FLAD, Erasmus+, and University-Specific Scholarships for Foreigners

You have an acceptance letter from a Portuguese university, and then you see the tuition line for international students. Your browser fills with tabs: FLAD, Erasmus+, faculty merit awards, foundation grants. Each page uses different terms. This guide explains how the three main scholarship routes for foreigners work, who qualifies for each, and how to build an application plan that holds up.

Why Scholarship Hunting in Portugal Feels Like a Maze

When I first looked into studying here, I assumed one central government portal would list every scholarship. No such portal exists. Funding in Portugal is spread across foundations, European programmes, individual universities, research agencies and private sponsors. Each has its own calendar, its own forms and sometimes its own rules about who counts as “international.”

That fragmentation is the main reason capable applicants miss out. They aren’t weak candidates. They find a programme after its call has closed, or they don’t realise an award was aimed at a different nationality. If you feel overwhelmed, that reaction is normal. The system is confusing, and you can still get through it with a plan.

The Funding Landscape Is Fragmented

Portuguese scholarships fall into roughly four groups:

• Foundation grants such as those from FLAD.
• European mobility and degree programmes under Erasmus+.
• Institutional awards run by individual universities and faculties.
• Research funding, mostly connected to doctoral and postdoctoral work.

There are also smaller sources: municipal awards, banking-sector sponsorships run through universities, and bilateral cultural agreements.

In practice, you can’t rely on one search. A master’s applicant from Brazil, a PhD candidate from Nigeria and an American undergraduate on exchange will each draw on a completely different mix of these sources. Before you look at any specific award, work out which of these groups your profile fits. That one step can save you weeks of reading calls you were never eligible for. Scholarships for International Students: Full Funding in Portugal 2026 gives a broader overview of fully funded options.

The International Student Statute Changes Everything

Portuguese public universities apply what is commonly called the Estatuto do Estudante Internacional, the international student statute. If you are not an EU national, and you don’t fall into an exempt category such as certain long-term residents, you are generally admitted under this statute. You will pay a separate, higher international tuition fee.

The statute also affects which scholarships you can get. The state social support grants handled through DGES, the bolsas de ação social, are designed mainly for students who are not under the international statute. Many non-EU students only discover this after they have already planned around that money. Before you build a budget, check which fee category your university places you in. Tuition Fees in Portugal: Public vs Private University Costs for Non-EU Students breaks down how that category affects the bill.

FLAD Grants: The Portugal and United States Connection

FLAD, the Fundação Luso-Americana para o Desenvolvimento, is a private Portuguese foundation. Its mission is to strengthen ties between Portugal and the United States. That mission shapes everything it funds, and it is also the source of most of the confusion around it.

A friend of mine from Mexico spent a whole weekend preparing a FLAD application before she realised the call was built around Portugal and the US. She had no connection to either side of that relationship. Her work wasn’t wasted, because she reused most of it for a university merit award. Still, it was a lesson she didn’t need to learn the hard way.

What FLAD Actually Funds

Most FLAD programmes support research, science, education, culture and transatlantic exchange. Many calls fund Portuguese researchers and students who want to spend time at American institutions. Others support projects, conferences, research in Portuguese archives, or collaborations that bring American academics and Portuguese partners together.

FLAD calls tend to be thematic and often tied to a specific project. You are rarely applying for a general “study in Portugal” grant. More often, you are applying to fund a particular research stay, publication, partnership or event. Read each call as a description of a project the foundation wants to see, and shape your proposal to match it.

Who Realistically Qualifies

The strongest FLAD candidates are usually:

• Portuguese nationals or residents with a clear United States component in their work.
• American researchers whose project depends on Portuguese archives, institutions or partners.

If you hold another nationality but are enrolled at a Portuguese university, read the eligibility clause of each call closely. Some calls are open to anyone affiliated with a Portuguese institution, and others are not.

For most foreigners who are neither American nor Portuguese, FLAD works better as a secondary option than as a main funding plan. Bookmark its calls page, check it each term, and apply when a theme fits your research. Don’t build your whole budget around it.

Fulbright Portugal as the Companion Route

If you are American, look at the Fulbright Commission in Portugal alongside FLAD. Fulbright Portugal runs grants for American students, researchers and teaching assistants who want to spend time in Portugal, as well as grants for Portuguese citizens heading to the US. For many Americans it is a more direct route into a Portuguese university than FLAD’s project-based calls.

Fulbright applications are competitive. They reward a clear academic plan, a reason why Portugal specifically matters to your work, and letters of affiliation from Portuguese hosts. If you are a US citizen considering a master’s or a research year here, consider applying to both Fulbright and a relevant FLAD call. You’ll find that one well-developed project description can be adapted for each.

