One on One coaching for Portugal

Five universities in Portugal feature in the QS World University Rankings® 2018, the highest entry being the University of Porto, which is placed joint 301st in the world. With a long history of well-respected universities, Portugal’s higher education system was ranked the 35th best in the world in the first edition of the QS Higher Education System Strength Rankings.

As well as strong universities, Portugal is also home to a number of well-reputed polytechnics. The main difference between the two is that the universities have a greater focus on academic research, while the polytechnics are more focused on preparing students for a specific career path. Some subjects are only offered at either universities or polytechnics, but there’s also a lot of overlap. For example, both universities and polytechnics offer degrees in engineering, management and humanities subjects.

Since 2006, Portugal has adopted the Bologna Process throughout its universities and polytechnics, a European reform process which aims to establish a common structure for higher education across Europe. In accord with this structure, Portuguese universities offer three levels of degree. These are:

• Bachelor level or licenciatura,which usually takes between three and four years to complete
• Master level or mestrado,which takes one or two years
• Doctorate level or duotoramento,which typically takes three years

Most courses – especially at bachelor’s level – are taught in Portuguese. At graduate level, it’s more common to find English-taught programs, but it’s still definitely an asset to be able to speak the national language. This is not a country where you can rely on everyone being able to speak English.