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Scholarships for Portugal 2026: Full Guide
Finance May 15, 2026

Scholarships for Portugal 2026: Full Guide

From Erasmus+ grants to Camões scholarships and DGES social support, here are the funding routes that cut Portugal's €700–7,000 propinas in 2026.

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May 15, 2026
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9 min read
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Portugal is already cheap — EU propinas run about €700/year and non-EU fees €3,000–7,000/year — but scholarships can wipe out tuition entirely and add a living stipend on top. The main routes are Erasmus+ (for exchange and joint degrees), university merit scholarships, the Camões Institute and bilateral programmes, and DGES social support (Ação Social) for EU students. This guide walks through each, who qualifies, how much you get, and when to apply for 2026 entry.

Erasmus+ and EU Mobility Funding

If you're an EU/EEA student doing part of your degree in Portugal, Erasmus+ is the most accessible funding.

  • Erasmus+ study mobility: Exchange students pay no propina at the Portuguese host university and receive a monthly grant of roughly €350–600 depending on the cost-of-living group. Portugal is a mid-cost destination, so grants sit in the middle.
  • Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters: Fully funded two-year master's run by consortia that often include a Portuguese university (Lisbon, Porto, NOVA, Coimbra). These cover all propinas, travel, and a generous monthly stipend (around €1,400). Open to students worldwide — highly competitive.
  • Erasmus+ traineeships: Funded internships in Portugal, available during or shortly after your studies.

Apply for standard Erasmus+ through your home university's international office. Erasmus Mundus applications go directly to the consortium, usually with deadlines in December–January for September entry.

University Merit Scholarships

Most Portuguese universities offer their own scholarships, especially to attract strong international (non-EU) students who pay the higher propina.

  • University of Lisbon and NOVA: Partial propina waivers and merit awards for outstanding applicants, particularly at master's level. Nova SBE offers competitive scholarships for its business master's.
  • University of Porto: Merit-based reductions and a limited number of full waivers for international students in selected programmes.
  • University of Coimbra: Scholarships for international students, including from Portuguese-speaking countries, plus merit awards.
  • Universidade Católica Portuguesa: As a private institution with higher fees, Católica offers substantial merit scholarships — sometimes covering 25–100% of tuition for top applicants.

These are applied for either within the admissions application or through a separate scholarship portal. Check each university's financial-aid page when you apply, as deadlines often align with admission deadlines (see our application guide).

Camões Institute and Bilateral Scholarships

The Camões Institute (Instituto Camões) is Portugal's agency for language and cultural cooperation, and it funds international students — particularly from Portuguese-speaking countries (the CPLP: Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, and others) and from countries with bilateral agreements.

  • Camões scholarships: Cover propinas and provide a monthly living stipend for degree study or research in Portugal.
  • Bilateral cooperation programmes: Portugal has agreements with many countries; check whether your home country's education ministry runs a scheme with Portugal.
  • CPLP and lusophone programmes: Special quotas and funding for students from Portuguese-speaking nations, often with reduced propinas equivalent to the EU rate.

Applications usually go through the Camões Institute website or your home-country embassy, with deadlines in spring for autumn entry.

DGES Social Support (Ação Social Escolar)

For EU/EEA students (and others who count as national-equivalent), the DGES (Direção-Geral do Ensino Superior) runs need-based social support through the Serviços de Ação Social at each university.

  • Bolsa de estudo (study grant): A need-based grant that can cover propinas and provide a monthly maintenance allowance for students from lower-income households. The amount depends on family income and the number of dependants.
  • Accommodation support: Priority access to subsidised university residence rooms.
  • Meal subsidies: Low-cost cafeteria meals (a full meal in a university canteen costs around €2.50–3).

You apply online through the DGES platform after enrolling, declaring household income. This route is mainly for EU students who establish residence; non-EU students on a study visa are generally not eligible for DGES bolsas but can pursue Camões and university scholarships instead.

Research and Doctoral Funding (FCT)

For master's-by-research and doctoral students, the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) is the main national research funder.

  • FCT doctoral grants: Cover propinas and pay a monthly stipend (around €1,260/month for PhD students) plus social-security contributions. Open to Portuguese and international students through annual calls.
  • Project-based research positions: Many labs and research centres hire master's and PhD students on funded projects.

FCT calls typically open in spring. If you're heading into research, factor this into your timeline — it's the most generous long-term funding in Portugal.

How to Build a Funding Stack

The strongest applicants combine sources rather than relying on one:

  • EU students: Apply for DGES social support + a university merit scholarship + part-time work. Combined, these can fully cover the modest €700 propina and a chunk of living costs.
  • Non-EU students: Target a university merit scholarship + Camões or bilateral funding + Erasmus Mundus if doing a joint master's. A single Erasmus Mundus award covers everything.
  • Researchers: An FCT doctoral grant is usually enough on its own, but adding a project position boosts income.

