The number of foreign students in Portugal has doubled over the past decade, with Brazil leading the CPLP countries seeking Portuguese higher education, according to a study by the Prepara Portugal Training Center, released on the eve of Student Day.
According to data from the Directorate-General for Education and Science Statistics (DGEEC) and Pordata, the total number of international students at Portuguese universities increased from around 20,000 in 2015 to approximately 42,000 in 2024, representing about 10% of higher education in the country. About half of these students come from Portuguese-speaking countries (CPLP), with Brazil accounting for over 70%, followed by Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, Angola, São Tomé and Príncipe, Mozambique, and Timor-Leste.
“We speak the same language, and when Brazilian students consider internationalizing their careers, Portugal is a natural choice to continue studies in Portuguese,” said Higor Cerqueira, founder and educational director of Prepara Portugal. He highlighted that studying in Portugal provides a diploma recognized across Europe, thanks to the Bologna Process, and offers career opportunities in multiple European countries.
The study underscores the growing presence of international students in Portuguese higher education and identifies student migration as one of the main reasons for the increase in the foreign population in the country.
“In a country marked by aging and youth emigration, the arrival of immigrant students of working age contributes to renewing the workforce and boosting the economy,” Cerqueira explained.
Prepara Portugal, specialized in professional courses, has welcomed over 2,500 students from more than 35 nationalities in just over a year. Most are Brazilian (76.8%), followed by students from Morocco and Angola. The institution offers training in management, technology, and services, and is preparing new courses in Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and Men’s Barbering, aligning education with labor market demands.
“All students, whether academic or professional, deserve to be celebrated on Student Day. Recognizing this growth is also a way to acknowledge the contribution of the immigrant community to Portugal,” concluded Higor Cerqueira.
Source: Lusa
