University of Porto - UP Merit Award

UP Merit Award

You will receive a sum of one-off cash prize equal to five times the Portuguese monthly minimum wage, which will be paid into your bank account in a single transfer. The exact amount is based on the minimum wage in force at the start of the academic year. The University of Porto (U.Porto) awards this prize to its best students for one academic year. It is not automatically renewed, so you will need to qualify again next year.

Who can apply

• University: You’re studying at the University of Porto.
• Degree level: You are enrolled on a Bachelor’s degree programme.
• Grades: In the past academic year, you passed all the modules in your degree programme and earned a total of 60 ECTS credits. Your weighted average mark is at least 16 out of 20 (‘Very Good’).
• Field of study: All subjects are eligible.
• Nationality: You are a Portuguese or home student. International students cannot apply, unless they are in a humanitarian emergency.

How to apply

There is no application form. Each faculty assesses its own students and draws up a ranking of those who meet the grade requirements, based on their ECTS-weighted average mark. ECTS credits are the standard credits awarded for passing courses. In the event of a tie between two students, priority is given to the student who has taken fewer courses in total; if the tie persists, priority is given to the younger student. Each faculty publishes the results online.

If you are looking for additional funding alongside this prize, our guide Scholarships in Portugal brings together further scholarships and funding options available in Portugal.