If you're relocating to Braga with children who are still in school, you'll need to enrol them in an appropriate educational institution.

The Portuguese education system is structured as follows:

• Pre-School Education/Kindergarten (for children aged 3 to 6 years old; optional).

• Basic Education (for children aged 6 to 15 years old):

  • First Cycle (1st – 4th grade: mandatory)

  • Second Cycle (5th – 7th grade: mandatory)

  • Third Cycle (7th – 9th grade: mandatory)

• Secondary Education (for ages 15 to 18 years old; 10th – 12th grade: mandatory)

Higher education is optional and available to those who have completed secondary education or have an equivalent qualification.

The academic year generally runs from September to mid-June, with breaks for Christmas and Easter. Students can attend either public or private schools, with public education being free up to the secondary level.

Public schools in Portugal are organized into school groups that include pre-school, basic, and secondary education, typically located close to each other. Enrollment is usually done at the nearest school to your home.

For more information on the curricular programmes, you can visit the Direção Geral da Educação website:

• Pre-School

• Basic Education

• Secondary Education

Braga also offers international schools, such as the Braga International School CLIB (“Colégio Lusófono Internacional de Braga”), which provides education in English from early years through to secondary school. This school prepares students for both national and international educational pathways. More details can be found at www.clib.pt.

Below is a list of some schools in Braga to help you start your search.