Introduction:
In an era characterized by uncertainty and rapid paradigm shifts, economic and social progress increasingly hinges on entrepreneurial attitudes. Higher education institutions play an important role in fostering such attitudes by identifying and addressing entrepreneurial intention among students. Understanding student perceptions is essential for educational institutions to adapt and enhance their entrepreneurship programs, aligning them with student needs and expectations. This ensures students are adequately equipped to navigate the complex challenges of entrepreneurship in the real world. The primary aim of this research is to evaluate and compare the entrepreneurial intention based on academic level (undergraduate versus postgraduate) among students at the Polytechnic University of Porto (P. PORTO).

Methodology:
This observational, cross-sectional, and analytical study targets students enrolled at P. PORTO during the 2023-2024 academic year, across all academic levels. A representative and randomly selected sample of 184 students was used. The study employs the Entrepreneurial Intention Questionnaire (EIQ), a validated tool widely recognized for its reliability and accuracy in measuring entrepreneurial intention, including in the Portuguese context. To achieve the established objective, the sample was characterized, and an independent samples t-test was performed to compare entrepreneurial intention between students’ groups.

Results and Discussion:
The majority of participants (71.7%) were undergraduate students, followed by 23.9% in master’s programs. Postgraduate students enrolled in other study cycles represented smaller proportions, with 2.2% in each category.
Postgraduate students demonstrated a statistically significant (p=0.048) higher entrepreneurial intention (x̅±sd=4.447±0.724) compared to undergraduates (x̅±sd=4.223±0.672). These findings suggest that advanced education may provide students with enhanced skills, knowledge, and networks, bolstering their confidence and ability to engage in entrepreneurial ventures successfully.

Conclusion:
The results of this study reveal that postgraduate students at the Polytechnic University of Porto exhibit significantly higher entrepreneurial intentions compared to their undergraduate counterparts. This finding underscores the potential of advanced education to cultivate entrepreneurial mindsets and better prepare students for entrepreneurial careers. Additionally, the higher entrepreneurial intention among postgraduate students suggests a greater predisposition to start their own businesses, reflecting the transformative impact of postgraduate education on entrepreneurial development.

Keywords: Entrepreneurial intention, higher education, Entrepreneurial Intention Questionnaire, Post-graduated education.