EN 
PT 
The Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and the University of Lisbon (UL) have signed a Bilateral Agreement to ensure the recognition and revalidation of academic degrees they have conferred in the field of Medicine.
As a result, doctors who graduated from UFRJ are entitled to a simplified process for the revalidation of their degrees, and are awarded the Portuguese Academic Degree of Master in Medicine, issued by UL.
The Master's degree is awarded in Portugal because Portugal is a member of the Bologna Declaration.
Bologna Declaration
The Bologna Declaration is an agreement currently adhered to by 48 countries that aims to unify the education system in order to enable simplified comparability between academic levels in different countries, in order to facilitate and encourage students and researchers to internationalize their studies.
The Bologna Process is the name given to the set of procedures to be carried out in order to implement the Bologna Declaration.
A Bologna degree simplifies the recognition of the degree in any of the countries adhering to the Declaration, making it easier to register with professional councils and enter master's and doctoral programs.
Bologna System
Higher education under the Bologna Process is divided into three cycles:
Licenciatura (1st Cycle), degree of licenciado:
The first cycle normally lasts between six and eight semesters. It has a workload of 5,040 to 6,720 hours (180 to 240 ECTS).
Master's Degree (2nd Cycle), Master's Degree:
The second cycle lasts between three and four semesters. It has a workload of 2,520 to 3,360 hours (90 to 120 ECTS).
Doctorate (3rd Cycle), degree of doctor:
The third cycle varies between ten semesters (when there is no course, and the semesters involve the preparation and defense of a thesis) or six to eight semesters (when there is a course and the preparation and defense of a thesis). Those with a course have a workload of 5,040 to 6,720 hours (180 to 240 ECTS).
Integrated study cycle (1st + 2nd Cycle): Integrated Master's Degree
The integrated study cycle is the unification of a bachelor's degree and a master's degree into a single, continuous course, which awards both a bachelor's and a master's degree. It applies to courses that qualify students to practice specific professions, such as engineering, medicine and psychology. It has a workload of 8,400 to 10,080 hours (300 to 360 ECTS). The integrated cycle normally lasts ten to twelve semesters.
As a result of the equivalence between the duration (12 semesters) of the Undergraduate Degree in Medicine at UFRJ and the Integrated Master's Degree in Medicine at UL, the title of doctor is recognized as a master's degree in Portugal.
Thus, after the degree has been revalidated, the holder will be able to study for a 3rd cycle doctorate in Portugal, which is usually required for teaching at Portuguese public universities.
Schedule a meeting to discuss your case
Deadline
The legal deadline for the recognition process is 90 working days from the protocol.
Final considerations
Degree revalidation in Portugal is possible for all courses taken in Brazil, but the process is usually significantly more expensive, with the need to travel to Portugal to take exams and even complete studies for a period of 6 months to 1 year.
For doctors who have graduated from UFRJ, the procedure is simplified and can be done entirely remotely through a lawyer with power of attorney, without the need to take exams or complete their studies.
Contact
For more information and contracts, click here to contact us.
Dr. Aldo Andrade, Lawyer and Genealogical Researcher
Portuguese-Brazilian lawyer, registered with the Portuguese Bar Association, under No. 57.455P, and with the Brazilian Bar Association, Federal District Section, under No. 54.095, graduated from UniCEUB in 2014, with a postgraduate degree in Registries and Notaries from ISCET, with expertise in Portuguese Nationality Law. Genealogical researcher, specializing in locating records of Portuguese ancestors. Works in the areas of Portuguese Nationality Law, Foreigners' Law and Family Law. Fluent in English.
