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EnglishWhy Does the Iscte Homepage Show a Google Translate Notice?
Updated
The notice means the page you are viewing was machine-translated by Google Translate rather than written in that language by Iscte. The site explicitly warns that automatic translation "can have unexpected consequences" and states the institution does not take responsibility for the result. In practice: treat the translated page as a convenience for orientation, and confirm anything important — programme requirements, deadlines, fees, academic rules — on the original-language version.
What the notice actually says
The banner appears in both Portuguese and English:
- PT: "Esta página foi traduzida automaticamente pelo Google Translate… não nos responsabilizamos pelo resultado dessa tradução automática."
- EN: "This page has been automatically translated by Google Translate. This can have unexpected consequences and, therefore, we do not take responsibility for the result of that automatic translation."
Two things follow from this. First, the translation is generated by a third-party tool, not by Iscte staff. Second, the disclaimer is a signal about reliability, not a statement that the content is wrong — it means the institution has not verified the translated wording.
Why the site shows it at all
Iscte's site is built primarily in Portuguese, with English as the second interface language (the header carries PT and EN options alongside search and menu controls). The Google Translate layer extends reach to visitors who read neither language. The trade-off is that navigation labels, programme names, and formal academic terminology may be rendered inconsistently — course titles and qualification names are especially prone to odd translations.
What this means for you as a visitor
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Browsing to understand what Iscte offers | The translated page is fine for orientation |
| Checking application deadlines, entry requirements, or document lists | Switch to PT or EN and re-read the page |
| Reading academic regulations or programme structure | Use the original-language page only |
| Quoting the site in an application or correspondence | Use the official PT/EN wording, not the machine translation |
How to get the reliable version
- Use the PT or EN selector in the site header to load the page in an official language.
- If you landed on a translated page via a search result, look for the original-language link or navigate from the homepage menu.
- For programme-specific questions, go through the Programmes section (Undergraduate, Masters, PhD, Post-Graduations, Short-term programmes) in PT or EN, then confirm details with the relevant admissions contact.
The practical rule
Use the translated page to find your way around; use the PT or EN page to make decisions. The disclaimer exists precisely because machine translation can shift meaning in ways the institution will not stand behind — so any detail that affects an application, a fee, or an academic obligation should be checked against the original.