Portugal - Education and TrainingPortugal - Education and Training
UNESCO Student Mobility Number-12,713
CIA World Factbook-24.9% of the Portuguese population is under 24 years old.
Overview
The education system in Portugal suffered significant changes since it became regulated back in 1986. The last major reform was the redefining of the degree system according to the Bologna Process, where Portugal is one of the signatory nations. The Portuguese higher education system is currently a three-cycle system with a network of more than 40 public and 92 private higher education institutions.
According to the 2018 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange, there were 937 students from Portugal studying in the United States, an increase of 0.9% percent compared with the previous year. This represents a 6% percent increase since 2014, which is remarkable and namely due to Portugal’s economic recovery since it successfully exited its three-year bailout program in June 2014. This year’s increase in student mobility to the U.S. is also significant because the proportion of the Portuguese population between the ages of 15-24 has been declining over the past ten years.
In 2017/18, students from Portugal in the United States primarily enrolled at the undergraduate level with 48.5 percent, followed by the graduate level with 29.2 percent. Students pursuing optional practical training account for 10.7 percent and the remainder 10.6 enrolled in non-degree programs such as English language or short-term studies. An important note is the 38.9 percent increase of Portuguese students pursuing non-degree programs and a 12.1 percent decrease of those seeking optional practical training compared with the previous year. The report also found the number of U.S. students studying abroad increased 148 percent increase since 2012. The number of U.S. students in Portugal increased from 523 to 693 in 2016-17, representing a 32.5 percent jump from the previous year.
Portuguese students are actively seeking study abroad opportunities, and many take full advantage of the European Union’s Erasmus program for exchanges within Europe. Portuguese students highly value educational opportunities in non-EU countries, namely the United States. Portugal is presently an important recruiting destination because the country attracts international students from all over the world.
Market Entry
To effectively enter the Portuguese market, it is highly recommended that U.S. schools consider the following strategies:
1. Seek partnerships or agreements with public or private universities to facilitate joint-programs and exchange programs for students and faculty;
2. Participate in local recruitment fairs, trade missions, and outreach events, as well as meet face to face school counselors and other stakeholders.
It is also recommendable that U.S. schools provide clear and in-depth information about programs and the application processes, as well as describe opportunities of scholarships and financial aid.
Current Demand
Portuguese students are primarily attracted to these types of U.S. programs:
• U.S. universities and community colleges
• Undergraduate, Graduate and Master Programs
• Summer camps
• OPT
Events
• Futurália, April 3-7, 2019 (Lisbon), http://futuralia.fil.pt/
• Study Abroad Portugal, Spring 2019 in Lisbon and Porto http://www.studyabroadportugal.pt/
Resources
• EducationUSA https://educationusa.state.gov/
• Fulbright Commission Portugal, http://www.fulbright.pt/
• Portuguese National Council of Education, http://www.cnedu.pt
• Council of Rectors of Portuguese Universities, http://www.crup.pt/
• Portuguese Polytechnic Institutes Coordinating Council, http://www.ccisp.pt
• Portuguese Association of Private Higher Education, http://www.apesp.pt/
• Portuguese Foundation of Science and Technology, http://www.fct.pt/apoios/
U.S. Commercial Service Contact
Ana Paula Vila
Commercial Specialist
ana.vila@trade.gov
+351217702532
Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.
CIA World Factbook-24.9% of the Portuguese population is under 24 years old.
Overview
The education system in Portugal suffered significant changes since it became regulated back in 1986. The last major reform was the redefining of the degree system according to the Bologna Process, where Portugal is one of the signatory nations. The Portuguese higher education system is currently a three-cycle system with a network of more than 40 public and 92 private higher education institutions.
According to the 2018 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange, there were 937 students from Portugal studying in the United States, an increase of 0.9% percent compared with the previous year. This represents a 6% percent increase since 2014, which is remarkable and namely due to Portugal’s economic recovery since it successfully exited its three-year bailout program in June 2014. This year’s increase in student mobility to the U.S. is also significant because the proportion of the Portuguese population between the ages of 15-24 has been declining over the past ten years.
In 2017/18, students from Portugal in the United States primarily enrolled at the undergraduate level with 48.5 percent, followed by the graduate level with 29.2 percent. Students pursuing optional practical training account for 10.7 percent and the remainder 10.6 enrolled in non-degree programs such as English language or short-term studies. An important note is the 38.9 percent increase of Portuguese students pursuing non-degree programs and a 12.1 percent decrease of those seeking optional practical training compared with the previous year. The report also found the number of U.S. students studying abroad increased 148 percent increase since 2012. The number of U.S. students in Portugal increased from 523 to 693 in 2016-17, representing a 32.5 percent jump from the previous year.
Portuguese students are actively seeking study abroad opportunities, and many take full advantage of the European Union’s Erasmus program for exchanges within Europe. Portuguese students highly value educational opportunities in non-EU countries, namely the United States. Portugal is presently an important recruiting destination because the country attracts international students from all over the world.
Market Entry
To effectively enter the Portuguese market, it is highly recommended that U.S. schools consider the following strategies:
1. Seek partnerships or agreements with public or private universities to facilitate joint-programs and exchange programs for students and faculty;
2. Participate in local recruitment fairs, trade missions, and outreach events, as well as meet face to face school counselors and other stakeholders.
It is also recommendable that U.S. schools provide clear and in-depth information about programs and the application processes, as well as describe opportunities of scholarships and financial aid.
Current Demand
Portuguese students are primarily attracted to these types of U.S. programs:
• U.S. universities and community colleges
• Undergraduate, Graduate and Master Programs
• Summer camps
• OPT
Events
• Futurália, April 3-7, 2019 (Lisbon), http://futuralia.fil.pt/
• Study Abroad Portugal, Spring 2019 in Lisbon and Porto http://www.studyabroadportugal.pt/
Resources
• EducationUSA https://educationusa.state.gov/
• Fulbright Commission Portugal, http://www.fulbright.pt/
• Portuguese National Council of Education, http://www.cnedu.pt
• Council of Rectors of Portuguese Universities, http://www.crup.pt/
• Portuguese Polytechnic Institutes Coordinating Council, http://www.ccisp.pt
• Portuguese Association of Private Higher Education, http://www.apesp.pt/
• Portuguese Foundation of Science and Technology, http://www.fct.pt/apoios/
U.S. Commercial Service Contact
Ana Paula Vila
Commercial Specialist
ana.vila@trade.gov
+351217702532
Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.