Portugal

To which Dutch diplomas can you compare certain Portugese diplomas? Use the overview or download the PDF with more detailed information.

PDF with detailed information

Download the PDF with detailed information about the Portuguese education system:

Education system Portugal‌ (192.81 kB)

Overview of Portugese diplomas

In the overview below you can find the level of Portugese diplomas. You cannot derive any rights from it.

Working in the Netherlands

Do you want to know if you can work in the Netherlands with a certain Portugese diploma? Go to Working in the Netherlands with a foreign diploma.

Studying in the Netherlands

Do you want to know if you can study in the Netherlands with your Portugese diploma? Go to Studying in the Netherlands with a foreign diploma.

Diploma/Certificado de qualificação profissional de nivel 3

  • Comparable to: a HAVO diploma for the general education component (NLQF 4/EQF 4).
  • Duration of schooling: 2 years.
  • Type of education: general secondary education and secondary vocational education.
  • Purpose of diploma: access to postsecundary vocational education and to higher education, upon succesful completion of entrance examinations.

Diploma de especialização tecnológica – nível 4/Certificado de qualificação profissional de nivel 4

  • Comparable to: an MBO diploma level 3 or 4 (NLQF 3-4/EQF 3-4).
  • Duration of schooling: 1 to 1½ years.
  • Type of education: postsecundary vocational education.
  • Purpose of diploma: access to higher education, possibly with exemptions, upon succesful completion of entrance examinations.

Diploma/Certificado/Certidão do Ensino Secundário

  • Comparable to: at least a HAVO diploma (NLQF 4/EQF 4).
  • Duration of schooling: 3 years.
  • Type of education: general secondary education.
  • Purpose of diploma: access to higher education, upon succesful completion of entrance examinations.

Licenciado – university degree (prior to introduction of the bachelor’s-master’s degree structure)

  • Comparable to: usually a WO bachelor’s degree (NLQF 6/EQF 6).
  • Duration of schooling: 4 to 5 years.
  • Type of education: professional or research-oriented.
  • Purpose of diploma: access to university masters (Mestre), if the diploma is obtained with an average of 14, or to doctorate programmes, if the diploma is obtained with an average of 16.

Mestre – university degree (prior to introduction of the bachelor’s-master’s degree structure)

  • Comparable to: usually a WO master’s degree (NLQF 7/EQF 7).
  • Duration of schooling: 2 years.
  • Type of education: professional or research-oriented.
  • Purpose of diploma: access to doctorate programmes.

Bacharel – Politécnico (prior to introduction of the bachelor’s-master’s degree structure)

  • Comparable to: an HBO bachelor’s degree (NLQF 6/EQF 6).
  • Duration of schooling: 3 years.
  • Type of education: higher professional education.
  • Purpose of diploma: access to further study of the 2nd cycle in higher professional education (Licenciado- Politécnico).

Licenciado – Politécnico (prior to introduction of the bachelor’s-master’s degree structure)

  • Comparable to: an HBO master’s degree (NLQF 7/EQF 7).
  • Duration of schooling: 1 or 2 years.
  • Type of education: higher professional education.

Licenciado – university degree (after introduction of the bachelor’s-master’s degree structure)

  • Comparable to: a WO or HBO bachelor’s degree (NLQF 6/EQF 6).
  • Duration of schooling: 3 to 4 years.
  • Type of education: professional or research-oriented.
  • Purpose of diploma: grants admisstion to university masters (Mestre).

Mestre – university degree (after introduction of the bachelor’s-master’s degree structure)

  • Comparable to: usually a WO master’s degree (NLQF 7/EQF 7).
  • Duration of schooling: 1½ to 2 years.
  • Type of education: professional or research oriented.
  • Purpose of diploma: access to doctorate programmes.

Licenciado – Politécnico (after introduction of the bachelor’s-master’s degree structure)

  • Comparable to: an HBO bachelor’s degree (NLQF 6/EQF 6).
  • Duration of schooling: 3 to 4 years.
  • Type of education: higher professional education.
  • Purpose of diploma: access to masters in higher professional education.

Mestre – Politécnico (after introduction of the bachelor’s-master’s degree structure)

  • Comparable to: an HBO master’s degree (NLQF 7/EQF 7).
  • Duration of schooling: 1½ to 2 years.
  • Type of education: higher professional education.