Erasmus+ for Students Inside and Outside Europe

Erasmus+ is the European Union’s flagship programme for education, training and mobility. Most people know it as the student exchange that gave a generation of Europeans a semester abroad. For foreigners looking at Portugal, though, it is several separate funding streams under one name.

The important question is which part of Erasmus+ you can access. It depends on where you are enrolled, not only on your passport. This is the point where most applicants get lost.

Exchange Mobility for Students Already Enrolled in Europe

If you are already studying at a university in an Erasmus+ programme country, you can usually spend a semester or a year at a Portuguese partner university. You receive a mobility grant and pay no tuition at the host institution. Your home university’s international office runs the selection, not the Portuguese university.

This applies to non-EU citizens too. A Canadian student doing a degree in Germany, for example, can normally apply for Erasmus+ exchange through the German university like any other student there. The grant is meant to cover part of your living costs, not all of them. Lisbon and Porto are expensive compared with what the grant covers, so plan a realistic budget before you accept. Erasmus in Lisbon: Budgeting for parties, travel, and student housing shows what that looks like day to day.

Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters: The Full-Ride Option for Anyone

For many non-Europeans, Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters are the strongest scholarship opportunity connected to Portugal. These are master’s degrees run by consortia of universities in several countries, and many include Portuguese institutions as partners. Students apply from anywhere in the world. The top-ranked applicants receive scholarships that typically cover tuition, travel and a monthly living allowance.

The catch is that you apply to the programme, not to Portugal. You will probably spend different semesters in different countries, with Portugal as one stop. If you have a subject in mind, search the Erasmus Mundus catalogue for consortia that include universities such as Porto, Lisbon, Coimbra, Minho, Aveiro or NOVA. Then read the mobility track carefully to see how long you would actually be in Portugal.

International Credit Mobility for Partner Country Students

There is a third stream that few people hear about. Portuguese universities sign bilateral Erasmus+ agreements with universities outside Europe, in Latin America, Africa, Asia and elsewhere. Under these agreements, students from the partner university can spend a funded exchange period in Portugal. This is usually called international credit mobility.

The only way to access it is through your home university’s international office. Ask them directly whether they have an Erasmus+ partnership with any Portuguese institution. Students at universities in Brazil, Cape Verde, Mozambique, Angola and other countries with strong academic links to Portugal often have more options than they realise. The calls are usually announced quietly, through internal email lists and notice boards, so you have to ask.

University-Specific Scholarships and Tuition Reductions

University awards are where most international students find realistic, though partial, funding. Each Portuguese university designs its own support, so the names, criteria and amounts vary from one institution to the next and sometimes from one faculty to the next.

Start with the universities you are actually applying to. Top Portuguese Universities for Expats: ULisboa, UP, and Nova SBE compares the major institutions. Once you have a shortlist, go to each one’s international student page and look for words like bolsa, mérito, redução de propinas and estudante internacional.

Merit Awards at Public Universities

Several public universities offer merit-based tuition reductions or scholarships for international students under the statute. These are usually based on your entry grades or your academic results. The University of Coimbra, the University of Porto and the University of Lisbon have all run merit schemes of this kind. Some faculties within them add their own awards for strong candidates in specific programmes.

The scale of these awards differs a great deal. Some are full or partial tuition waivers. Others are one-off prizes for the best students in a year. Many are renewable only if you maintain a minimum average. Since Portugal grades on a 0 to 20 scale, check what that threshold means for you before you commit. How the Portuguese university grading system works (0-20 scale explained) explains how to read those requirements.

Support for Students From Portuguese-Speaking Countries

If you are from one of the CPLP countries, such as Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe, or East Timor, your options are noticeably wider. Many universities have agreements, quotas or reduced-fee arrangements for these students. Institutions like the Camões Institute and various cooperation programmes have also historically funded study places for students from Portuguese-speaking African countries and East Timor.

Some Brazilian students can use their ENEM results for admission to certain Portuguese universities. In some cases, strong results also make them eligible for a tuition reduction. If this applies to you, ask the admissions office directly which agreements cover your country and your programme. The details are often missing from the English-language pages.

Research Funding Through FCT and University Labs

At doctoral level, the main public funder is FCT, the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia. FCT runs doctoral studentship calls, and many university research units and doctoral programmes also hire PhD students through funded research contracts or grants. Eligibility rules, including residency conditions, can change between calls. Read the regulations for each edition rather than relying on what a friend was told some years ago.

The most effective strategy at this level is to approach a research group directly. Email a supervisor whose work fits yours, ask whether they expect funded positions, and offer to build a joint application. Many funded PhD places in Portugal are filled through this kind of contact before the formal call is published. How to Find PhD Funding in Portugal covers this route in more detail.

