Directorate-General for Higher Education - Directorate General for Higher Education (DGES) Scholarship

DGES need-based scholarship

You will receive an annual grant from the Portuguese government to cover your tuition fees and enrolment fees at the Universidade da Maia (UMAIA, formerly ISMAI). The amount of the grant is calculated as the difference between a reference ceiling and your household’s per capita income. So the lower your family’s income, the more you will receive. You will receive at least 887.50 EUR per year. This is a grant, not a loan, so you will never have to repay this amount. If you move away from home to study, you may also be eligible for a housing grant of up to 241 EUR per month. If you are enrolling for the first time and come from the lowest income bracket, you may also receive a one-off payment of 1,074.26 EUR. The grant is paid out by the Directorate-General for Higher Education (DGES).

Who can apply

• Where you study: You are enrolled at the Universidade da Maia (UMAIA, formerly ISMAI) in Portugal.
• Degree level: You are studying for a Bachelor’s degree (licenciatura), a Master’s degree (mestrado) or a PhD (doutoramento).
• Field of study: All subjects qualify.
• Financial need: Your household income per person is below the official threshold, and your family’s movable assets remain below the specified limit.
• No debts: You have no outstanding tax or social security debts.
• Nationality: You are a Portuguese national, an EU citizen permanently resident in Portugal, or an international student lawfully residing in Portugal.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted online via the DGES BeOn portal. For the academic year 2026/2027, the main application period runs from 14 August to 2 October. You can still submit a late application up until 31 May of the academic year, although your funding will then be reduced on a pro rata basis. If you have a disability rating of 60% or higher, you can apply from 25 June onwards.

If you are looking for additional grants and funding alongside this need-based support, our guide Scholarships in Portugal brings together further options available to you in Portugal.