If you’re looking to study abroad and explore the world at the same time, then Portugal is a good destination to consider. It is a second home to over 50,000 international students enrolled in one of more than 100 institutions. Portugal has a globally competitive education system, but what also attracts foreigners is its rich culture and beautiful destinations that in itself are also learning opportunities outside the classroom.

Portugal, in comparison to other European countries, also has a lower cost of living and tuition fee, which is a top factor to consider when you’re planning to study in a different country. Plus, with the scholarships and financial aid available, students can turn their focus more on their studies and easily integrate into the community as most classes are also offered in English.

These scholarships in Portugal below are only a few options international students have from the many other aids funded by universities and private organizations in the country.

Best Scholarships in Portugal for International Students

1. Merit Scholarships for Undergraduate Programs at the University of Coimbra

  • Scholarship Link
  • Scholarship Amount: Partial tuition fee
  • Eligible Degree: Undergraduate and Integrated Masters

The University of Coimbra, one of the oldest universities and the most sustainable institution in Portugal, has an estimated international student population of 8% from over 100 countries. UC takes pride in its culturally rich and diverse community and continuously encourages more international students to apply for one of its programs. They aim to provide nothing but the best living conditions and learning experience by offering financial support options and opportunities to hundreds of students annually.

UC offers a maximum of 200 Merit Scholarships each year to exceptional international enrollees who have the highest grades in their respective faculties. This scholarship in Portugal covers a partial amount of the student’s tuition fee from their first year and throughout their studies in the university if they are able to maintain a certain grade. For those who obtained an admission score of equal to or more than 160, the scholarship amount they will receive may range from €1,000 to €2,000 (roughly $1,200 to $2,400).

2. International Scholarships at the University of Aveiro

  • Scholarship Link
  • Scholarship Amount: €1,000 (approximately $1,200)
  • Eligible Degree: Undergraduate and Master’s

The University of Aveiro is a public foundation and is the largest university in Aveiro, Portugal. They are best known for their strong initiatives towards research, quality of education, and active cooperation with society and businesses in working towards being a significant contributor to innovation. UA warmly welcomes international students to join their community and have received a Certificate for Outstanding International Student Satisfaction in 2014. One of the many ways they help foreign students get through their studies is by providing merit-based scholarships to those with exceptional academic standing.

UA awards scholarships each year to eligible candidates who meet the application score requirement of equal to or more than 15 for undergraduates, and 14 for master’s students. Qualified enrollees will receive a tuition deduction of €1,000 (roughly $1,200). If students want to keep receiving this scholarship in Portugal, the continuation of the incentive will be dependent on the student’s academic standing in the previous year. Only full-time international students are entitled to the scholarship.

3. Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Scholarships

The Erasmus Mundus Scholarship is a study program in partnership with different institutions in Europe, including some universities in Portugal. This initiative aims to encourage non-EU residents to explore Europe and learn from world-class instructors while completing their Master’s degrees. Candidates from any country worldwide are open to apply, as long as they are able to show proof of their Bachelor’s degree completion.

This scholarship in Portugal covers tuition, health insurance, and other costs of education for a maximum of two years. To complete the scholarship application, the student must present their proof of English literacy, proof of undergraduate completion, proof of financial resources, and recommendation letters. Depending on the university the student will be applying to, additional entry requirements may also be asked for.

4. Gilman-FLAD Portugal Scholarship

Established in 2020, the Gilman-FLAD Portugal Scholarship is a partnership between the Gilman Scholarship Program and Luso-American Development Foundation aimed towards promoting Portugal as a learning destination and enhancing cooperation between them and the United States. Interested applicants must be U.S. citizens, an undergraduate student in good academic standing, and a Pell Grant Recipient. They must also be participating in a program abroad, and must be applying for or have already been accepted to a credit-bearing study abroad or internship program in a country with an overall Travel Advisory of 1 or 2.

Successful candidates of this scholarship in Portugal will receive a total of $5,000, which they may use for tuition, travel, and housing expenses for up to one academic year in Portugal. They will also be given the opportunity to learn Portuguese for them to be able to immerse themselves better in the community.

