Polytechnic University of Lisbon - IPL Merit Awards

IPL Merit Awards

You will receive a one-off payment amounting to five times the Portuguese monthly minimum wage, which is set by the government each year. For the academic year 2025, this minimum wage is approximately 870 EUR per month, meaning the grant amounts to around 4,350 EUR, paid in a single instalment. The funding comes from the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education. It is awarded to students at the Polytechnic University of Lisbon (Politécnico de Lisboa, now UPL, still accessible via ipl.pt) who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement.

Who can apply

• Where you study: You are enrolled at one of the schools of the Polytechnic University of Lisbon.
• Degree level: You are studying for a Bachelor’s degree (Licenciatura) or a Master’s degree (Mestrado).
• Enrolment history: You were enrolled last academic year and are enrolled again this year.
• Grades: You passed all the modules in your degree programme last year. You also achieved an overall average of at least 16 out of 20 (‘Muito Bom’, Very Good).
• Field of study: Every subject taught at the institute counts.
• Nationality: Any nationality can apply.

How to apply

No application needs to be submitted. Each university assesses its students’ academic performance itself, draws up a ranking based on average marks and publishes it. If you believe that the criteria have been applied incorrectly, you may lodge an appeal within 5 working days before the university president confirms the final list.

If you are looking for additional funding beyond this merit award, our guide Scholarships in Portugal covers further scholarships and financial support across Portugal.