RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Ministry of Education (MEC) announced yesterday, August 16th, that four higher education institutions in Portugal have signed conventions with the portfolio to validate the National High School Exam (ENEM) scores as a means of selecting Brazilian students in their undergraduate programs.
As a result, 41 Portuguese universities have now accepted the Brazilian exam as an admission criterion.
“Brazilian students who take the ENEM exam in 2019 will know that, in addition to Brazilian public and private universities, the exam may also be used to access Portuguese higher education”.
“This is an opportunity for young Brazilians who want to study abroad,” said Alexandre Lopes, president of the National Institute for Educational Studies and Research (INEP).
According to Lopes, interested parties may access the INEP website and check which Portuguese institutions have already signed the convention. After the exam result, in January, students may seek out universities with specific admission criteria.
“The student will not be required to take new tests. Other types of documentation or university requirements will be submitted. Proficiency is assessed by ENEM,” said the president of INEP.
The inter-institutional compacts do not entail the transfer of funds and do not provide for student financing by the Brazilian government.
In addition, the validation of degrees and the exercise of learned professions in Brazil by students who attend higher education in Portugal are still subject to applicable Brazilian legislation on the subject.