In contrast to most member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, where higher education receives the highest level of public funding per student, Portugal provides the lowest level of state spending per university student among all levels of education.

As reported in the media, based on data from the Education at a Glance 2026 report, the Portuguese government spent an average of €10,206 per student, covering the period from the first cycle of basic education through to university in 2023; this amount is slightly below the overall OECD average of €11,962.

Yet, while national spending increases at the earlier education levels—beginning at €9,600 for the first and second cycles, rising to €12,653 for the third cycle, and reaching €13,222 for secondary education—the same pattern does not hold in higher education.

In higher education, Portugal is one of the ten OECD countries with the lowest public spending per student, at just €8,239 annually compared with an international average of €14,428.

Since state funding makes up only 55% of the total amount invested per student in higher education, the educational institutions are obliged to depend on other sources of income, especially those from the European Union.

The OECD study also shows that in 2023 Portugal allocated 74% of its higher education spending to teaching staff, which is the second-highest proportion among the 23 countries examined, only exceeded by Ireland. By contrast, most of the member states had proportions below 40%.

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