Camões Institute - Scholarship for foreign students for Portuguese Language and Culture Summer Courses at Portuguese Universities

Camões Summer Course Scholarship (Portuguese Language and Culture)

You will receive a one-off payment of 1,150 EUR for a one-month summer course in Portuguese language and culture at a Portuguese university. This applies to face-to-face courses. For the online option, the scholarship will instead cover your course and registration fees; no cash payment will be made. The scholarship is awarded by Camões, I.P., the Portuguese state institute for language and cooperation. The online courses last four weeks (roughly from late June to late July) and take place in small groups of up to 15 students. You can choose your level from beginner (A1) to advanced (C2), with each level taught by a different partner university.

What you pay yourself: For face-to-face courses, you are responsible for paying the registration and course fees, as well as travel and accommodation costs. For online courses, all you need is your own technical equipment.

Who can apply

• Who it's for: You are an international student or a Portuguese national living abroad who would like to improve your Portuguese.
• Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities are welcome to apply. Priority will be given to applicants from Latin America and Spain, Eastern Europe, the Maghreb and Southern Africa, as well as those working under Camões cooperation agreements.
• Field of study: Open to all disciplines.
• Age: No age limit.
• Language level: For online courses, select a level between A1 and C2 and complete a placement test to confirm this.
• No double funding: You must not already be receiving a similar scholarship from another Portuguese organisation.

How to apply

Apply online between 5 and 18 May 2026 (by 17:00 Lisbon time). For face-to-face courses, please use the Camões service portal; for online courses, please use the separate link for summer courses. You must submit a CV, evidence of your qualifications, a short personal statement (100 to 400 words) and two references, all in Portuguese or English. For online courses, you will also need to complete a placement test and an interview with the university before the final results are announced.

How realistic are your chances?

The number of places available for a language course is quite substantial: 58 online scholarships and 10 on-campus scholarships in 2026. Priority is given to certain regions and applicants covered by Camões cooperation agreements; your chances are therefore best if you belong to one of these groups. A compelling personal statement and an application submitted before the deadline in mid-May will give you a good chance of success.