Model how much you still need to cover with our cost-of-study calculator, then size your scholarship applications accordingly.

Application Timeline for 2026 Entry

  • October–December 2025: Research scholarships, prepare documents (transcripts, motivation letter, references). Erasmus Mundus deadlines fall here.
  • January–March 2026: Submit university admission applications with linked scholarship requests. Camões and bilateral deadlines often land in spring.
  • March–May 2026: FCT calls open; DGES social-support applications open after enrolment.
  • June–August 2026: Scholarship decisions arrive; finalise your funding and visa documents.
  • September–October 2026: Term starts; complete DGES applications once enrolled.

External and Country-Specific Scholarships

Don't overlook funding that comes from outside Portugal:

  • Your home-country government: Many education ministries and national agencies fund citizens studying abroad — check whether yours covers EU or Portuguese destinations.
  • Fulbright (for US students): The Fulbright Commission runs grants for study and research in Portugal.
  • Private foundations: The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, one of Portugal's largest, funds scholarships and research in selected fields.
  • Corporate and sector scholarships: Some Portuguese companies and professional bodies sponsor students in tech, engineering, and management.

Stacking a home-country grant with a Portuguese university award is one of the most effective ways for non-EU students to fund a full degree.

Writing a Strong Scholarship Application

Scholarship committees see hundreds of applications. To stand out:

  • Tailor every motivation letter to the specific scholarship and programme — generic letters are obvious and weak.
  • Lead with concrete achievements — grades, projects, publications, or work — not vague ambition.
  • Connect your goals to Portugal — why this university, this programme, this country.
  • Mind every deadline and document — a missing certificate or late submission disqualifies you instantly.
  • Ask referees early and brief them on the scholarship so their letters reinforce your case.

Documents You'll Typically Need

  • Academic transcripts and diplomas (translated and certified)
  • A motivation letter tailored to each scholarship
  • One to three reference letters
  • Proof of language proficiency (Portuguese or English, depending on the programme)
  • For need-based grants: proof of household income
  • A CV and, for research funding, a research proposal

Common Scholarship Mistakes to Avoid

  • Applying only to one source: The students who get funded apply widely — university awards, Camões, home-country grants, and Erasmus options at once.
  • Missing the early deadlines: Erasmus Mundus and many merit scholarships close months before the academic year. Treat autumn 2025 as your starting line for 2026 entry.
  • Confusing EU and non-EU eligibility: Non-EU students often waste effort on DGES bolsas they can't get; focus on Camões, university, and Erasmus Mundus funding instead.
  • Generic motivation letters: Reusing the same letter across applications is obvious to committees and weakens your case.
  • Ignoring research funding: If you're heading into a master's-by-research or PhD, the FCT grant is the most generous route and is easy to overlook.

Treat scholarships as a parallel project to your university application, not an afterthought — the payoff is a degree that costs you little or nothing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there full scholarships to study in Portugal?

Yes. Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters and FCT doctoral grants are fully funded, covering propinas and a monthly stipend. Some university and Camões scholarships also cover full tuition for top applicants, though full living-cost coverage is rarer outside Erasmus Mundus.

Can non-EU students get scholarships in Portugal?

Yes — through university merit scholarships, Camões Institute and bilateral programmes, Erasmus Mundus, and FCT research grants. Non-EU students generally cannot access DGES need-based bolsas, which are reserved for EU/national-equivalent students.

What is the Camões Institute?

The Camões Institute is Portugal's agency for language and cultural cooperation. It funds international students, especially from Portuguese-speaking (CPLP) countries and nations with bilateral agreements, covering propinas and providing a living stipend.

How much is an Erasmus+ grant in Portugal?

Standard Erasmus+ study mobility grants for Portugal run roughly €350–600/month, as a mid-cost destination. Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters are far more generous, paying around €1,400/month plus all propinas and travel.

Do I need to speak Portuguese to get a scholarship?

Not necessarily. Many scholarships are tied to English-taught programmes and require English proficiency instead. Portuguese-language ability helps for Camões and CPLP funding and for programmes taught in Portuguese.

When should I apply for scholarships for September 2026?

Start in autumn 2025. Erasmus Mundus deadlines fall December–January; university and Camões deadlines cluster in spring; FCT calls open around spring; DGES social support opens after you enrol in autumn 2026.

Can I combine multiple scholarships?

Often yes, as long as the terms don't forbid it. EU students commonly stack DGES support with a university merit award. Always read each scholarship's rules — some full awards (like Erasmus Mundus) cannot be combined with other grants.

For the full financial picture — propinas, living costs, and budgeting — see our cost of studying in Portugal guide and the costs and funding overview. To plan the bigger move, start at Study in Portugal.

Tags: Scholarships Portugal Funding Grants

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