RECOGNITION OF ACADEMIC DEGREES AND HIGHER EDUCATION DIPLOMAS AWARDED BY FOREIGN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS (FROM 1 JANUARY 2019)
(under Decree-Law no. 66/2018 of 16 August)
- automatic recognition
A form of general recognition of a foreign higher education degree or diploma, the level, objectives and nature of which are identical to Portuguese bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees or professional higher technician diplomas, which appear on the list of degrees and diplomas established by the commission for the recognition of foreign degrees and diplomas and which have been awarded by an institution recognised or accredited by the competent authorities of the country of origin. You can check on the DGES website whether your diploma is eligible for automatic recognition.
- level recognition
This allows a foreign higher education degree or diploma to be recognised, on a case-by-case basis, as having a level corresponding to a Portuguese higher education degree or diploma.
Recognition of level is requested from an institution that awards the degree or diploma in the same field of study. You can consult our training areas on the ULisboa website.
Level recognition can also be based on precedence, in cases where the following elements are cumulatively met:
a) being awarded by the same foreign higher education institution in the same country;
b) it has the same title as the study programme;
c) it has the same name as the foreign degree or diploma;
d) the course leading to the degree or diploma has the same duration or the same number of credits.
- specific recognition
This allows a foreign higher education degree or diploma to be recognised, on a case-by-case basis, as having a level corresponding to a Portuguese higher education degree or diploma in a specific area of training, speciality or branch of knowledge.
Specific recognition is requested from an institution that awards the degree or diploma in the same area of training. You can consult our training areas on the ULisboa website.
This recognition may be conditional on passing knowledge assessment procedures.
Within the scope of specific recognition, degrees awarded by foreign higher education institutions following training with 300 to 360 credits and a normal duration of between 10 and 12 curricular semesters that correspond in Portugal:
a) In duration and syllabus content, the integrated study cycle leading to a master’s degree is recognised;
b) In terms of syllabus content, a cycle of studies leading to a bachelor’s degree is recognised as a master’s degree, provided that the holder of said academic degree has passed a scientific dissertation or a project work, original and specially carried out for this purpose, or a professional internship which is the subject of a final report, with a duration equivalent to 30 credits.
For automatic recognition or recognition of level by precedence:
1. One of the following documents:
a) A copy of the diploma or document issued by the foreign higher education institution proving that you hold the degree or diploma for which recognition is requested, authenticated by the competent authorities for this purpose. In this case, the original must also be presented at the Academic Evidence Centre of the ULisboa Rectory or a copy authenticated by the competent authorities must be sent to the same Centre;
b) A simple copy of the document issued by the foreign higher education institution with the degree or diploma registration number, in the case of foreign higher education institutions that have centralised registers that can be consulted publicly through a unique identifier;
c) Diploma or certificate issued by the foreign higher education institution, in its original version, proving that you hold the degree or diploma for which recognition is requested. In this case, the original must also be presented at the Academic Evidence Centre of the ULisboa Rectory or a copy authenticated by the competent authorities must be sent to the same Centre.
All documents issued by the foreign higher education institution can be submitted in digital format, provided their authenticity is unequivocal and they are in non-editable format and bear a qualified electronic signature affixed by the competent authorities of that institution.
2. Declaration by the applicant proposing the CNAEF and FOS classifications of the training they wish to be recognised. You can consult the CNAEF and FOS training area tables on this page, in the documents available in the menu on the right.
3. The application will be processed subject to the display of the identification document. Alternatively, you can submit a declaration authorising the sending of a copy of the identification document for the purposes of issuing the certificate of registration of recognition, accompanied by a copy of the document duly traced or annulled.
Copy of the prior recognition certificate:
Document issued by the foreign higher education institution indicating the final classification awarded to the academic degree or diploma for which recognition is requested. Proof must also be provided of the grading scale adopted by the foreign higher education institution, including the minimum grade for approval and the maximum grade on the scale.
For specific or level recognition without precedence:
1. One of the following documents:
a) Copy of the diploma or document issued by the foreign higher education institution proving that you hold the degree or diploma for which recognition is requested, authenticated by the competent authorities for this purpose. In this case, the original must also be presented at the Academic Evidence Centre of the ULisboa Rectory or a copy authenticated by the competent authorities must be sent to the same Centre;
b) A simple copy of the document issued by the foreign higher education institution with the degree or diploma registration number, in the case of foreign higher education institutions that have centralised registers that can be consulted publicly through a unique identifier;
c) Diploma or certificate issued by the foreign higher education institution, in its original version, proving that you hold the degree or diploma for which recognition is requested. In this case, the original must also be presented at the Academic Evidence Centre of the ULisboa Rectory or a copy authenticated by the competent authorities must be sent to the same Centre.
All documents issued by the foreign higher education institution can be submitted in digital format, provided their authenticity is unequivocal and they are in non-editable format and bear a qualified electronic signature affixed by the competent authorities of that institution.
2. Declaration by the applicant proposing the CNAEF and FOS classifications of the training they wish to be recognised. You can consult the CNAEF and FOS training area tables on this page, in the documents available in the menu on the right.