5. Carnegie Mellon Portugal Ph.D. Scholarships

The Carnegie Mellon Portugal (CMU), in partnership with the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), is offering one of the best scholarships in Portugal. It is open to candidates who are interested in completing their Ph.D. degree in a Portuguese university. CMU is focused on advancing the country in the field of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT), so chosen individuals will have the option to study in related areas such as Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Engineering and Public Policy, Human-Computer Interaction, Language Technologies, Robotics, and Software Engineering.

For its first launch in the academic year 2021-2022, the program has opened 12 slots to aspiring grantees who will receive full tuition support for a maximum of four years. To qualify, the student must present their Master’s degree, be residing in Portugal, and have decided on the Portuguese host institution they will be completing their studies in. Chosen candidates will spend up to two years in CMU and the remaining years of study in their chosen university. Upon completion of the program, they will receive two Ph.D. degrees, one from each institution they attended.

6. Social Services of the U.Porto Scholarship

  • Scholarship Link
  • Scholarship Amount: full tuition fee, subsidized living, transportation, and studying costs, monthly allowance
  • Eligible Degree: Masters, Ph.D.

The University of Porto in Portugal offers scholarships for students from European Union member states and other countries in partnership with U.Porto. This scholarship is need-based, so only those with financial difficulties will be considered.

Candidates must meet the criteria for household income to qualify for the scholarship. To apply, visit the Social Action Services of the University of Porto (SASUP) website to view the list of requirements. The application shall be completed within the deadline and submitted to the online registration portal.

Successful candidates will receive a scholarship consisting of a fully paid tuition fee, a monthly stipend depending on the student’s financial need, and living costs, including transportation and materials, for the whole duration of the study period.

7. Catolica Fellowships for Portuguese American Students

  • Scholarship Link
  • Scholarship Amount: partial or complete coverage of tuition fees for merit scholarships and adequate financial support for financial-based grantees
  • Eligible Degree: Bachelor’s, Masters

One of Portugal’s finest institutions, the Universidade Católica Portuguesa, is a Catholic institution of higher education with its headquarters in Lisbon. The Catolica Fellowships Program offers scholarships to 5 American students of Portuguese descent. These scholarships may be merit or need-based.

Applicants will be evaluated based on their commitment to the chosen field of study, academic performance, and transcript of records from previous schools. To apply for a Master’s program, you will need to submit proof of the conclusion of your previous degree.

For the need-based scholarship, the university will ensure that the student has sufficient financial support to complete the academic program. The grant differs from student to student, depending on their needs. For the merit-based scholarship, students may receive a fully or partially funded scholarship depending on their GPA.

8. Instituto Camoes Scholarship

  • Scholarship Link
  • Scholarship Amount: partial or full coverage of tuition fee, accommodation and studying costs, monthly stipend
  • Eligible Degree: Bachelor’s, Masters

The Instituto Camoes encourages students to learn the Portuguese language through their education assistance grants. Under the Portuguese cooperation programs, Portuguese-speaking countries in Africa and East Timor may apply for this scholarship if they wish to continue higher education in Portugal.

To qualify for this Portugal scholarship, the candidate must be a Portuguese speaker in countries with Portuguese as the official language. Students from Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, East Timor, Guinea Bissau, Macau, Mozambique, Portugal, and Sao Tome and Principe are qualified for this scholarship.

Scholarship holders will receive a partial or fully-funded tuition fee along with accommodation and studying costs. They will also receive a monthly allowance for the duration of their stay. You may check the official website to see the full list of requirements needed.

9. Program for Portuguese Language and Culture Annual and Summer Courses

  • Scholarship Link
  • Scholarship Amount: a monthly stipend of 450 EUR and 375 EUR allowance given at the start of the scholarship
  • Eligible Degree: Bachelor’s

Portuguese universities recognized by the Instituto Camoes are offering scholarships under the Programme for Portuguese Language and Culture. These scholarships are perfect for Portuguese students from other countries who wish to improve their language skills.

Students who intend to apply should be older than 17 years old and be knowledgeable about the Roman alphabet. After application, students will be assessed on their language skills through a placement test. This test will determine what course they will take based on their language level.

Grantees will receive an allowance of 375 EUR at the start of the scholarship and 450 EUR for their monthly stipend. If you wish to request other forms of financial assistance, you may directly contact the Instituto Camoes.

