Registration for the Higher Education Scholarship in Portugal 2026

Obtaining a scholarship for higher education in Portugal represents a golden opportunity for students seeking to continue their university education without bearing heavy financial burdens. The Portuguese government offers a comprehensive scholarship system aimed at supporting students in need and helping them achieve their educational goals.

Who is Eligible to Apply for a Scholarship?

Eligible Categories

All higher education students are eligible to apply for scholarships, whether they are studying in public or private higher education institutions. This broad scope of eligibility ensures that no student is deprived of the opportunity to receive the financial support necessary to continue their education.

How to Apply for a Scholarship

Obtaining a scholarship for higher education in Portugal requires following specific and organized procedures, as the Portuguese government strives to simplify this process and make it accessible to all qualified students. The system has been designed to be user-friendly and comprehensible, with necessary support provided to students at every step.

Electronic Application Process

The scholarship application process is conducted exclusively online, making it easier for students to complete their procedures and saving them time and effort. Applicants must access the dedicated student area on the official DGES website, where they need to enter their personal data consisting of username and password to submit their application.

The procedure varies slightly depending on whether the student has previously applied for a scholarship or not, making it important to know the appropriate steps for each case.

For Students Who Have Previously Applied

If a student has applied for a scholarship in previous years, they can use the same credentials they used in past years. In case these credentials are forgotten, there is an option to recover the username or password through the DGES electronic portal.

For new students in the Portuguese higher education system, multiple methods are available to obtain the necessary login credentials for submitting a scholarship application.

For New Students in Higher Education

For students who applied this year to join higher education and expressed their desire to obtain a scholarship, they can use the link sent to them via email in the application receipt notification. If the link doesn’t work or they haven’t received login credentials, they can obtain the credentials by entering their personal information on the DGES portal.

If they cannot obtain login credentials through any of the mentioned methods, they can go to social services or social work offices at the higher education institution they attend to request username and password, with the necessity of bringing their citizen card.

To help students understand their financial expectations, the Portuguese government provides an extremely useful tool.

DGES Simulator

Before submitting the application, students can use the DGES simulator to find out the expected amount they would receive if granted the scholarship, helping them plan their finances better.

Requirements and Required Documents

The scholarship application process requires collecting a comprehensive set of documents and information related to the student and their family. These requirements are designed to ensure fair distribution of scholarships to students most in need, and these requirements vary between personal, financial, and housing data.

Basic Family Data

The applicant must collect the following data for all family members:

• Tax identification number (NIF)
• Social security number (NISS)
• Current and fixed bank account balances on December 31 of the civil year preceding the start of the academic year for which the scholarship is requested
• Value of other movable assets such as savings certificates, stocks, bonds, and retirement savings plans

The Portuguese system considers diversity in nationalities and backgrounds, so special procedures have been established to deal with different cases.

Handling Foreign Tax Numbers

Family members are not required to have a Portuguese tax number. In case a family member has a foreign tax number, the country associated with this number must be specified using a two-letter code (such as FR for France, ES for Spain). The complete list of codes can be found on the iso.org electronic browsing platform.

In addition to personal data, the application process requires providing accurate tax information to assess the family’s financial situation.

Tax Documents

An income tax return (IRS) for the civil year preceding the start of the academic year for which the scholarship is requested is required, if a return was filed in that year.

Since housing status significantly affects the family’s financial situation, required documents vary according to housing type.

Housing Documents

Requirements vary according to the family’s housing situation:

For Families Who Own Permanent Housing

• Municipal property tax (IMI) declaration or property registry for the property used as permanent and continuous housing for the family

For Families Living in Rented Houses

• Rental contract and proof of subsidized rent or social housing (if applicable)

To ensure smooth scholarship transfer if approved, appropriate bank account information must be provided.

Bank Account Information

Proof of International Bank Account Number (IBAN) must be provided with identification of the account holder to whom the scholarship will be transferred if approved. If the student is a minor, the account can be in the parents’ name.