3. A document issued by the foreign higher education institution setting out the course units that the applicant passed and which led to the degree or diploma they are seeking recognition for, as well as the respective syllabus, the duration of the studies leading to the degree and the respective final classification.
4. In the case of a master’s degree, a digital or digitised copy of the defended dissertation, project work or internship report.
5. In the case of a degree corresponding to a doctorate, a digital or scanned copy of the defended thesis, except when this has been replaced by other research work, works or artistic achievements, in which case the appropriate elements must be submitted in a digital or scanned format in order to know the content of the research carried out and the grounds that explain the process of conception and elaboration, the research capacity, and its framework in the evolution of knowledge in the field in which it is inserted.
6. The processing of the application is subject to the presentation of the identification document. Alternatively, you can submit a declaration authorising the sending of a copy of the identification document for the purposes of issuing the certificate of registration of recognition, accompanied by a copy of the document duly traced or cancelled.
The documents referred to in 4 and 5 are waived in situations where their presentation was not required to obtain the academic degree that the applicant wishes to have recognised, and the applicant must prove this by means of a document issued by the respective foreign higher education institution confirming that these elements were not required for the completion of the degree.
1. Diplomas, certificates and documents referring to curricular units, programme contents, length of studies or final classification that are written in a foreign language other than Spanish, French or English must be accompanied by a translation into Portuguese duly certified by the competent authorities for this purpose.
2. When submitting project work, internship reports, dissertations, theses and foundations that are written in any foreign language, a translation into Portuguese duly certified by the competent authorities may be requested.
3. The certification referred to in the previous paragraphs concerns the content of the translation and not the signatures of those involved in the acts in question.
Diplomas, certificates and transcripts issued by higher education institutions in non-EU countries must be legalised by a Portuguese consular agent or by the Hague Apostille. These legalisations are carried out in the country of origin of the documents.
Diplomas and certificates can be presented by means of a certified copy made by a Portuguese Notary’s Office, a Portuguese Consulate, Chambers of Commerce and Industry (recognised under Decree-Law no. 244/92, 29 July 1992) or by a Portuguese Consulate.º 244/92, of 29 October), Lawyers and Solicitors, Registry Offices, Parish Councils, CTT.
Processes for the Equivalence and/or Recognition of Degrees:
Licenciatura – 550,00
Master’s Degree – 550,00
Doctorate – 600,00
Issue of 2nd copies of Certificates of equivalence for bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees – 25.00
The counting of deadlines:
- begins when the application is complete, which includes the submission of all documents, as well as the presentation of those requested, and the payment of fees;
- is suspended when information, documentation or evaluation is requested.
Automatic recognition: 30 working days from receipt of the duly completed application.
Level recognition: 90 working days from receipt of the duly completed application.
Level recognition based on precedence: 30 working days from receipt of the duly completed application.
Specific recognition: 90 working days from receipt of the duly completed application.
The members of the Equivalence Commission are:
- Prof Dr Jaime Valle – jaimevalle@fd.ulisboa.pt
- Prof Dr Hugo Ramos Alves – ramosalves@fd.ulisboa.pt
- Prof Dr Margarida Seixas – anaseixas@fd.ulisboa.pt
- Prof Dr Paula Braz Machado – paulamachado@fd.ulisboa.pt
List and subjects of the Written and Oral Tests for the Assessment of Knowledge approved by Resolution no. 490/2017 of the Scientific Council, and under the terms of no. 3, article 20 of Decree-Law no. 66/2018.º 3, do art.º 20, do Decreto-Lei n.º 66/2018, de 16 de agosto (in force from 16/10/2024)
List and subjects of Written and Oral Tests for the Assessment of Knowledge approved by Resolution no. 490/2017 of the Scientific Council, and under the terms of no. 3 of article 20 of Decree-Law no. 66/2018 of 16 August (in force until 15/10/2024).
Final marks for the Specific Recognition written tests
Correction criteria for the Knowledge Assessment Tests:
Historical-Legal Sciences
Legal and Political Sciences
Legal Sciences
Legal-Economic Sciences
This is done using the electronic form available on the DGES website.
If you wish, you can go to the Rectorate’s offices during normal opening hours and submit the request with the help of one of the staff. In this case, you must present the original diploma or certificate and your identification document, and you must bring all the scanned documents to submit on a USB stick (each file can be up to 4 MB, as the form does not accept larger files). You can also pay the fees at the same time.
If you want to submit the application remotely, you must check that all the data you have entered is complete (name, contact details, etc.). The form only accepts the submission of files up to 4 MB in size, so larger files should be split into several, labelled with the same name, followed by “1”, “2”, “3”, etc. If you request automatic recognition, in the “Cycle of Studies” field you must indicate “Bologna” if your course was taken at a European university after the implementation of this process, “Pre-Bologna” if it was before and “Other” if you took your course in the USA, Canada or Brazil (countries included in the list of deliberations). In the next field, referring to the Degree, you must select the Degree that corresponds to the one awarded to you by the foreign university.
The University of Lisbon reserves the right to edit the data according to the documents submitted and presented by the applicant.