10. Rotary International Academic Ambassadorial Scholarships

  • Scholarship Link
  • Scholarship Amount: coverage of transportation fees, tuition fees, living costs, and educational materials up to 25,000 USD
  • Eligible Degree: Bachelor’s, Masters

The Rotary Foundation offers the Ambassadorial Scholarships program for international students. Only those from countries with Rotary clubs are allowed to apply. This program is suited for undergraduate and graduate students willing to serve as ambassadors of the host country to Rotary clubs and similar groups.

Candidates for this type of this scholarship in Portugal must have completed at least two years of college-level coursework or similar professional experience. Also, they must not be Rotarians, Honorary Rotarians, or employees of the Rotary club. Awardees of the scholarship must be responsible for obtaining their travel requirements and applying directly to their desired study institution.

Successful scholars will receive full coverage of transportation and tuition fees along with living and studying costs up to 25,000 USD. They may also receive additional funding from other sources during the scholarship period. If you wish to apply for the academic scholarship, you may view the application process on the Rotary Foundation website.

11. Cultural Ambassadorial Scholarships

  • Scholarship Link
  • Scholarship Amount: covered round-trip transportation, training expenses up to 12,000 USD, and living costs up to 19,000 USD
  • Eligible Degree: Bachelor’s, Masters

Aside from the Academic Ambassadorial Scholarships, the Rotary Foundation also offers Cultural scholarships for students who wish to undergo three to six months of intensive language study and cultural immersion in another country. Applicants may choose from Arabic, English, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swahili, and Swedish.

Applicants for this scholarship must have finished two years of college-level education or equivalent job experience. Only students with Rotary clubs in their native countries are eligible to apply, as was previously mentioned. Candidates cannot, however, be Rotarians, Honorary Rotarians, or Rotary club staff members. The scholarship recipients are in charge of arranging their travel needs and submitting direct applications to their preferred study institutions.

Scholarship holders will receive 12,000 USD for transportation and studying fees for the language training program. An allowance of 19,000 USD will also be given for the living arrangements. The list of requirements to apply for this scholarship is available on the link above.

12. CIEE Lisbon Language and Culture Scholarship

  • Scholarship Link
  • Scholarship Amount: tuition, housing, and study costs up to 35,978 USD for an entire academic year or 18,950 USD for 14 – 15 week programs
  • Eligible Degree: Bachelor’s

The non-profit organization CIEE offers students scholarships, grants, and other funding opportunities worldwide. This scholarship is perfect for students who wish to study at Portugal’s top universities, such as Universidade Nova de Lisboa and Instituto Universitário de Lisboa. You may choose from various courses within the fields of Anthropology, Archaeology, Art History, Communications, Geography, History, Political Science, Language, Ethnomusicology, Philosophy, and Sociology.

To be eligible for this Portugal scholarship, candidates must obtain a GPA of 2.5. Some courses may have additional requirements. To apply, you must create a CIEE account and submit the requirements on their online portal. Since the scholarship is mainly focused on language and culture immersion, you will also take Portuguese classes during your stay in the country.

CIEE will fund tuition fees, accommodation, and study costs. The website also offers a full breakdown of the costs of studying abroad. However, keep in mind that students are responsible for the travel costs for international and local transportation, visas, and personal expenses.

 

We hope that this article on the best scholarships in Portugal for international students was helpful. If you’re interested in studying in Europe, make sure to check out the Available Programs in Europe for International Students!

About the Author: Hyun Lee

Hyun is the founder at Global Scholarships. He has received a full-tuition scholarship at Birmingham-Southern College as well as $1,000 Burger King Scholarship for his undergraduate degree and has been offered a fully funded scholarship consisting of tuition, living stipend, and health insurance for computer science Ph.D. program at North Carolina State University. Read more about his scholarship journey here.

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2 Comments

  1. Lior Barnea - Reply

    I am searching for a scholarship in Portugal in Medicine studies. I have Brazilian, Israeli and Slovak nationalities, speak fluently Portuguese and am very dedicated to my future studies and the noble profession I wish to acquire. Could you tell me if through you , there is a possibility to obtain a scholarship ?

    Thanks in advance,

    Lior Barnea

    • Hyun Lee - Reply

      Hi Lior,

      Our company does not offer scholarships, and we also are not associated with anyone offering scholarships. So, we cannot give you a scholarship directly; however, I encourage you to apply to these scholarships that are being offered by other organizations and universities.

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