– The programme is aimed at international students who have completed secondary education in their home country and wish to begin an academic pathway in the field of health in Portugal, while benefiting from structured academic preparation and a smooth transition into higher education.

– The Gateway Foundation Programme can be taken online or on campus. This flexibility allows students to start the programme immediately, even while dealing with visa procedures, organising their move to Portugal or adapting to a new academic context. The laboratory and theoretical assessment phase is always conducted on campus.

• The programme is lectured in English.

• Yes. The Gateway Foundation Programme includes language training in Portuguese or English, depending on the selected pathway.

• The programme includes core curricular units in the field of health sciences, as well as support units designed to develop academic skills and effective study methods.

• The programme lasts 5 months.

• Successful completion of all curricular units of the Gateway Foundation Programme grants access to the second year of the chosen degree programme.

Applying to the Gateway Foundation Programme is simple! Submit your application online through the official platform of Egas Moniz School of Health & Science, upload the required documents and pay the application fee. You will then receive an email with all the next steps to begin this new stage of your academic journey

• The Gateway Foundation Programme has two intakes: • Spring: March to July • Fall: September to January Applications open several months before the start of each intake. We recommend checking the specific dates on the website and submitting your application in advance to allow sufficient time for all procedures, including visa processing and preparation for the start of the programme.

To apply to the Gateway Foundation Programme, you must have completed secondary education or an equivalent qualification that grants access to higher education in the country where it was obtained. Diplomas from international education systems such as the IB Diploma or Cambridge Assessment are also accepted.

The Gateway Foundation Programme is designed for international students, so it is important to clarify what is meant by an international student:

• Does not hold EU nationality, nor has direct relatives with EU nationality residing in Portugal for more than 2 years;
• Has not resided in Portugal for more than 2 years, nor has direct family members who have resided in Portugal/EU over the last two years.

• After completing all stages of the application, the assessment process may take up to 2 weeks. Please check your email regularly, as we may request additional information or documents during this period.

• No. No additional exams are required to apply. You simply need to have completed secondary education or an equivalent qualification and submit the required documents. This allows you to focus on your preparation and your new academic journey without any additional concerns.

• You will receive an email confirming your acceptance and providing instructions to follow, including payment of the enrolment fee.

• Once you have paid the enrolment fee, your letter of acceptance will be issued within 1 week.

• The letter of acceptance is the official document confirming your admission to the programme. This document is essential for the visa application process, as it serves as official proof of your admission to Egas Moniz School of Health & Science and marks the beginning of your new academic journey.

• Yes. All international students must have valid travel insurance covering emergency medical assistance, repatriation and third-party liability for the entire duration of their stay in Portugal. This insurance may also be required as supporting documentation for the visa application, ensuring peace of mind from the start of your academic experience.

Given the duration of the programme, we generally recommend that international students apply for a temporary stay visa. This visa allows entry into Portugal for stays of less than one year, is valid for the duration of the stay and permits multiple entries into Portuguesa territory.

The temporary stay visa should be requested at the embassy after receiving confirmation of acceptance into the Gateway Foundation Programme.

Upon completion of the programme and subsequent acceptance into the chosen degree program, students must apply for a student visa, which is appropriate for attending a full higher education programme.

For more information about the temporary stay visa, please consult this website.