Barcelos Municipality - Higher Education Scholarship for students living in Barcelos

Barcelos Municipality higher education scholarship

You will receive a monthly grant of 9 months per academic year. The amount depends on your household income: 300 EUR per month if your per capita income is up to 40% of the IAS (the Portuguese reference index for social assistance), 200 EUR per month between 40% and 60%, and 150 EUR per month between 60% and 80%. At the highest level, the amount is 2,700 EUR per year. Barcelos City Council (Câmara Municipal de Barcelos) pays the amount by bank transfer. It serves as a top-up to the state grant provided by the DGES. If you are already receiving other support, this grant will be reduced so that your total amount remains within your income bracket.

Who can apply

• Degree level: You are enrolled on your first Bachelor’s degree programme (Licenciatura), your first Master’s degree programme (whether integrated or not) or a two-year vocational higher education programme (CTeSP). Specialisations and PhD programmes are excluded from this.
• Institution: Your higher education institution is officially accredited.
• National scholarship: You have applied for a government grant from the DGES. If the DGES rejects your application, the local authority will also reject it.
• Financial need: Your household’s monthly per capita income is below 80% as defined by the IAS, and your family’s savings, vehicles and property remain below the specified limits.
• Grades: You passed and moved up a year in the previous academic year.
• Nationality: You are a Portuguese national or hold another nationality that entitles you to lawful residence in Portugal.
• Residence: You live in the municipality of Barcelos.

How to apply

First, apply to the DGES via your university. You should then submit your application to the local authority online at atendimento.barcelos.pt, in person at the ‘Balcão Único’, or by registered post. For the academic year 2026–2027, you can apply from 15 October to 16 November 2026. If more students apply than the budget allows, places will be allocated first to those on the lowest incomes, then to single parents and families with a disabled family member, and finally to those with the best grades.