FCT Portugal - Research grants

What you get

You will receive a monthly grant for research stays in Portugal or abroad in any academic discipline. The amount depends on your level of qualification and your place of work. The following minimum monthly amounts apply to 2025:

• Undergraduate / student starter grants: to 651 euros per month in Portugal, for a total of up to 1 years.
• Master's level: of 1,041 EUR in Portugal or 1,803 EUR abroad.
• PhD level: of 1,310 EUR in Portugal or 2,119 EUR abroad, for up to 4 years.
• Postdoc (research after your doctorate): of 1,851 EUR in Portugal or 2,662 EUR abroad, for up to 3 years.

In addition to the monthly allowance, your tuition fees will be reimbursed: up to 2,750 EUR per year in Portugal or up to 8,000 EUR abroad. You will also receive a flat-rate travel allowance of 300 EUR within Europe or 600 EUR outside Europe. If you spend six months or more abroad, you will receive 1,000 EUR as a settlement allowance. Additional funding is available for training courses and conferences, as well as accident and social insurance. The scholarships are provided by the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal’s national science and technology agency.

Who can apply

• Study or research level: There is a scholarship available for every stage of study or research: for Bachelor’s students, Master’s students, PhD students and postdoctoral researchers who have already completed their PhD.
• Field of study: Open to all academic disciplines.
• Nationality: Portuguese nationals, EU citizens, non-EU citizens, stateless persons and recognised political refugees are eligible to participate.
• Residence for grants abroad: To be eligible for a scholarship to study abroad, you must provide proof that you are a permanent resident of Portugal.
• Postdoc rules: You must have obtained your PhD within the last 3 years. Your research must have been carried out at an institution other than the one at which you obtained your PhD.
• No double funding: You must not have already received an FCT grant for the same purpose.

How to apply

Every year, the FCT publishes calls for applications online, each with its own application deadline. You must submit your qualifications, a work plan and a confirmation from your supervisor and your host institution (the university or laboratory where you will be working). Applications are assessed on the basis of your academic achievements, the quality of your research proposal and the conditions at your host institution. You will receive the outcome within 90 working days after the application deadline.

How realistic are your chances?

This is Portugal’s most important national research funding initiative, under which thousands of grants are awarded each year. There are plenty of places available, but the competition is just as fierce, particularly for the well-known calls for applications for PhD positions. Your chances depend on outstanding academic achievements and a convincing research proposal, supported by a committed supervisor. Keep a close eye on the annual calls for applications, as each type of funding has its own fixed application deadline.