University students have reacted to the news today that numbers applying for university have dipped drastically this year, saying that the high financial costs of studying away from home prevent many young people from continuing with an education.
Less than 50,000 students applied for the first phase of the 2025 national university entrance so far this year. It represents a fall of 9,000 applicants compared to numbers who applied last year.
Gonçalo Osório de Castro, president of the Academic Association of the University of Lisbon (AAUL) believes there are two clear reasons behind the ‘shock’: Portugal’s demographic decline, and costs.
His opinion is shared by Francisco Fernandes, president of the Academic Federation of Porto (FAP), who also criticises the lack of statistical information that does not allow an understanding, for example, of how many students actually finished 12th grade this year (and so have reached the stage where they could go on to university.
For both young men, the big problem is the financial implications of higher education.
“In Lisbon, the average monthly price of a room is €500,” said Osório de Castro, citing new data from the Student Accommodation Observatory, which confirms how expensive it is to study in large urban centres.
At the beginning of this summer, the average monthly cost of a room/ accommodation in the country was €415, with Lisbon being the most expensive region, followed by Porto.
“With average prices of €400 per room, we are preventing many students from ever becoming students,” echoed Francisco Fernandes, who has no doubt that there are many students who would like to study in Porto but give up.
He calls for a “a serious fight against the housing crisis and a commitment to student grants.
In the first phase of this year’s national exams, students’ grades were also lower, reports Lusa. Out of a total of 25 subjects, 15 had lower averages when compared to the results of the first phase last year.
Results of university placements will be announced on August 24, and students will then have that week to enrol.
Between August 25 and September 3, applications for the second phase of national university entrance will take place, which usually has far fewer places available, writes Lusa.
