The news and various information that have come to light in recent days have caused understandable concern among students, applicants, families, and all those who follow the Fernando Pessoa University.
It is therefore important to clarify that the reported situations relate to specific access and admission procedures identified in a control action by the General Inspectorate of Education and Science, concerning the Faculty of Health Sciences and the 2025/2026 academic year. Neither the generality of students nor the generality of study cycles at Fernando Pessoa University are involved.
The IGEC Final Report identifies 52 enrolment processes, relating to three study cycles, Nutrition Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Dental Medicine, in respect of which it recommends the adoption of legally applicable measures. The Report does not, in itself, determine the annulment of these enrolments and, at this moment, there is no definitive decision regarding the situation of the students concerned.
The University is monitoring this process with the utmost attention, composure and sense of responsibility. Following the approval of the Report, it has initiated a plan to implement the recommendations made, which includes the individualised reassessment of the identified processes, the review of access and admission procedures, and the reinforcement of internal validation and control mechanisms. Various regulatory and procedural measures have already been adopted to this end.
Any decision liable to affect a student's academic situation must respect the applicable legal framework and the corresponding procedural guarantees. Therefore, conclusions should not be anticipated regarding individual situations that remain under review by the competent bodies.
It is also important to distinguish this process from the evaluation and accreditation of study programmes, which is the responsibility of the Assessment and Accreditation Agency for Higher Education. The Integrated Master's Degree in Dentistry is currently subject to the evaluation procedure provided for in the regular accreditation cycle by A3ES, a procedure that had already been scheduled.
We know that, behind every doubt and concern, lie academic journeys, life projects, family choices and the trust placed in the University. We will therefore continue to act with rigor, prudence, transparency and respect for the rights and legitimate interests of all those involved.
Fernando Pessoa University is an institution built daily by the competence, work and dedication of its students, teaching staff, researchers and other employees. It is to this entire community, as well as to applicants and their families, that we reaffirm our commitment to the quality of teaching, compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and the continuous improvement of our procedures.
Academic activity at the University is proceeding normally. Any relevant development will be communicated officially and, where applicable, directly to the students involved, in a clear and timely manner.
The Rectorate
