Lisbon City Foundation - Scholarship for African Portuguese speaking students to study at Portuguese Universities in Lisbon

What you get

You will receive a scholarship to study at a university in Lisbon, Portugal. The amount of the scholarship depends on your personal circumstances and covers tuition fees, study costs, accommodation and living expenses. The exact amount is not disclosed. In addition to the money, you will receive:

• Ongoing academic and social support
• Help settling into Portugal
• Language and soft-skills training
• Work placements with the programme’s partner organisations

The scholarship is awarded for one year at a time. You may renew it for the standard duration of your studies, provided you achieve a minimum average mark of 12 on the Portuguese grading scale from 0 to 20. It is administered by the Fundação Cidade de Lisboa (FCL) and has been supporting students since 1990.

Who can apply

• Nationality: You are a national of a Portuguese-speaking African country (PALOP): Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique or São Tomé and Príncipe.
• Where you study: You are studying at a university in Lisbon, Portugal, or have applied to study there.
• Degree level: For the 2026/2027 intake, you already hold a Bachelor’s degree (Licenciatura) and can provide evidence that you are enrolled on a Master’s programme.
• Field of study: Your master's is in Law, Economics, Engineering or Management.
• Financial need: You can prove that you need financial support by providing documents showing your income and financial situation.
• Grades: You have an excellent academic record.

How to apply

Applications are made online via the FCL application form. You can apply at any time of the year. The selection process runs from May to September. First, the FCL checks whether you meet the eligibility criteria. You then submit the required documents. Shortlisted candidates take part in a final interview, during which you explain why your studies are important for your home country.

How realistic are your chances?

For the 2026/2027 round, at least 5 master’s scholarships are being offered, and 77 applications were received in the first month of the call for applications.