What is it?

This is an act that allows recognition of a degree or a diploma from a foreign higher education institution equivalent to an academic degree or diploma from a Portuguese higher education institution, determined by a case-by-case analysis of the level, duration and content of a programme in a given area of education, field of knowledge or speciality.

To which foreign degrees does it apply?

This type of recognition applies to those degrees named in this table - PT | EN. We suggest that you verify here if this type of recognition applies to your Degree/Diploma.

Where and how do I request this recognition?

As a public Higher Education Institution, Iscte can receive and analyze requests of automatic recognition, independent of the original scientific area.

This Recognition can be requested by the holder of the Diploma through filling out this online form

What documents do I need to submit?

According to n.º 2 of article 4.º of Decreto-Lei n.º 66/2018, you should present a document that proves unequivocally that your degree or diploma was attributed, including:

> Duly authenticated/apostilled original version of the diploma or certificate issued by the foreign higher education institution, proving the entitlement of the degree or diploma to the person requesting the recognition;

OR > Duly authenticated/apostilled copy of the diploma or document issued by the foreign higher education institution proving the entitlement of the degree or diploma to the person requesting the recognition. This should be authenticated by the authorities responsible for this effect;

OR > A copy capable of passing public inspection through a unique identifier, that is, a copy of the document issued by a foreign higher education institution which shows the registration number of the degree or diploma, in the cases of higher education institutions that have centralized registrations which can be consulted by the public.

How much does it cost?

The value of the fee charged by Iscte is that provided in the Fee Table currently in force (€60,00 with grade conversion, €40,00 without it).

How much time does the process take?

30 days from the completion of the proceedings, that is, after the original documentation or authenticated copies and the proof of payment are presented to Academic Services (consult the Attendance Schedule).

What is it?

This is an act that allows the recognition of a degree or diploma from a foreign higher education institution as having a level that corresponds to a Portuguese academic degree or higher education diploma. This process is individualized for each student, working to ensure comparability.

To which foreign degrees does it apply?

To degrees or diplomas not included in the catalogue of degrees and diplomas determined by the commission for foreign degree and diploma recognition, which regulates automatic recognition, as long as they are in the area, or related area, of the courses taught by the institution. 

Where and how do I request this recognition?

As a public Higher Education Institution, Iscte can receive and analyze requests of recognition of level, as long as they are in the area, or related area, of the courses taught by the institution. This Recognition can be requested by the holder of the Diploma through filling out this online form

What documents do I need to submit?

According to n.º 2 of article 4.º of Decreto-Lei n.º 66/2018, you should present a document that proves unequivocally that your degree or diploma was attributed, including:

> Duly authenticated/apostilled original version of the diploma or certificate issued by the foreign higher education institution, proving the entitlement of the degree or diploma to the person requesting the recognition;

OR > Duly authenticated/apostilled copy of the diploma or document issued by the foreign higher education institution proving the entitlement of the degree or diploma to the person requesting the recognition. This should be authenticated by the authorities responsible for this effect;

OR > A copy capable of passing public inspection through a unique identifier, that is, a copy of the document issued by a foreign higher education institution which shows the registration number of the degree or diploma, in the cases of higher education institutions that have centralized registrations which can be consulted by the public.

In addition:

> A document issued by your foreign higher education institution, duly authenticated/apostilled, with the following:

• • The curricular units in which the applicant earned a passing grade that lead to their obtaining of the degree or diploma for which they are requesting recognition;
  • The duration of the studies that lead to their obtaining of the degree;
  • Their final grade;
  • The programme content.

>In the case of a degree corresponding to the level of master’s, a digital or digitized copy copy of the applicant’s dissertation, final project or internship report, whenever it applies.

>In the case of a degree corresponding to the level of doctorate, a digital or digitized copy of the applicant’s thesis, except when this has been substituted by other research, work or artistic production. In these cases, these substitutions should be submitted in digital or digitized format for the purposes of assessing the contents of the research done and the rationales behind its conception and development, the capacity of investigation, and the work’s framing within the field to which it belongs.

How much does it cost?

The value of the fee charged by Iscte is that provided in the Fee Table currently in force.

How much time does the process take?

90 days from the completion of the proceedings, that is, after the original documentation or authenticated copies and the proof of payment are presented to Academic Services (consult the attendance schedule here). For the processes of recognition of level with precedence, 30 days from the complete instruction of the process.

*Requests for recognition of level related to foreign degrees or diplomas in scientific areas differing from those studied at Iscte will not be analyzed.

What is it?

This is an act that allows recognition of a degree or a diploma from a foreign higher education institution equivalent to an academic degree or diploma from a Portuguese higher education institution, determined by a case-by-case analysis of the level, duration and content of a programme in a given area of education, field of knowledge or specialty.

