Portugal’s higher education scholarship application deadline is approaching, but international students need to check their eligibility carefully.
The Directorate-General for Higher Education (DGES) manages the higher education study grant application process in Portugal. The regular application deadline for the 2026-27 academic year is September 30, 2026.
The grant supports eligible students facing financial difficulties while studying at Portuguese higher education institutions. However, the support is need-based and does not provide the same amount to every recipient.
Payments are generally made in 10 monthly instalments. Therefore, eligible students can receive financial support throughout the academic year.
Portugal Government Scholarship Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scholarship | Portugal Higher Education Study Grant |
| Country | Portugal |
| Study Level | Master’s and other eligible programmes |
| Institution | Eligible Portuguese higher education institutions |
| Award | Need-based and calculated by DGES |
| Application Deadline | September 30, 2026 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Payment | Normally 10 monthly instalments |
| Academic Year | 2026-27 |
The scholarship applies to several higher education programmes, including Master’s courses. Applicants must meet the relevant academic, financial, nationality and residence requirements.
Who Can Apply for the Scholarship?
The grant is intended for students with limited financial resources who meet the conditions established under Portugal’s higher education support rules.
Applicants must generally be enrolled in an eligible programme at a Portuguese higher education institution. They must also meet the applicable academic progress requirements.
Students normally need to enrol in at least 30 ECTS credits. However, the regulations provide exceptions in certain circumstances.
DGES also applies specific nationality and residence conditions. These conditions cover Portuguese and EU citizens, certain third-country nationals with qualifying residence rights, and specific groups covered by cooperation or protection arrangements.
Important Eligibility Point for Pakistani Students
Pakistani students should check their status before assuming they can receive the grant.
A Pakistani national entering Portugal as an international student does not automatically qualify for the government study grant. Eligibility depends on the nationality and residence conditions established under the applicable rules.
The University of Porto also states that students holding International Student Status are excluded from its SASUP study scholarships.
Therefore, Pakistani applicants planning to study at U.Porto should confirm their student status before relying on this funding option.
U.Porto does provide other funding opportunities for international students. These include merit scholarships and funding offered through external institutions and university partners.
How Much Financial Support Is Available?
The scholarship amount depends on the student’s financial circumstances and the applicable rules. Therefore, applicants should not assume that every successful student receives a fixed annual amount.
DGES calculates support according to the relevant financial assessment. The system is designed to assist students who face greater financial difficulties during higher education.
For the 2026-27 academic year, Portugal is also introducing parts of a revised higher education social support system. The new model is being implemented gradually from 2026-27.
Accommodation Support Also Expanded
Eligible displaced scholarship students can receive accommodation support under the 2026-27 arrangements.
The government has set the accommodation supplement at €161.14 per month for eligible scholarship students under the stated conditions.
However, accommodation support also has its own eligibility requirements. Students should therefore check the rules that apply to their individual circumstances.
Income and Financial Requirements
Applicants must provide information about their household income and financial situation during the application process.
The current income threshold listed in the scholarship rules is €11,049.89 for the relevant assessment. The applicable financial rules also consider household assets and other conditions.
The final amount depends on the applicant’s individual circumstances. Therefore, meeting the income threshold alone does not guarantee a specific scholarship amount.
Documents Applicants Should Prepare
Students applying through the DGES system need to provide financial, academic and personal information.
Applicants should keep their academic records and identity information ready. They should also prepare relevant household financial details and other supporting documents requested during assessment.
The application and assessment process is handled through the DGES online system.
September 30 Deadline for Regular Applications
The standard application period for the higher education study grant runs until September 30.
However, students enrolling after the regular deadline may still have opportunities to apply under the applicable rules. DGES also provides for applications during later periods, although the scholarship can then be calculated proportionally for the remaining study period.
Therefore, eligible students should check their circumstances and submit the application as early as possible.
How to Apply Online
Applicants must submit the scholarship application through the DGES student portal.
The process requires students to access their personal area and complete the required application details. They must also provide the documents requested by the system or during the assessment.
Students planning to study at the University of Porto should first confirm their admission and student status. This is particularly important for international students because U.Porto excludes students with International Student Status from SASUP study scholarships.
With the September 30 deadline approaching, prospective Master’s students should verify their eligibility before treating the Portugal grant as guaranteed funding. The actual support depends on the applicant’s circumstances and the rules applied by DGES.
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