What is the education system in Portugal?
Education from the ages of six to 15 is mandatory in Portugal. Some 85 per cent of school-aged children attend free state schools, in which the curriculum is taught exclusively in Portuguese. Those aged from 15 to 18 can then take secondary education courses geared toward vocational study, or further their academic interests. The children of EU citizens may attend Portuguese state schools free of charge. Universities offer bachalareto (undergraduate degrees) and liceniatura as well as Mestrados and MBA (full postgraduate degrees). Portuguese universities are amongst the best in Europe. Many Portuguese university students choose to study abroad, as space is limited locally. The many private schools offer a variety of courses, ranging from the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme, which includes PYP, MYP and Diploma, to the GCSE examination system. All schools in Portugal are required to satisfy the requirements of the Portuguese national system.
