INFORMATION FOR UNDERGRADUATE CANDIDATES

While doing your research on university entrance requirements, you will come across expessions like:
GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) - exam taken after 11 years of compulsory education

'A'level (Advanced level) - final exam taken after 2 more years of study which provides access to higher education

Since the Portuguese have a three-year course as preparation for entry into higher education, they need only to pay attention where 'A' levels are mentioned. Where the expression 'A' level is found it may be compared to the 12º Ano.

Within the British system pass grades are from A - the highest to E - the lowest. You may take the following information as an approximate and unofficial guideline: we suggest that A comprises marks from 20/20 to 18/20, B from 17/20 to 15/20, etc. This means that for students with grades12/20 or 13/20 should not apply for courses which require As or Bs at 'A' level.

The following information is only a rough guide and is not an 'offcial' comparison. It is only intended for people interested in studying in the UK. Remember, too, that courses admit people and not qualifications. See note below.

Students with 12 or 13 will probably not be successful in applying for courses which require 'A's or 'B's - although this may depend on the subject or institution chosen.  

IMPORTANT:
UK SYSTEMS SELECT PEOPLE AND NOT JUST GRADES

However, we must point out an important aspect of the British higher education selection procedure: admission tutors assess candidates as individuals, each one with a particular profile, including their motivation. This means that marks are not the only important factor in an application process. On the application form there is a space where the student will have to write about his/her reasons for choosing that particular course, his/her career plans, hobbies, etc. There is another space where a teacher will write about the candidate, recommending him/her to the admission tutor. These two texts plus the information regarding the school/university marks will form the profile of the individual candidate.

INFORMATION FOR POSTGRADUATE CANDIDATES

The following information is only a rough guide and is not an 'offcial' comparison

For further information on the equivalence of UK higher education courses in Portugal we suggest you contact the Portuguese Ministry of Science and Higher Education (NARIC - address below).

IMPORTANT INFORMATION – CHANGED SERVICES PROVISION

CERTIFICATION OF BRITISH QUALIFICATIONS  

The British Council no longer does certifications of academic documents. If you are coming to Portugal and you want to get equivalences to your British academic qualifications you have to go to:

			A public Portuguese University if you have an Honours degree, a Masters or a PhD. For further information contact: Ministério da Ciência e do Ensino Superior Direção Geral do Ensino Superior NARIC - National Academic Recognition Information Centres Avenida Duque de Ávila, 137 1069-016 Lisboa T: 213 126 145 F: 213 126 098 http://www.naricportugal.pt/naric
			A Preparatory or Secondary school near your Portuguese residence if you have primary, secondary, further education or similar. For further information contact: Ministério de Educação DGIDC – Direção-Geral de Inovação e Desenvolvimento Curricular Av. 24 de Julho, n.º 140 1399 - 025 Lisboa T: 213 934 500 F: 213 934 695 E: dgidc@dgidc.min-edu.pt

New:
The authentication of the translation of your diploma or school report from English to Portuguese can be done at the local notary. The British Consulate is only able to authenticate translations from Portuguese to English.

British Embassy
Rua de São Bernardo, 33, 1249-082 Lisboa
T 213 924 000
F 213 924 183
British Embassy website