This article analises the study methods of a freshmen group of Minho University at the moment they access higher education. Most of these students are from engineering courses. The IACHE inventory of attitudes and study habits was used. This inventory consists of five sub-scales: comprehensive approach; reproductive approach; personal perceptions of competencies; study envolvement; organization of the study activities. This research takes the entrance grade and the gender of the students into account. The results confirm the expectations, as students with higher grades at high school show higher levels in items regarding the comprehensive approach on the reproductive approach. These students have also higher levels on the personal positive perceptions scales on competency and academic achievement. Higher results on several sub-scales were verified for the female students, showing higher scores on the comprehensive approach and study involvement, as well better organisation of academic activities.
Hiher education; Academis achievement; Study-habits
