IB Students and Entrance Exams in Portugal.

IB Students and Entrance Exams.

Portugal is becoming an increasingly attractive destination for IB students due to its affordable public universities, growing English-taught options, and strong Medicine and STEM programs. However, unlike some European countries that rely purely on IB scores, Portugal operates on a national entrance exam system — and this creates a major structural difference for IB applicants.

This blog explains how IB students are evaluated in Portugal, whether entrance exams are required, and how the system differs between public and private universities.

Portugal IB Admissions Snapshot

Factor	Portugal Reality
Admissions Model	National exam-based
IB Score Alone Enough?	Usually no (public)
Entrance Exams Required	Often yes
Public vs Private	Major differences
Medicine Pathway	Highly exam-driven
Holistic Review	Minimal
Flexibility	Low (public), Moderate (private)

How Portugal’s Admissions System Works

Portugal’s public universities:

• Use national entrance exams (Provas de Ingresso)

• Rank students based on exam scores + academic record

• Apply strict subject alignment

For domestic Portuguese students, national exams are mandatory.For IB students, requirements depend on:

• Citizenship status

• Whether applying as EU or International applicant

• Institution type (public vs private)

Public Universities: Exam-Centric Model

Key Reality

IB scores alone are often not sufficient for admission into competitive programs,

especially:

• Medicine

• Dentistry

• Engineering

Many public universities require:

• Portuguese national examsOR

• Recognised equivalent exam results

This makes Portugal structurally different from countries like the Netherlands or

Sweden.

Medicine in Portugal: High Exam Dependence

For Medicine at public universities:

• Extremely competitive

• Entrance exams central to ranking

• Science subjects strictly aligned

IB Chemistry and Biology are required, but exam performance determines selection.

Medicine in Portugal is exam-first, IB-second.

Private Universities: More Flexible

Private institutions:

• May accept IB scores directly

• Often do not require national entrance exams

• Apply internal evaluation processes

However:

• Tuition is significantly higher

• Admission standards vary

Private universities offer flexibility, but not necessarily lower academic expectations.

Do IB Students Need to Sit Portuguese Exams?

It depends on:

Scenario	Likely Requirement
Portuguese citizen applying public	Yes
EU applicant to public	Often yes
International applicant to private	Usually no
Medicine at public university	Almost always yes

Rules vary by institution and applicant status.

Common IB Mistakes When Applying to Portugal

Mistake	Outcome
Assuming IB score is enough	Rejection
Ignoring entrance exam requirement	Application invalid
Applying to public Medicine without exam prep	Disqualified
Late planning for equivalency	Missed deadlines

Portugal requires early understanding of exam pathways.

Strategic Planning for IB Students Targeting Portugal

• Confirm whether you fall under national or international quota

• Research whether entrance exams are mandatory for your category

• Align IB subjects strictly with intended degree

• Consider private universities if avoiding exam systems

Portugal rewards procedural awareness more than profile strength.

How Portugal Differs from Other European Countries

Country	IB-Only Admission?
Sweden	Yes
Norway	Yes
Netherlands	Mostly yes
Germany	Yes (with strict subject rules)
Portugal	Often no (public universities)

Portugal stands out due to its exam-based ranking structure.

Frequently Asked Questions ( FAQs )

1) Can IB students enter Portuguese public universities without entrance exams?

Often no, especially for competitive programs.

2) Is Medicine in Portugal possible without national exams?

At public universities, usually no. Private institutions may differ.

3) Do private universities in Portugal require entrance exams?

Many do not, but policies vary.

4) Is Portugal suitable as a backup option?

Only if exam requirements are understood early.

5) Does a high IB score replace entrance exams?

Generally no for public universities.

Final Takeaway

For IB students, Portugal is not purely an IB-score-driven system. Public universities especially for competitive programs like Medicine rely heavily on national entrance exams, and IB scores alone are rarely sufficient.

Private universities offer more flexibility, but at higher cost. Success in Portugal depends on understanding the exam framework early, not just achieving a strong IB score.