The Autonomous Region of Madeira received 658 students in its higher education institutions in the 2024/25 academic year, out of a universe of 1,563 students who completed general secondary education courses in the previous academic year. This data reveals a low transition rate to higher education in the region.
According to the portrait of the education system published by the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation (FFMS), through the Pordata platform, for every 100 Madeiran students who completed secondary education in 2023/24, only 42 entered bachelor's degrees or integrated master's degrees in the Region through the general admission regime. This ratio positions Madeira as one of the areas in the country with the lowest transition rate to higher education.
The study, titled "From pre-school to doctorate: more students, strong asymmetries and challenges," highlights significant asymmetries in the Portuguese education system, with Madeira presenting particularly low values compared to other regions of the country.
