Candidates Over 23 Years Old

Registration for the exam here

You do not need any academic qualifications to apply for the Special Application Process for Access to Higher Education for applicants aged 23 and over. Applicants, who must have turned 23 years old by December of the year preceding their application, need only sign up to take an entrance exam, which will assess their aptitude for Higher Education.

Note : This process is not open to international applicants (i.e. applicants who have not resided legally in Portugal for more than 2 years).

Registration for the tests is done online on the Application Portal (before applying, read the instruction manual available in the document box) and requires the payment of fees.

Necessary Documentation

• Curriculum vitae presented, preferably, according to the Europass model, available at https://europa.eu/europass/en
• A declaration, under honour, that you do not have a qualification that would entitle you to access higher education
• Documents proving the facts stated in your curriculum vitae (diplomas, certificates of qualifications, statements proving professional experience, reports and other relevant elements)
• Simple photocopy of the identification document or equivalent document

After the application has been validated by the relevant Services, no further documents may be submitted.

The aptitude test for taking a higher education course at the University of Algarve must include:

• A test, which includes a specific component
• Appreciation of the applicant’s educational and professional curriculum
• An interview that aims to assess the applicant's motivations

Learning success depends largely on how we organise our study

These tips can help you improve your academic performance, whether you are planning to take the test for those over 23, or simply want to be successful in your chosen course.

1. Organise and systematise the information you collect

• Make essential data sheets and sort them by themes subjects, authors, etc.
• Make lists of terms used in the discipline and look for a definition for them, so that you understand what is being talked about
• Try to summarise what you read using your own words
• Avoid limiting yourself to underlining study texts
• Make notes in the margin of the texts and then copy them on to your worksheets
• Take note of anything you are unsure of

2. Diversify your sources

Don't be dependent on a single book or website. It is good to have access to several perspectives, which complement each other and which together offer a more complete picture of what you are studying.

3. Be cautious with the internet

Not everything you read on the internet is scientifically reliable. Make sure that the site belongs to a reputable institution and offers guarantees of quality of the information provided.

4. Nurture doubt and curiosity

5. Enjoy silence: it helps you concentrate

6. Write about what you are studying
Writing requires us to organise ideas and make them clear. Additionally, it helps us to choose the most appropriate words, to know our limitations and to overcome them. And it is also a great exercise that will help you prepare for the tests for the over-23s.

7. Consult dictionaries and grammar books
Mastering the meaning of words and the organisation of a text is an essential skill for academic success.

8. Prepare for interviews
Before your interview, reflect on your professional experience, on your motivations, on the area of study in which you intend to invest your future and note down all these ideas. Find out a little more about the course and make sure you are on the right track. Review all this information before starting the interview.

9. Organise your Curriculum Vitae (CV)
There are various models of CV that you could use. The mandatory model under our regulations is the Europass one. Remind yourself of one very important thing: make sure you bring all your documents available that prove your qualifications, the training carried out, the courses you have attended, that is, the documentation that allows you to prove what you said on your CV.

10. Get ready for the test
If possible, attend one of our preparatory or ad-hoc courses in order to acquire and consolidate knowledge, in direct contact with those who are qualified to prepare you: our teaching staff.

Os candidatos aprovados nas provas especialmente destinadas a avaliar a capacidade para a frequência do ensino superior dos maiores de 23 anos, os candidatos poderão candidatar-se ao ciclo de estudos indicado na inscrição para a realização das provas e a outros ciclos de estudo que exijam a mesma componente específica, de acordo com o calendário aprovado por despacho reitoral.