Education
Economic reasons make 33% of university students in Porto consider not enrolling or dropping out
A survey by the Porto Academic Federation (FAP) of 275 students at the start of the 2026-2027 academic year found that 33% considered not entering or dropping out of higher education due to economic reasons, rising to 43% among first-generation university students. Housing costs were cited as the primary driver for hesitation or dropping out by 89% of new students and 70% of those considering leaving, while 66% of applicants for social action residences failed to secure a bed.
Why it mattersIf you are studying or planning to study in Porto, high living and housing costs are driving over a third of students to consider dropping out, with widespread delays in scholarship decisions and severe shortages in public student accommodation.
