University of Coimbra - Social Fund for students with financial problems

What you get

The University of Coimbra will help you pay your tuition fees if you can prove that you are experiencing financial difficulties and do not receive a national grant. There are two tiers, depending on your income. In the lower-income bracket, your tuition fees will be covered in full, up to an amount of approximately 1,066 EUR per year. In the higher-income bracket, you will receive 45% of this amount (or the amount you have actually paid, if this is lower). The support is granted for one academic year. You can renew it, provided you are making normal academic progress, up to the standard duration of your degree programme plus one or two years. The fund is administered by the Social Services of the University of Coimbra (SASUC) and complements the national DGES grant scheme. A separate emergency programme assists students who are at serious risk of being unable to pay their accommodation, food or healthcare costs.

Who can apply

• University: You are enrolled at the University of Coimbra.
• Level: You are studying on a Bachelor’s degree programme (1 cycle), a Master’s degree programme (2 cycle), an integrated Master’s degree programme or a PhD programme (3 cycle).
• Field of study: Any subject.
• No other scholarship: You are not currently receiving a government (DGES) grant or any other direct financial support to cover your study costs.
• No higher degree: You do not yet hold a qualification at the same level or a higher level than the one for which you are applying.
• Financial need: Your household’s monthly per capita income is no more than 966.83 EUR (in the year 2026).
• Academic progress: In the 1st and 2nd cycle, you enrol in at least 30 ECTS credits and passed at least 36 ECTS the previous year (or all your credits if you took fewer than 36).
• Nationality: You are a domestic student. International students are only eligible for emergency financial support, and only in cases of humanitarian emergency.

How to apply

Applications are made online via the SASUC portal using your Inforestudante login details. The application period for the tuition fee grant runs from 24 March to 31 May. There is no application deadline for emergency financial assistance; applications can be made throughout the year.

Our guide Scholarships in Portugal brings together further scholarships and funding options for students studying in Portugal.