Concurso Nacional de Acesso
Published 4 November 2026, 03:07
Concurso Nacional de Acesso, CNA (national admissions competition for state universities)
The main route into a state university or polytechnic: a single competition for the whole country, held once a year in three phases. Applicants list up to six “institution plus course” options in order of preference, and places are allocated by admission score. The competition is run by DGES, and applications are made on its website.
Where you come across it. Applying after finishing school in Portugal, planning exams, application deadlines.
The application password is new every year; last year's will not work. Those who do not qualify for the national competition apply through the special competitions or the competition for international students, where the rules are quite different.
Official website: dges.gov.pt/pt/pagina/informacao-geral-publico