Conditions and Requirements for Obtaining a Scholarship

The Portuguese scholarship system establishes a set of strict and fair conditions to ensure financial support reaches students most in need and most deserving. These conditions include academic, financial, and legal aspects, designed to achieve balance between providing opportunities for all and ensuring optimal use of available resources.

Basic Conditions

To ensure obtaining a higher education scholarship, the applicant must meet the following conditions:

1. Citizenship and Residence: Meeting conditions related to citizenship or legal residence status in Portugal
2. Academic Registration: Being registered in professional higher technical courses (CTESP) or bachelor’s degree or integrated master’s or master’s degree, with no less than 30 European Credit Transfer System units (ECTS)
3. Not Holding Similar Degree: Not being a holder of a diploma or degree equal to or higher than the one for which the scholarship is requested
4. Academic Performance: In years following the first year, meeting performance conditions and maximum number of registrations

Alongside academic and legal conditions, financial conditions play a pivotal role in determining scholarship eligibility.

Financial Conditions

Financial conditions form the backbone of the scholarship system, aiming to target students most in need of financial support.

Income and Property Limits

• Total annual family income must be less than €11,049.89
• Family movable property must be less than €115,303.20
• Tax and social contribution status must be settled

Recognizing the special circumstances of working students, the Portuguese system established flexible conditions that consider their unique situation.

Special Conditions for Working Students

For working students and students who receive intermittent income during holiday periods, the total income limit rises to €12,569.89, giving them greater flexibility in qualifying for scholarships.

Within its humanitarian commitment, the Portuguese government provides special treatment for students in exceptional difficult circumstances.

Special Conditions in Humanitarian Emergency Cases

There are categories of students not subject to minimum annual income limits:

• Students in humanitarian emergency situations from Syria
• Afghan refugees
• Students under temporary protection from Ukraine

In these cases, students can receive the maximum scholarship value of €5,981.73.

Application Deadlines

The Portuguese scholarship system follows a specific yet flexible schedule, providing multiple opportunities for students to submit their applications according to their academic and personal circumstances. This diversity in deadlines ensures no qualified student misses the opportunity due to timing circumstances.

Basic Deadlines

Scholarship applications must be submitted during the following periods:

• Main Period: Between June 25 and September 30
• For Late Registration: Within 20 working days after registration, when registration occurs after September 30
• For Professional Training: Within 20 working days after issuing proof of training start for students undertaking professional training

To encourage early application and help students in need, the system provides special advantages for family allowance beneficiaries.

Special Advantages for Family Allowance Beneficiaries

If a student applies for a scholarship at the same time as applying for higher education admission (until distribution date), and is a beneficiary of levels 1, 2, or 3 of family allowance, they will know whether they have been granted the scholarship at the moment of their distribution to an educational course. They will also know the provisional amount allocated to them. However, they will only receive the scholarship after registering for the course and verifying their status.

Recognizing that academic circumstances may change during the academic year, the system allows application at different times.

Application During the Academic Year

It is also possible to apply for scholarships during the academic year, between October 1 and May 31. In this case, the scholarship value is proportional to the value calculated for a full year, considering the period between application and the end of the study period or training.

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For students transitioning from one academic stage to another, special rules have been established that consider this important transition in their educational journey.

For Students Transitioning from Bachelor’s to Master’s

If a student is completing their bachelor’s degree this academic year and starting master’s degree in the following academic year, they must apply for the scholarship during the following periods:

• Between June 25 and September 30
• Within 20 working days after registration, when registration occurs after September 30

Application Cost

The process of applying for a higher education scholarship in Portugal is completely free, ensuring no financial barriers prevent students in need from applying for this vital support. This decision reflects the Portuguese government’s commitment to making education accessible to all, regardless of their financial status.

Higher education scholarships in Portugal represent a real opportunity to support students and enable them to continue their education without financial worry. The comprehensive and flexible system considers various circumstances and cases, from regular students to humanitarian emergency situations. By understanding all requirements, deadlines, and procedures, students can submit successful applications and benefit from this golden opportunity to achieve their educational dreams.