Applications are now open for “Experimenta o Técnico”, the new Técnico programme aimed at 12th-grade students who want to get to know, over the course of a school year, what higher education is like in the fields of engineering, architecture, science and technology.

The programme’s main goal is to give high school students the chance to experience what it means to study, research and create at Técnico. “Students will get to know different areas of engineering, science, architecture and technology up close, discover what motivates them most for the future and, at the same time, consolidate knowledge and develop skills that will help them prepare for national exams and for the transition to higher education,” explains Ana Carvalho, a Técnico professor and Deputy Director of the “Experimenta o Técnico” programme.

For the deputy director, this is also an important contribution to making a more informed choice about one’s academic path. “Choosing a degree isn’t always easy. This programme allows students to make that decision in a more informed way, since they’ll work on projects, interact with Técnico’s professors, researchers and students, and develop skills that will be useful to them regardless of the field they end up choosing,” she says.

Throughout the school year, participants have a weekly workload of nine hours, split between Mathematics A, Physics and Chemistry A, Programming and Electronics, and a research or entrepreneurship project in areas such as Programming and Artificial Intelligence, Logistics, Robotics, Biotechnology or Entrepreneurship. After getting to know the different laboratories and project opportunities, students choose the area that motivates them most, developing their work throughout the year with the support of professors and mentors, culminating in a final presentation to the community.

According to Ana Carvalho, the experience goes far beyond contact with the campus. “They will get to know much more than just Campus Oeiras. They will get to know the people, the laboratories, the learning and research spaces, how teamwork happens and how the ideas that give rise to new technologies and solutions to society’s problems come about. We want them to feel what it’s like to be part of Técnico,” she says.

The programme’s deputy director also offers a promise to anyone who applies: “We promise a challenging and inspiring programme. We want every participant to have the chance to learn by doing, try out different areas, develop new skills and gain the confidence to take the next step in their academic journey.”

Students who are currently in the 12th grade, or who have already completed the 12th grade and wish to enter higher education, can apply to “Experimenta o Técnico”.

Applications can be submitted until October 4, 2026, through the Admissions Portal, for a total of 25 places.

More information.