- Decree-Law no. 66/2018 of 16 August – Approves the legal regime for the recognition of academic degrees and higher education diplomas awarded by foreign higher education institutions.
- MinisterialOrder no. 33/2019 of 25 January – Regulates aspects of the procedure for recognising academic degrees and diplomas awarded by foreign higher education institutions.
- Decision no. 490/2017 of 08 June – Approves the regulation on the equivalence of foreign qualifications to the degree of licenciado at FDUL.
- Order no. 59/2022 – Appointment of a jury to recognise foreign qualifications.
- Order no. 37/2024 – Accreditation and Recognition Committee
- Order no. 38/2024 – Appointment of jury to recognise foreign qualifications
- Order no. 101/2024 – Accreditation and Recognition Committee
- Order no. 102/2024 – Appointment of jury for recognition and foreign qualifications
EQUIVALENCE OF FOREIGN HIGHER EDUCATION QUALIFICATIONS
(under Decree-Law no. 283/83 of 21 June)
Holders of foreign qualifications (Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD) can apply for equivalence through the University of Lisbon (ULisboa). This process is based on a scientific re-evaluation of the work done to obtain the foreign degree, as established by Decree-Law no. 283/83 of 21 June, and is based on a case-by-case assessment of level, duration and syllabus content.
- Portuguese citizens;
- Foreign citizens who are nationals of other countries:
a) With which specific agreements on equivalence have been signed that produce the effects provided for in Decree-Law no. 283/83, of 21 June;
b) Or, in the absence of such agreements, whose legislation grants Portuguese citizens, within the framework of the principle of reciprocity, the rights provided for in Decree-Law no. 283/83, of 21 June.
The following documentation must be submitted in order for foreign higher education qualifications to be recognised:
– For equivalence to the degree of Licenciado:
The equivalence to the Licenciado degree is applied for at the ULisboa Faculty of Law, at the Academic Division. The application must be accompanied by the following documents:
- A completed Form 526, which can be obtained from the Faculty of Law’s Treasury or from the Imprensa Nacional – Casa da Moeda;
- Diploma proving that you hold the foreign degree or diploma for which equivalence is requested;
- Document issued by the competent authorities of the foreign university stating the subjects passed and which led to the degree or diploma to which equivalence is requested, as well as the duration of the studies leading to it and the respective final classification or, if not awarded, the partial classifications;
- Programmes of all curricular units (syllabus contents) included in the document issued by the competent authorities of the foreign university containing the subjects you passed and which led to the degree or diploma you are applying for
- Syllabus of the document issued by the competent authorities of the foreign university containing the subjects in which you passed and which led to the degree or diploma you are requesting equivalence for
- Identification document (Citizen’s Card/Identity Card/Passport, or other in other cases).
- Proof of payment of the respective fee (to be paid at the FDUL treasury)
Additional information may be requested as deemed necessary for the assessment of the application, namely admission conditions, regulations and study programmes.
The documents mentioned above must be duly authenticated by the Portuguese Consulate of the country where the course was held or by the Apostille of the Hague Convention.
Documents that are not in Portuguese, English, French or Spanish must be accompanied by a document translated and authenticated by the Portuguese Consulate in the country where the course was taken.
– For equivalence to the master’s degree:
The equivalence to the master’s degree is requested at the ULisboa Rectory.
– For equivalence to the doctorate degree:
The equivalence to the doctoral degree is requested at the Rectory of ULisboa.
Consult the Faculty Fees Table and the Central Services Fees Table – ULisboa Rectory.
The members of the Equivalence Commission are:
- Prof Dr Jaime Valle – jaimevalle@fd.ulisboa.pt
- Prof Dr Hugo Ramos Alves – ramosalves@fd.ulisboa.pt
- Prof Dr Margarida Seixas – anaseixas@fd.ulisboa.pt
- Prof Dr Paula Braz Machado – paulamachado@fd.ulisboa.pt
List and subjects of the Written and Oral Test for the Assessment of Knowledge approved by Deliberation no. 490/2017 of the Scientific Council, and under the terms of no. 4 of article 13 of Decree-Law no. 283/83 of 21 June. The above list and subjects only apply to candidates who applied for equivalence on or after 10 June 2017.
Written Test Correction Grids – 16th September 2019 and 20th September 2019
Ad-hoc examination subjectsunder the terms of Article 13(4) of Decree-Law 283/83 of 21 June. The above list and subjects only apply to candidates who applied for equivalence by 09 June 2017
- Decree-Law no. 283/83 of 21 June – Regulates the system of equivalence/recognition of foreign higher education qualifications to the corresponding Portuguese qualifications.
- MinisterialOrder no. 1071/83, of 29 December – Approves the forms of the exclusive models of the Imprensa Nacional – Casa da Moeda for applying for equivalence/recognition of foreign qualifications.
- Decision no. 490/2017 of 08 June – Approves the regulation on the equivalence of foreign qualifications to the degree of “licenciado” at FDUL.
- Order no. 25/2020 – Appointment of the Equivalence Commission to assess the Degree Recognitions requested
- Order no. 61/2022 – Appointment of the Accreditation and Recognition Committee to assess the Degree Recognitions requested