated by the Ministerial Order nr. 29/2008 of 10 January, and applies to:

a) Academic degrees awarded by foreign higher education institutions that, by decision* of the Committee for the Recognition of Foreign Degrees are considered identical in terms of level, objectives and nature to the graduate, master and doctoral degrees awarded by the Portuguese higher education institutions;

b) Academic degrees awarded by a higher education institution of a signatory state of the Bologna Declaration, after the completion of a 1st, 2nd or 3rd study cycle, structured in accordance with the Declaration and recognized by an accrediting entity under the scope of the agreement. All rights inherent to the holders of an academic degree are recognized.

The effects of recognition are subject to the previous registration of the diploma.
The entities qualified to carry out the registration are:
1 - For all degrees:
a) The Rector of one of the Portuguese public universities, chosen by the applicant;
b) The general director for Higher Education.

2 – For the graduate and master degrees:
In addition to the entities mentioned in the previous item, these degrees must also be recognized by the President of a Portuguese public polytechnic institute.

To issue the request, the following documents are required:
a) “Original diploma or equivalent document, issued by an accredited foreign higher education institution authority, that clearly proves that the degree was already awarded;
b) A copy of the thesis or dissertation** in the cases where the registered diploma confers a qualification equivalent to a doctorate or master’s degree”
The registration must be carried out within a month and an annually updated fee will be charged.

The applicable legislation is the Decree-Law No. 283/83, of 21 June (that regulates the requests for Equivalence and Recognition of several degrees/levels of foreign qualifications), which states that the holder of a foreign academic degree that is not generically recognized in the articles 4 and 5 of the Decree-Law No. 341/2007 of 12 October, may request the specific recognition or equivalence, that will require in both cases a re-evaluation of the degrees awarded by the foreign universities, made by a nominated jury and subject to service fees*** fixed in the Dispatch No. 19 897/2007, published in Diário da República No. 168 of 31 August.

For more information please contact:

NOVA's Rectorate Academic Services
Tel.: +351 213 715 616
E-mail: div-academica@unl.pt

General Directorate of Higher Education (Direcção-Geral do Ensino Superior): http://www.dges.mctes.pt/ (Recognition of foreign qualifications area)


* The Commission decisions are considered generic.
** The copy can be delivered in digital format.
*** The current value is €205,00 (subject to change)