Polytechnic Institute of Setúbal (Setúbal/Portugal) - Directorate General for Higher Education (DGES) Scholarship

What the DGES scholarship gives you

You will receive a monthly payment to cover the costs of your studies at Universidade Politécnica de Setúbal (UNIPS, formerly the Polytechnic Institute of Setúbal) in Portugal. The amount is calculated on an individual basis, taking into account your household income and your financial needs. The payment is made monthly throughout the academic year. This will enable you to cover your tuition fees (propinas) and the costs of accommodation, meals, travel and study materials. This is Portugal’s state-funded, means-tested scholarship (Bolsa de Estudo), administered by the Directorate-General for Higher Education (DGES). The University’s Social Services (SAS) will assist you with your application.

If you live 50 km or more from campus, you can also get an accommodation top-up. Students classed as "displaced" receive an extra 30% of the IAS (the Portuguese social-support reference value) per month. If you start higher education for the first time and fall in the lowest family-allowance brackets, you can also get a one-off Incentive Scholarship worth 2 times the IAS.

Who can apply

• Where you study: You are enrolled at a faculty of the Universidade Politécnica de Setúbal or intend to enrol there.
• Study level: You are studying for a Bachelor’s degree (Licenciatura), a short vocational higher education course (CTeSP) or a Master’s degree (Mestrado).
• Field of study: Open to all subjects.
• Financial need: Your household income is below the threshold set annually. Your household’s savings and investments amount to less than approximately 100,000 euros.
• Academic progress: You earn enough credits each year to stay on schedule. The regulations allow you one or two additional years to complete your degree.
• No existing degree: You have not yet obtained the qualification for which you wish to apply for funding.
• Tax and social security: Your tax and social security contributions are up to date.
• Nationality: You must be a Portuguese national, an EU citizen permanently resident in Portugal, or a non-EU citizen who meets the specified requirements. Students who have been admitted under the scheme for international students are generally not eligible to apply.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted online via the national scholarship portal (BeOn) at dges.gov.pt. If you do not yet have your login details, please first contact the university’s social services department to obtain them, and then submit your application via the portal. The main application period runs from 14 August to 2 October 2026. You can also apply later, up until 31 May 2027, although the grant will then only be paid from the month following your application.

Our guide Scholarships in Portugal brings together further funding options for students planning to study in Portugal alongside this DGES support.