REACTION PAPER 

ESN Portugal congratulates the Government for opening the Medicine course to International Students and reinforces the need for greater equity in Higher Education

The Erasmus Student Network (ESN) Portugal congratulates the Minister of Education, Science, and Innovation for the historic decision to open the Medicine course to International Students, the only area of study that remained closed to them, marking a significant step towards the internationalization of higher education in Portugal.

This measure, announced on February 17, will essentially benefit Brazilian students or those from Portuguese-speaking African countries (PALOP) “who do not have access through other special regimes,” said the Minister. Therefore, in the next academic year, there will be 130 additional spots through the entrance exams and special access regimes, with 86 for International Students.

As an organization that represents and supports International Students in Portugal, ESN Portugal sees this decision as a reflection of the importance of international mobility and cultural diversity in higher education institutions. However, we caution that this decision should be accompanied by more concrete measures that ensure equity in access and decent conditions for International Students.

The International Student Statute, which completed 10 years in 2024, still presents several challenges. Among them, the high tuition fees (which can reach up to ten times the amount paid by a national student), difficulties in accessing affordable accommodation, and the lack of transparency in social action policies. It is essential that the opening of the Medicine course to International Students contributes to a deeper reform of this statute and does not perpetuate the existing inequalities.

Thus, ESN Portugal reiterates the need to implement certain measures, namely:

  • Reviewing the tuition fee model for International Students, ensuring fair and affordable values;
  • Greater transparency and accessibility in social action policies and student accommodation;
  • Establishing a permanent committee for the review of the International Student Statute, involving representatives from the government, universities, and International Students.

We believe in a more inclusive higher education system, with equitable education that promotes dignified teaching free of ethnic discrimination.

ESN Portugal will continue to defend International Students and work towards a more accessible and fair higher education system for all.

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