/ 2026/2027 Bachelor's and Integrated Master’s Degrees

Special Contest for Applicants over 23 years old

Information concerning the 2026/2027 academic year is being updated.

The Special Contest for Applicants over 23 years old is the means by which students over 23 years old, that do not hold academic qualifications to attend higher education, can access higher education.

Applicants by means of this system may be, cumulatively,

  • Individuals over 23 years old (provided that they are completed until 31st December of the year preceding the one in which they sit the exams);
  • Individuals that do not hold academic qualifications to apply to higher education, that is:
    • did not complete secondary education; or
    • completed secondary education and
      • did not sit, (or sitted and did not obtain a successful assessment), in the admission Exams required to attend the course they have chosen;
      • have successfully accomplished the Exams required to attend the course they have chosen but these are no longer valid;
  • Individuals that, concerning the course they have chosen, have successfully accomplished the Specially Adequate Exams intended to assess their Ability to attend Higher Education;
  • Individuals that have accomplished the prerequisites whenever these are required;
  • Individuals that are not covered by the status of International Student.
BEFORE APPLYING TO THE COURSE, APPLICANTS HAVE TO SIT AND PASS THE EXAM INTENDED TO ASSESS THE ABILITY OF STUDENTS OVER 23 YEARS OLD TO ATTEND HIGHER EDUCATION

Mandatory Assessment Components

The assessment procedure must include:
a) Written and/or oral exams to assess knowledge and skills;
b) Appraisal of the applicant's academic and professional curriculum;
c) Assessment of the applicant's motivations, namely by means of an interview.

Registration deadline for the applicants over 23 years old Exams (2026/2027)
Until 1st March


Except for courses at the Faculty of Medicine.
 Online registration at Inforestudante, by means of the Request type: "[Todos] Registration for the Exam intended to assess the Ability of Students over 23 years old” that is available in the menu “Academic Service” on the left side at Inforestudante.
 If it is the first time you access Inforestudante, please register HERE

Who can register for these exams ?

Individuals over 23 years old (provided that they are completed until 31st December of the year preceding the one they sit the exams);

Individuals who do not hold academic qualifications to apply to higher education;

Individuals who are not covered by the status of International Student;
The University of Coimbra offers to those admitted to sit the exams support course, in distance learning modality (with an asynchronous component and a synchronous component). This mixed modality enables students to organise their time, establish their rhythms and study spaces, as well as to have the opportunity to have direct tutorial support by a Professor in the established synchronous moments. The preparation course is free of charges, and the access to it is voluntary. All the applicants registered in these exams will receive the access data to these courses after their admission to the exam. Further information available HERE.

Schedule of the Actions

Action From To
Registration for the Exams 5th January 1st March
Notification sent to the applicants 13th March
Preparation courses for the exams 14th March 23rd May
Complaint 16th March 27th March
Decision on the complaint 2nd April
Theoretical Exams 25th May 29th May

Release of the Final Grade

 30th June

Applicants that passed the Specially Adequate Exams intended to assess the Ability of Students over 23 years old to attend Higher Education must check the Opening Notice of the course they want to attend, by selecting the respective Organisational Unit.

Faculty of Arts and Humanities
Faculty of Law
Faculty of Science and Technology
Faculty of Pharmacy
Faculty of Economics
Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences
Faculty of Sport Sciences and Physical Education
Nursing School