Setúbal Polytechnic Student Placements Fall by 28% Amidst National Decline
The Polytechnic Institute of Setúbal (IPS) has registered a significant 28% decrease in the number of students placed for the 2025 academic year, a figure that reflects a broader national trend of declining university applications. The institution, which put 1,217 student places to contest in the national access competition, achieved an occupancy rate of approximately 60%. This breaks a consistent cycle of growth that had been recorded annually since 2018, according to official data released by the Directorate-General for Higher Education (DGES).
The sharp decline in placements at IPS is part of a national phenomenon that has impacted the vast majority of Portugal's public higher education institutions. The primary cause cited for this downturn is the recent implementation of new regulations governing access to university-level studies. These changes have contributed to a 16% drop in the total number of candidates nationwide when compared to the figures from 2024. Across the country, 43,899 new students were admitted into public higher education, representing a 12.1% reduction from the previous year's first phase of admissions.
An analysis of the results for the Setúbal institution reveals a varied performance across its different schools and courses. The School of Health (ESS) successfully filled 100% of its available places in high-demand degrees such as Nursing, Physiotherapy, and Speech Therapy. A similar success was observed in the majority of daytime courses at the School of Business and Administration (ESCE), as well as in the degrees for Basic Education and Social Communication offered by the School of Education (ESE). These results indicate a continued strong preference for these specific professional fields among students.
In contrast, the overall numbers paint a challenging picture. The drop from a position of steady growth to a 60% occupancy rate is a significant event for the institution and the region it serves. Ângela Costa, the President of IPS, stated in a press conference that 'the institution is analyzing the detailed results to understand the full scope of this new scenario. While we are proud of the 100% occupancy in key areas like health, the overall decrease requires a strategic reflection on our course offerings and recruitment strategies for the future.' She acknowledged that the new national access rules were the principal factor in this year's outcome.
The data also shows that technology and engineering courses at the institution's Barreiro campus maintained a relatively robust performance, with occupancy rates exceeding 80% for degrees in Computer Engineering, Biomedical Technology, and Energy Technologies. This resilience suggests that student demand for technology-focused qualifications remains strong, even within a contracting national applicant pool. The students who have secured a place are expected to complete their official matriculation online between the 25th and 28th of August, finalizing the numbers for the start of the academic year.
Economist Ricardo Nunes, who specializes in regional development, commented that 'such a significant drop in the student population will inevitably have an economic echo in the city of Setúbal.' He explained that the student body contributes substantially to the local economy, particularly in the housing and services sectors. 'A nearly 30% reduction in new students at the region's largest higher education institution is a statistic that local businesses and, notably, the rental market will feel directly. It represents a sudden contraction in a key demographic.' The full impact of this demographic shift on the local economy will become clearer in the coming months as the new academic year begins. The DGES is expected to release data for the second phase of applications in late September, which may slightly alter the final occupancy numbers for IPS and other institutions across the country.
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