To which foreign degrees does it apply?

To degrees or diplomas in the area, or related area, of the courses taught by the institution.

Where and how do I request this recognition?

As a public Higher Education Institution, Iscte can receive and analyze requests of specific recognition, as long as they are in the area, or related area, of the courses taught by the institution. This Recognition can be requested by the holder of the Diploma through filling out this online form

What documents do I need to submit?

According to n.º 2 of article 4.º of Decreto-Lei n.º 66/2018, you should present a document that proves unequivocally that your degree or diploma was attributed, including:

> Duly authenticated/apostilled original version of the diploma or certificate issued by the foreign higher education institution, proving the entitlement of the degree or diploma to the person requesting the recognition;

OR > Duly authenticated/apostilled copy of the diploma or document issued by the foreign higher education institution proving the entitlement of the degree or diploma to the person requesting the recognition. This should be authenticated by the authorities responsible for this effect;

OR > A copy capable of passing public inspection through a unique identifier, that is, a copy of the document issued by a foreign higher education institution which shows the registration number of the degree or diploma, in the cases of higher education institutions that have centralized registrations which can be consulted by the public.

In addition:

> A document issued by your foreign higher education institution, duly authenticated/apostilled, with the following:

• • The curricular units in which the applicant earned a passing grade that lead to their obtaining of the degree or diploma for which they are requesting recognition;
  • The duration of the studies that lead to their obtaining of the degree;
  • Their final grade;
  • The programme content.

>In the case of a degree corresponding to the level of master’s, a digital or digitized copy copy of the applicant’s dissertation, final project or internship report, whenever it applies.

>In the case of a degree corresponding to the level of doctorate, a digital or digitized copy of the applicant’s thesis, except when this has been substituted by other research, work or artistic production. In these cases, these substitutions should be submitted in digital or digitized format for the purposes of assessing the contents of the research done and the rationales behind its conception and development, the capacity of investigation, and the work’s framing within the field to which it belongs.

How much does it cost?

The value of the fee charged by Iscte is that provided in the Fee Table currently in force.

How much time does the process take?

90 days from the completion of the proceedings, that is, after the original documentation or authenticated copies and the proof of payment are presented to Academic Services (consult the attendance schedule here). For the processes of recognition of level with precedence, 30 days from the complete instruction of the process.

*Requests for recognition of level related to foreign degrees or diplomas in scientific areas differing from those studied at Iscte will not be analyzed.

On the naming of documents submitted on the platform

• The documents must be labelled with:
  • the applicant's name
  • the type of document (diploma, academic transcript, syllabus/sentences, etc.)
  • Example: ‘Maria Silva_School History.pdf’
• Applications whose documents have unintelligible names, such as ‘WhatsApp Image ...’, will be cancelled.

On the choice of Portuguese institution

• In the case of level and specific recognition, it is the applicant's responsibility to identify the Portuguese institution they are considering in their application.
• Applicants wishing to submit their application to Iscte should check:
  • whether Iscte has a training programme with the same level and designation as the one they hold;
  • whether the study programmes of origin and destination are similar in terms of scientific areas, subjects and workload, especially in terms of specific recognition.
  • Notwithstanding the existence of a course with the same title and the proximity between study programmes, the jury may refuse the request, stating the reasons for its decision.

Document Authentication

The completion of a recognition request depends on the presentation of original documentation, or respective copies, duly authenticated.

The documentation, if issued by a foreign higher education institution whose country is not both 1) a signatory of the Bologna Agreement and 2) a member of the European Union, must be presented with the Hague Apostille.

Document translation

If the documents mentioned above are in a foreign language that is not English, Spanish or French, they should be submitted with translations.

This translation is, in these cases, obligatory, and should always be duly certified by the authorities responsible for this matter. According to Portuguese legislation, the following entities can complete and certify translations:

• Portuguese consulate in the country where the document was issued.
• Consulate in Portugal of the country where the document was issued and competent translator.
• Conservators of any Conservatory.
• Registration officials.
• Lawyers and Solicitors.
• Chambers of Commerce and Industry recognized in the terms of the DL 244/92.

On refusing the request for recognition

• Under the terms of Decree-Law 66/2018, it is not possible to analyse an application that has been rejected by another institution in the context of the same type of recognition.
• Applicants whose applications have a proposal for an unfavourable decision are informed by email of the probable direction of the panel's decision and have 10 working days to express their opinion, in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Administrative Procedure on the right to a prior hearing.
• Applicants wishing to contest the likely decision must do so:
  • within the legal time limit (10 working days);
  • substantiate their challenge with new data and documents that respond to the panel's arguments.
• The applicant may withdraw their application during the period in which the prior hearing is taking place, thus being able to submit a new application to another institution.
• Any refusal or withdrawal will not result in a refund of the fees already paid.