University authorities rectify assertions made by the head of FMUP
In 2019, the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Porto faced a series of unique circumstances during the Special Contest for Licentiates. The contest, which took place from July 12 to July 16, saw a total of 80 candidates vying for a spot, with 50 being pre-selected to take the Knowledge Test.
The Knowledge Test, a new addition to the selection process, was met with difficulty in its realization and evaluation, particularly in the 34 questions under scrutiny. As a result, the Selection Commission decided to annul the evaluation of these questions, leading to further complaints from the candidates.
However, it's worth noting that no candidate obtained a score equal to or above 14 in the Knowledge Test. This was also the case in 2019 when the Faculty of Medicine admitted 37 students through the National Access Exam, all of whom scored below 14.
The University of Porto's Rectorate took over the responsibility of organizing and evaluating the examinations for the admission test that year, instead of the Faculty itself. The test evaluation process generated multiple complaints regarding the evaluation criteria and the correction process.
Despite these challenges, the Selection Commission attributed the maximum note to all candidates in the 34 questions in question. This decision, along with the annulment of the evaluation, led to further discontent among the candidates.
Following the contest, an excluded candidate filed a lawsuit with the Administrative and Fiscal Court of Porto. The court granted the University of Porto's final decision, deeming that it had maintained fairness among candidates in a process with the administrative challenges mentioned above.
In 2019, there was no precedent of candidates being excluded from the contest for not having obtained a score equal to or above 14. However, the difficulty in the realization and evaluation of the 2019 test made its application in the global evaluation of the candidates inappropriate.
In 2019, the vacancies that could remain from the contest could not be used by other candidates. In contrast, in 2025, the remaining vacancies were reverted, by law, to the National Access Exam, allowing the entry of 30 more young people into the Medicine course of the FMUP.
If the initial results of the 2019 contest were homologated, a situation of inequality of processes between candidates from previous years would occur. The rectory of the University of Porto clarified that this information was verified from the official archives of the university.
In conclusion, the 2019 Special Contest for Licentiates of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Porto was a unique event, marked by unprecedented challenges and subsequent legal action. The University of Porto, however, maintained fairness throughout the process, ensuring that all candidates were treated equally despite the administrative hurdles faced.
