Application Calendar:

First application phase: December 3, 2025 to January 26, 2026
Internal exams: February 3, 4, and 5, 2026
Results: February 16, 2026
Enrollment: February 16 to 19, 2026

Second application phase: February 18 to June 12, 2026
Internal exams: June 16, 17, and 18, 2026
Results: July 1, 2026
Enrollment: July 1 to 6, 2026

Third application phase: July 8 to August 31, 2026
Internal exams: Only for students with equivalent exams
Results: September 7, 2026
Enrollment: September 7 to 9, 2026

Call for applications 2025/26 (Coming soon)

Nationality Requirements

• Is not a national of an European Union (EU) Member State;
• Is not a direct descendant, spouse (husband/wife) or partner of a national of a EU Member State;
• Has not been legally residing in Portugal continuously for more than two years on the 1st January of the year in which he or she intends to enter higher education (himself/herself, his or her spouse or any of the parents with whom he or she lawfully resides);
• Not be a beneficiary of the status of equal rights and duties conferred in accordance with international treaties between the Portuguese State and the State of which they are nationals.

Access Qualifications

- Be the holder of a secondary school qualification or equivalent. (The applicants can require a Certification of Equivalence at Direção Geral de Educação here);

- Having one of the follow options:

• Successful realization of the required entrance exams, considered equivalent to the corresponding Portuguese national exams (The required entrance exams are considered equivalent to the corresponding Portuguese national exams in accordance to the Deliberation No. 491/2023).

Or

• Having sat the entrance exams - Portuguese national exams - set for the BSc in Systems and Cognitive Neuroscience

02 Biology and Geology and 07 Physics and Chemistry

OR

02 Biology and Geology and 16 Mathematics

Or

• Internal written exams, in English language and exams conducted in person, provide by Católica Medical School, with the Portuguese national exams subjects set for the BSc in Systems and Cognitive Neuroscience (subjects available on IAVE.pt)

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Entrance Exams

 

- Exams from International Diplomas

Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) Diploma

Portuguese National Exams	Equivalent Exams
02 Biologia e Geologia	Biology + Environmental Management
07 Física e Química	Chemistry AS level or Chemistry A level and Physics AS level or Physics A level
16 Matemática	Mathematics-Further or Mathematics AS level or Mathematics A level

International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB Diploma)

Portuguese National Exams	Equivalent Exams
02 Biologia e Geologia	Biology SL/HL
07 Física e Química	Chemistry SL/HL and Physics SL/HL
16 Matemática	Further Mathematics or Mathematics or Mathematics Analysis and Aproaches - SL/HL or Mathematics Applications and Interpretations - SL/HL

Advanced Placement Exam (AP Exams)

Portuguese National Exams	Equivalent Exams
02 Biologia e Geologia	AP Biology (AP Exam) or AP Biology (AP Exam) + Environmental Science (AP Exam)
07 Física e Química	AP Physics 1: Algebra Based (AP Exam) and AP Chemistry (AP Exam)
16 Matemática	AP Calculus AB (AP Exam) or AP Calculus BC (AP Exam)

Brazil (National Examination of Secondary Education - ENEM)

Portuguese National Exams	Equivalent Exams
02 Biologia e Geologia	Natural Sciences and their Technologies
07 Física e Química	Natural Sciences and their Technologies
16 Matemática	Natural Sciences and their Technologies

The minimum ENEM score is 475 points, which corresponds to 95 on the Portuguese scale.

The required entrance exams are considered equivalent to the corresponding Portuguese national exams in accordance to the Deliberation No. 677/2024.

A successful applicant must score a minimum of 95 (0 of 200) in each of the entrance exams, when translated to the Portuguese National grading system.

Note: The final exams are valid as entrance examinations in the year it is sat and in the two following years, according to the Deliberation No. 1233/2014 of the Comissão Nacional de Acesso ao Ensino Superior.

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Prerequisites

 

- Of Selection

• English Proficiency

Minimum English level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), attested by one of the following certificates:

a) Cambridge English Exams - Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) or Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) - minimum score of 180;

b) International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic - minimum score of 7;

c) Test of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-based Test (TOEFL iBT) - a minimum score of 94;

d) Aptis ESOL Advanced - British Council: minimum level C1 of CEFR;

e) Satisfaction test carried out at Católica Languages & Translation: minimum level C1 of CEFR;

f) Applicants who provide proof that they have English as their first language or have attended secondary school exclusively in English.

*Note: You should pay attention to the recommendations for the validity of the exams.

 

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Required Documentation for the Application

Applications must be submitted via an online platform.

At the end of the submission process, the applicant will receive payment information (ATM reference for applicants residing in Portugal or IBAN for applicants residing abroad). The application will only be completed once payment has been made. Incomplete applications or applications without associated payment will not be assessed.

Face-to-face appointments by appointment only (saude.sede@ucp.pt)

If the applicant is no longer in secondary education, the following documentation is required:

- Passport-type photo;
- Identification Document and Tax Identification Document;
- Certificate/diploma of foreign secondary education, legally equivalent to the Portuguese Diploma. Applicants will need to request an equivalence certificate at the Direção Geral de Educação here.
- Proof of completion of foreign final exams or final year subject exams of the respective foreign secondary education degree, equivalent to the subjects in Portuguese education and/or of the internal exams written at Católica Medical School;
- Proof of English Language Proficiency;
- Declaration, under oath, that the applicant is eligible as an "International Student";
- Proof of up-to-date tetanus and diphtheria vaccination.

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Vacancies

There are 3 vacancies for the International Regime , for the 2025/26 academic year.

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Application Fee

The application fee for the BSc in Systems and Cognitive Neuroscience will be €175.00. This amount is not refundable.

Application fee for 3rd round of applications is 260€

These figures refer to the 2025/26 academic year. They may be subject to change for the 2026/27 academic year.

Apply here