Cursos Técnicos Superiores Profissionais (TeSP) - Entidades Públicas – Ciclo 2025/2027

The main goal of this grant is to support the implementation of Technical Higher Professional Courses (TeSP) for the 2025/2027 cycle in the North region of Portugal. It aims to promote inclusive, high-quality education and training systems, with a special focus on disadvantaged groups and people with disabilities. The program encourages equality of access and completion, as well as mobility for learning purposes. Areas of focus include education from early childhood to higher education, vocational and general education, adult learning, and advanced training, all aligned with the regional smart specialization strategy.

• Projects must implement Technical Higher Professional Courses (TeSP) starting in the 2025/2026 academic year.
• Courses must align with the priorities of the S3 NORTE 2027 regional strategy.
• Courses must be officially registered at the time of application.
• Projects must comply with the maximum number of students allowed per year and in total.
• Courses already funded by the PRR are not eligible, except if PRR funding is only for student support.

Examples:

• A public university in Porto launching a new TeSP in digital technologies aligned with regional priorities.
• A polytechnic institute in Braga offering a TeSP in advanced manufacturing, registered and starting in 2025/2026.
• A higher education institution in Vila Real developing a TeSP in green energy, not overlapping with PRR-funded infrastructure.

• Expenses with trainers
• Expenses with other personnel assigned to the operation
• Rents
• Leases
• Amortizations
• Direct expenses for preparation, development, monitoring, and evaluation
• General operation expenses

Restrictions: Expenses with students are not eligible for funding.

• Total budget of the grant: €7,500,000
• Maximum project duration: 28 months
• Funding Amounts: Cost per student for a TeSP cycle is €5,150.
• Payment Terms: Payments are distributed as follows—€2,318 after the start of the 1st semester, €1,545 after the 2nd semester, €1,030 after the 3rd semester, and €257 after the conclusion of the cycle. Final payment request must be submitted within 90 business days after operation ends. Payment can be made by reimbursement, advance, or against invoices.
• Special Conditions: Courses funded by the PRR are not eligible unless PRR funding is only for student support. If PRR support is received for infrastructure/equipment, the unit cost excludes proportional rents/leases/amortizations. If results fall below targets, eligible costs may be reduced by up to 5%.

• Applicants must hold a secondary education diploma or equivalent, or have passed specific tests for higher education access (for those over 23 years old).
• Applicants must meet the access and admission conditions for actions funded by the Regional Program of the North.
• Applicants aged 35 or older are not eligible.
• Applicants who already hold a higher education qualification (ISCED level 5 or above) are not eligible.
• The project must start its training cycle in the 2025/2026 academic year.
• The course must be officially registered at the time of application.
• The project must comply with the maximum allowed number of students per year and in total, as defined in the course registration.