Directorate General for Higher Education - Merit Award of the Directorate General for Higher Education (DGES)

What you get

You will receive a one-off cash payment for one academic year if you are among the top-performing students at ISCTE – Instituto Universitario de Lisboa. The amount is five times the Portuguese monthly minimum wage at the start of the academic year in question. As it is linked to the minimum wage, the amount increases each year. The money comes from the Portuguese Ministry of Higher Education and is paid out via ISCTE. The award is not automatic in subsequent years. You must achieve the required grades again each year in order to receive the award once more.

Who can apply

• Where you study: You are enrolled on a Bachelor’s (Licenciatura) or Master’s (Mestrado) degree programme at ISCTE in Lisbon.
• Grades: You have a weighted average of at least 16 out of 20 across the academic year in question.
• Progress: You have passed all your modules this year, which means you have earned all 60 ECTS credits.
• Field of study: Open to all subjects.
• Nationality: All nationalities can apply.
• Financial need: Not relevant. Places are allocated solely on the basis of academic results, regardless of income.

How to apply

You do not apply yourself. ISCTE's teaching services draw up the list of eligible students automatically from your results. A jury appointed by the Pedagogical Council then ranks them. Winners are published each year on the Pedagogical Council's notice board and on the ISCTE programme page.

How realistic are your chances?

For 2023/2024, ISCTE could award a maximum of 21 of these merit-based scholarships to all its Bachelor’s and Master’s students. The upper limit is set at national level and may vary from year to year.

Our guide Scholarships in Portugal lists further funding options you can pursue alongside this ISCTE award.