The Council of Rectors of Portuguese Universities (CRUP) considers the proposed new Regulation on the Award of Higher Education Student Grants, currently under review, to be broadly positive, highlighting its potential to make the student support system fairer, more closely aligned with the actual costs borne by students, and better adapted to the diverse territorial realities of the country.

Among the most valued aspects is the replacement of the current model based on a fixed reference grant with a system that takes into account the effective costs of attending higher education, the financial capacity of households, and geographical specificities. In CRUP’s view, this represents a significant enhancement in the progressivity of the system and in the adequacy of public support to students’ real needs.

The Council of Rectors also welcomes the creation of an incentive grant for entry into higher education, aimed at supporting initial accommodation and settlement expenses, as well as the intention to provide greater predictability within the grant system.

Despite this favourable assessment, CRUP believes that certain aspects of the regulation would benefit from further clarification and refinement before its final approval.

One of the issues that raises particular concern relates to the new definition of a displaced student, based on a minimum distance criterion of 50 kilometres between the student’s habitual residence and the higher education institution. While acknowledging the need for objective criteria, the Council considers that distance alone does not always reflect the actual difficulties faced by students, particularly in areas with limited public transport provision. It therefore advocates that factors such as effective travel time and transport accessibility should also be taken into account.

CRUP further considers it important that the methodology used to calculate attendance costs and accommodation reference values be presented transparently, allowing stakeholders to understand the data sources and criteria adopted. Conducting an impact assessment prior to the implementation of the new model would make it possible to evaluate its effects on different student profiles and regions across the country.

With regard to accommodation, the Rectors acknowledge the relevance of incorporating these costs into the grant calculation but stress the need to clarify the future of specific support measures that currently exist. They also consider it essential that the reform of the grant system be accompanied by a continued expansion of the public student residence network, thereby avoiding excessive dependence on the private housing market.

The Council further underlines the importance of ensuring that particular academic situations — such as internships, clinical placements, research activities, or extended academic periods — continue to benefit from appropriate support mechanisms, guaranteeing that no student is disadvantaged by requirements inherent to their academic pathway.

Another recommendation concerns the need to clarify key concepts relating to the income considered for grant eligibility purposes, household composition, and the treatment of more complex family situations. In CRUP’s view, a clear definition of these criteria is essential to ensure transparency and equitable treatment among applicants.

The implementation of the new model will also require significant investment in the digital platform and in interoperability between public bodies, particularly with the Tax and Customs Authority and the Social Security system. The Council considers that the success of the reform will depend to a large extent on the administrative and technological capacity to ensure simple, efficient, and consistent processes across all higher education institutions.

In summary, CRUP considers that the proposal represents an important step towards the modernisation of student social support in higher education and shares its objectives of strengthening equity and student support. However, it believes that certain aspects require adjustment and clarification in order to avoid unintended consequences and to ensure that the new framework fully upholds the fundamental principle that no student should be prevented from entering or remaining in higher education for economic reasons.

CRUP, June 5th, 2026