Portuguese Educational System
If you have in mind relocating to Portugal but are not sure about the scholar system here, then you should know that education in Portugal is from easy access and that there are several options to take into account, especially considering the international teaching.
First and foremost, it’s mandatory that all students start the educational path with 6 years old age (or 5, for the ones who become 6 in the ingression year). The mandatory scholarship will be concluded when the students finish the secondary school (12nd year) and become 18 years old.
Each scholar year is divided into three moments – the first period starts in the mid-September and ends in the mid-December; the second period takes place from the beginning of January until the last two weeks before Easter starts; and the third and last period starts on the Tuesday straight after Easter and ends in the end of June.
The basic scholar teaching is divided into:
- 1st cycle (1st to 4th year)
- 2nd cycle (5th and 6th year)
- 3rd cycle (7th to 9th year)
After high school (the ninth year in Portugal), students ingress the secondary scholarship, what means they can eventually change from one school to another - bigger and with more capacity to host a wider number of students.
The academic scholar period represents the moment when students get more involved in the preferential areas, since they choose the course that better meets their likes, interests and dots. To reach this stage, students need to have a specific average value, that vary depending on the course itself. Universities are divided into faculties, institutes and schools and the majority part of courses have a maximum duration of 3 years (bachelor’s), but students can opt to take a master degree (two years more).
In Portugal, the literacy rate within adults is around 95%, meaning that 5% of the Portuguese population are not able to read and write.
From North to South Portugal, there are very well-known international schools, enabling your children to have high standard education. Read out the list of International Schools below, within Portugal.
Algarve
Vilamoura International School
Eastern Algarve International School of Tavira
The international School of the Algarve
Barlavento International Primary English School
Cascais
The Cascais International School
International Preparatory School
Lisbon
Carlucci American International School of Lisbon
St Dominic’s International School
Oeiras
Sintra
Prime School – Trilingual International School Sintra
Porto