Course Completion, Diplomas and Certificates

No, it is not. The diploma is the document attesting the awarding of the academic degree or the completion of the non-degree course. Therefore, it is the course completion certificate.

The “canudo” is the Formal Diploma, Formal PhD Diploma or Formal Tenure Diploma, which is a more formal document (but with the same value as the certificate), written in Latin and delivered inside a metal tube. This is why it is called “canudo” (tube).

You may request either the Diploma or the Formal Diploma since both have the same certification value, being the only difference their visual appearance and the corresponding fee.

For further information check the question "How to request a Certificate or Diploma?" on the webpage "How to request an Academic Document"

No, you do not. The issuance of the Diploma and its supplement concerning the completion of a cycle of studies is available in electronic format since December 2012.

The student must request his/her Diploma at any time immediately after the status of the course at InforEstudante is “Completed”.

After completing the courses, the student requests the Diploma of both of them (pays the fee of both Diplomas) but on that date his/her situation concerning tuition fees must be settled.

The Diploma Supplement is a bilingual document (in Portuguese and in English) that complements the Diploma but does not substitute it. It enables comparability, facilitates the mobility and improves the external visibility of the qualification obtained.

Pursuant to article 38 of the Decree-Law no. 42/2005, of 22nd February, the Diploma Supplement describes the Portuguese Higher Education System and its framework within the national education system at the time the diploma is awarded; characterises the institution that delivered the course and awarded the diploma; characterises the training that was carried out and its objectives; provides detailed information about the training and the results that were obtained.

Check the whole information about this subject on the webpage Diploma Supplement.

By means of Inforestudante, electronic format, whenever one needs.

• the field "Student's Personal File" must have the status = "Complete" and
• having no outstanding debts.

If the the field "Student's Personal File" is red, the student cannot issue this document, so he/she must deliver the necessary documents to the Academic In-Person Assistance of the SGA operating in the Student Hub.

(further information about the Student's Personal File on the webpage "Submitting Documents at the UC".

In terms of their validity, there is no difference. Both documents attest the registration of the student for a specific course in a given academic year.

For a detailed answer, check the webpage "How to request an Academic Document".

The amounts to be paid for each Certificate are provided for in the Table of Fees and other Charges of the UC, and they are different depending on the type of the Certificate, the type of issuance (in paper or digital document), and the option of including an English version (when it is available). The digital document costs usually half of the amount paid for the document in paper.

• Check the fees to pay for these documents at: Table of Fees and other Charges.