Legal Status & Degree Recognition

1. Legal Status of Cascais School of Arts & Design

Cascais School of Arts & Design is an independent educational institution based in Estoril, Portugal, dedicated to education in the fields of art, design, fashion, architecture, communication and the creative industries.

The institution is operated by CSA – Cascais School of Arts, Lda., a company incorporated under Portuguese law, with its registered office at:

Rua do Viveiro, 126 2765-294 Estoril Portugal

CSA offers a range of educational programmes, including foundation programmes, professional development courses and internationally validated higher education programmes.

CSA is not a Portuguese higher education institution established under the Portuguese higher education system. The higher education programmes offered by CSA are delivered in Portugal under a validation agreement with Coventry University (United Kingdom).

Within this academic partnership, CSA is responsible for the local delivery of the programmes, including teaching, learning support and student experience, while Coventry University provides academic oversight, quality assurance and is the institution responsible for awarding the academic qualifications.

The activities carried out by CSA in relation to these programmes are conducted in accordance with the applicable Portuguese legislation governing foreign higher education institutions operating in Portugal, including Decree-Law No. 83/2026 of 7 April.

Information at a glance

Legal Entity	CSA – Cascais School of Arts, Lda.
Registered Office	Rua do Viveiro, 126, 2765-294 Estoril, Portugal
Country of Establishment	Portugal
Nature of the Institution	Independent educational institution
Portuguese Higher Education Institution	No
Higher Education Programmes	Delivered in partnership with Coventry University (United Kingdom)
Degree Awarding Institution	Coventry University

2. Partnership with Coventry University

Cascais School of Arts & Design has established an academic partnership with Coventry University (United Kingdom) for the delivery of validated higher education programmes in Portugal.

Under this partnership, CSA delivers the validated programmes locally, providing teaching, academic support and student services, while Coventry University is responsible for the academic oversight of the programmes and the maintenance of academic standards.

The partnership operates under a formal validation agreement through which Coventry University confirms that the programmes delivered by CSA meet the University's academic regulations, quality assurance requirements and expected learning outcomes.

Students enrolled on these programmes benefit from an international educational experience while studying in Portugal and receive the same academic standards and quality assurance processes applied across Coventry University's validated provision.

3. Degree Awarding Institution

The higher education programmes delivered by Cascais School of Arts & Design are awarded by Coventry University (United Kingdom).

CSA delivers the programmes locally under a validation agreement, while Coventry University is the institution responsible for awarding the academic qualifications.

The following programmes are currently offered under this arrangement:

• BA (Hons) Graphic Design

• BA (Hons) Interior Architecture

• BA (Hons) Fashion Design & Marketing

• MA Interior Architecture

Students who successfully complete the academic and assessment requirements receive a degree awarded by Coventry University.

4. Coventry University Regulatory Status

Coventry University is a recognised higher education institution in England.

The University is registered with and regulated by the Office for Students (OfS), the independent regulator for higher education in England.

Coventry University holds Degree Awarding Powers under the Further and Higher Education Act 1992, enabling the University to independently design, deliver and award bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees.

The University is subject to the regulatory framework established for higher education providers in England and participates in national quality assurance and enhancement processes.

Further information regarding Coventry University's regulatory status is available through the Office for Students.

5. Recognition of Qualifications in Portugal

The qualifications awarded through the programmes delivered by Cascais School of Arts & Design are degrees awarded by Coventry University (United Kingdom).

These qualifications are foreign higher education qualifications.

The academic and professional recognition of foreign qualifications in Portugal is governed by the applicable Portuguese legislation and the procedures established by the competent Portuguese authorities.

Graduates may apply for academic recognition of their qualification in Portugal through the Directorate-General for Higher Education (DGES), in accordance with the legal framework in force at the time of application.

Where access to a regulated profession is sought, additional legal or professional requirements may apply.

The registration of these programmes under Decree-Law No. 83/2026 does not constitute accreditation by the Portuguese authorities and does not automatically confer academic or professional recognition in Portugal.

6. Useful Links

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