If you’re looking to study abroad and explore the world at the same time, Portugal is a good destination to consider. The country has 97 higher education institutions and has welcomed more than 70,000 international students in recent years. Portugal’s higher education system is internationally connected, and the country’s rich culture and beautiful destinations also offer learning opportunities outside the classroom.
Portugal can also be relatively affordable compared with many European study destinations, which is an important factor to consider when you’re planning to study in a different country. Plus, with the scholarships and financial aid available, students can focus more on their studies and integrate into the community, while many institutions and programs also offer English-taught options. You can also learn more about the cost of studying and living in Portugal.
The scholarships in Portugal below are only a few options international students have from the many forms of aid funded by universities, public bodies, and private organizations in the country. We’ll also include scholarship recipient stories if we have stories for that particular scholarship.
Top Scholarships in Portugal for International Students
1. Merit Scholarships for Undergraduate Programs at the University of Coimbra
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Amount: Partial tuition-fee support
- Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s, Integrated Master’s
The University of Coimbra is one of Portugal’s historic universities and offers several funding opportunities for international students. These options include merit-based support for students applying to or enrolled in eligible undergraduate and integrated master’s programs.
UC’s merit support is intended to recognize academic performance and help reduce tuition costs for eligible students. Since award values, renewal rules, and selection criteria can change by intake, applicants should review the current University of Coimbra scholarship page before applying.
2. International Scholarships at the University of Aveiro
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Amount: Tuition-fee reduction
- Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s, Master’s
The University of Aveiro is a public foundation university in Aveiro, Portugal. It is known for research, teaching, and cooperation with society and businesses. One of the ways UA supports international students is through merit-based scholarships and tuition-fee reductions for students with strong academic records.
UA offers international scholarships for eligible undergraduate and master’s students. The award is described as a tuition-fee reduction, with some undergraduate and master’s fees reduced to €1,000 per year. Applicants should confirm the latest score thresholds, eligible programs, and renewal rules on UA’s current scholarship page.
3. Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Scholarships
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Amount: Full tuition, participation costs, and monthly stipend of up to €1,400
- Eligible Degree/s: Master’s
The Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Program is a prestigious European Union initiative that supports integrated master’s degrees delivered by consortia of at least three higher education institutions from at least three countries. Students study in at least two countries, and each program lasts 1 to 2 academic years, usually corresponding to 60, 90, or 120 ECTS credits.
Erasmus Mundus scholarships are open to highly ranked students worldwide. They cover participation costs and provide contributions toward travel, visa, and living expenses. The individual scholarship rate is up to €1,400 per month for a maximum of 24 months, depending on the program duration.
A recipient’s path: Uday Rijal, a forestry graduate from Nepal, secured the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship after facing rejections from several international scholarship programmes. He strengthened his application by revising his motivation letter, seeking advice from previous scholars, and connecting his research and practical experience to the GLOBE programme’s goals. His joint master’s in Global Change Ecology and Biodiversity Management took him to Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal, including studies at the University of Lisbon. View More Erasmus Mundus Scholarship recipients in Portugal →
4. Gilman-FLAD Portugal Scholarship
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Amount: $5,000; possible Critical Need Language Award supplement of up to $3,000
- Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s
Established in 2020, the Gilman-FLAD Portugal Scholarship is a partnership between the Gilman Scholarship Program and the Luso-American Development Foundation. It aims to promote Portugal as a study-abroad destination and strengthen cooperation between Portugal and the United States.
Interested applicants must be U.S. citizens, undergraduate students in good academic standing, and Federal Pell Grant recipients. They must be applying to or accepted into a credit-bearing study abroad or internship program in Portugal. Eligible programs must be at least 14 days for community college students or at least 21 days for students from four-year institutions, and Portugal must have an overall Travel Advisory Level of 1 or 2.
Successful candidates receive $5,000, which can be used for tuition, travel, housing, and other related study-abroad expenses for up to one academic year in Portugal. Students who study Portuguese may also be able to apply for a Critical Need Language Award of up to $3,000, bringing the possible total award to $8,000.
5. Carnegie Mellon Portugal Ph.D. Scholarships
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Amount: Full tuition and studentship support for selected calls
- Eligible Degree/s: Ph.D.
The Carnegie Mellon Portugal Program, supported by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT), offers fully funded doctoral opportunities through partnerships between Portuguese universities and Carnegie Mellon University. The program focuses on advanced research and training in information and communications technologies (ICT) and related fields, providing international students with opportunities to conduct research in Portugal and the United States.
For the 2027/2028 academic year, the program announced a new call offering up to 12 Dual Degree Ph.D. Scholarships. Selected students pursue doctoral studies at a participating Portuguese university and Carnegie Mellon University, with funding that includes tuition coverage and a doctoral studentship. Unlike the affiliated Ph.D. track, the dual-degree program leads to degrees from both institutions.
Scholarship benefits, eligible research areas, participating universities, and application requirements depend on the specific call, so applicants should consult the official Carnegie Mellon Portugal Program website for the latest details.
6. Catolica Fellowships for Portuguese American Students
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Amount: Full tuition and fee waiver
- Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s, Integrated Master’s, Master’s
One of Portugal’s finest institutions, Universidade Católica Portuguesa is a Catholic institution of higher education headquartered in Lisbon. The Católica Fellowships Program awards five grants each year to U.S. students of Portuguese descent who apply to eligible undergraduate, integrated master’s, or master’s programs.
The fellowship is merit-based and is available for any field of study except Medicine. It provides a full tuition and fee waiver for the normal duration of the program: 3 years for a 3-year undergraduate program, 4 years for Law or Nursing, 5 years for the Integrated Master’s in Dentistry, and 2 years for a master’s program.
7. Instituto Camoes Scholarship
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Amount: Varies by scholarship program and current call
- Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s, Master’s, Ph.D., language and culture programs
Camões, I.P. administers several scholarship programs connected to Portuguese language, culture, research, translation, and higher education cooperation. These scholarships may support students and researchers from other countries, including opportunities connected to Portuguese as a foreign language and study or research in Portugal.
Eligibility, coverage, and application procedures vary by scholarship type and current call. Some opportunities are related to undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral study in Portugal or partner cooperation countries, while others focus on language and culture courses, research, translation, or professional training.
Because Camões offers several different scholarship categories, applicants should check the current official scholarship page for the latest eligible countries, degree levels, benefits, and deadlines before applying.
8. CIEE Lisbon Language and Culture Scholarship
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Amount: Scholarships and grants vary; Fall 2026 Language + Culture program cost is listed at $19,950
- Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s
The nonprofit organization CIEE offers study abroad programs, scholarships, grants, and other funding opportunities worldwide. Its Lisbon Language and Culture program is a semester study abroad program in Portugal with coursework in Portuguese language, culture, and related academic fields. Students may take courses through CIEE and partner institutions such as NOVA FCSH, ISCTE-IUL, NOVA SBE, or ISEG, depending on the course offering and term.
To be eligible for the Lisbon Language and Culture program, candidates must have a minimum overall GPA of 2.5. The program is listed as a 15-week program carrying 15 to 18 semester credits. Students are required to take Portuguese language coursework during the program, and some courses may have additional requirements.
CIEE offers need-based, merit-based, and other scholarships and grants, but funding is not guaranteed and award amounts vary. Students should complete the scholarships and grants portion of the CIEE application and review the current cost breakdown. Depending on the award, students may still be responsible for travel, local transportation, visas, and personal expenses.
We hope that this article on the best scholarships in Portugal for international students was helpful. If you are interested, explore Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees for International Students!
