Academic Recognition

The legal regime for the recognition of foreign higher academic degrees is regulated by Decree-Law no. 341/2007, of October 12, regulated by Administrative Rule no. 227/2017, of July 25, and applies to academic degrees conferred by foreign higher education institutions that, by reasoned resolution of the Foreign Degrees Recognition Committee*, are qualified as of level, objectives and nature identical to the degrees of undergraduate, master and doctor conferred by the Portuguese higher education institutions.

The effects of recognition are subject to the previous registration of the diploma. The entities qualified to carry out the registration are:

1 - For all degrees:
a) The Rector of one of the Portuguese public universities, chosen by the applicant;
b) the Director General for Higher Education.

2 – For the undergraduate and master degrees, in addition to the entities mentioned in the previous item: President of a Portuguese Public Polytechnic Institute.

 The processing of requests is made as follows:

a) original diploma or equivalent document, issued by an accredited foreign higher education institution authority, that clearly proves that the degree was already awarded;

 b) a copy of the thesis or dissertation** in the cases where the registered diploma confers a qualification equivalent to a doctoral or master’s degree.

The registration must be carried out within a month and an annually updated fee will be charged.

The applicable legislation is the Decree-Law no. 283/83 of June 21, (that regulates the requests for equivalence and recognition of several degrees/levels of foreign qualifications), which states that the holder of a foreign academic degree that is not generically recognized in the articles 4 and 5 of the Decree-Law no. 341/2007 of October 12, may request the specific recognition or equivalence, that will require, in both cases, a re-evaluation of the degrees awarded by the foreign universities, made by a nominated jury and subject to service fees.

For further information please use the following link: Lista de Graus emanada pela Comissão de Reconhecimento de Graus Estrangeiros, published by the Portuguese Directorate General of Higher Education.

Universidade NOVA de Lisboa Services fees

Degrees of European Union countries - € 218.00

Degrees of other countries: Undergraduate degree - € 600.00; Master degree - € 470.00; Doctoral degree - 600,00 €

For more information, please contact:

NOVA's Rectorate Academic Services 
Phone.: +351 213 715 616
E-mail: div-academica@unl.pt

* The Commission decisions are considered generic.
** The copy can be delivered in digital format.