Comparing Your Options Side by Side

When I mentor newcomers, I ask them to sort each opportunity by two questions: who it is meant for, and who runs the application. The table below covers the routes discussed above.

Funding Route	Best Suited For	Who You Apply Through	What It Typically Covers	Main Limitation
FLAD grants	Portuguese and American researchers with a Portugal and US link	FLAD calls directly	Specific research stays, projects or exchanges	Narrow thematic and nationality focus
Fulbright Portugal	US citizens studying or researching in Portugal	Fulbright Commission	Grant for a study or research period	Highly competitive, US nationals only for the inbound route
Erasmus+ exchange	Students enrolled at a European university	Home university international office	Partial living costs, no host tuition	Does not fund a full degree
Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters	Any nationality applying for a joint master’s	The programme consortium	Tuition, travel and living allowance for top applicants	Time split between several countries
International credit mobility	Students at partner universities outside Europe	Home university international office	Funded exchange period	Only exists where agreements are in place
University merit awards	Strong international applicants under the statute	The Portuguese university	Tuition reduction or prize	Often partial and grade-dependent
CPLP arrangements	Nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries	University or cooperation body	Reduced fees or funded places	Varies widely by country and institution
FCT and research contracts	Doctoral candidates	FCT calls or research units	Studentship or contract for doctoral work	Rules change between editions

Most successful international students in Portugal combine two or three of these sources rather than relying on one large award. A merit tuition reduction, some part-time work and family savings together is a common and workable mix. How to Apply for Scholarships to Study in Portugal walks through how to stack sources like these.

Building a Winning Application Strategy

Funding committees in Portugal read a lot of applications. You stand out by showing that you understand the institution and the country, and not only your own ambitions. Applications that read as generic, written as though the candidate would be equally happy anywhere in Europe, rarely make the shortlist.

A Step-by-Step Timeline

Here is the sequence I recommend to anyone starting from zero:

1. Identify your profile clearly: your nationality, where you are currently enrolled, the level you are applying for, and your likely tuition category at your target universities.
2. Make a shortlist of programmes, then list every funding source that fits that profile, using the categories in the table above.
3. Record every call’s opening and closing date in one calendar. Many Portuguese scholarship windows open well before admission decisions are released.
4. Gather your core documents early: transcripts, diplomas, recommendation letters, a CV and proof of language ability. Plan time for certified translations and apostilles where they are required.
5. Write one strong master statement, then adapt it for each award. Refer to specific research groups, courses and Portuguese partners each time.
6. Submit the admission applications and the scholarship applications in parallel. Don’t wait for one result before starting the other.
7. Once you receive an offer, confirm in writing what the award covers, how long it lasts and what conditions you must meet to renew it.

If you are applying for a master’s, Applying for a Master’s Degree in Portugal: Timelines and Documents covers the admissions side of this timeline. Writing a personal statement for Portuguese university master’s admissions helps you sharpen the statement that many scholarship committees read alongside your application.

Language as a Secret Weapon

Many programmes are taught in English, but Portuguese language skills still give you an advantage in scholarship applications. Committees for merit awards, CPLP-linked places and research positions respond well to applicants who show a genuine commitment to living and contributing in Portugal. Even basic European Portuguese signals that commitment.

I started with PortuguesePod101 during my own application year. I listened to short lessons on the bus and practised the European pronunciation, which is very different from the Brazilian accent most apps default to. By my interview I could introduce myself and my research in Portuguese. The panel noticed, and their tone warmed up straight away. If you use PortuguesePod101 or a similar course, choose the European Portuguese track. The vowel reduction and vocabulary are what you will actually hear in a Lisbon seminar room or a Porto research lab.

Language also helps once you have the award. Department administrators, residence offices and scholarship finance teams often prefer Portuguese for anything complicated. A few months of steady practice with PortuguesePod101 before arrival can make those conversations much less stressful. Learning European Portuguese: Top Apps, Tutors, and Free Government Classes compares other ways to build the skill.

Life After the Award Letter

Winning the scholarship is a big relief, but it doesn’t solve everything. If you are not an EU national, you will still need to apply for your student visa. For that application you must prove you have sufficient means of subsistence for your stay. A formal award letter that states what is covered and for how long is extremely useful here, so keep both the original and a certified translation. Once you are in Portugal and need to renew your residence permit, see Student Residence Permits in Portugal: Renewals and Rules.

Most scholarships cover tuition but not all of your living costs, so you will need a housing plan before you arrive. Student Accommodation: University Dorms vs Renting a Private Room explains the trade-offs between university residences and the private market. If you plan to supplement your award with a part-time job, first read Working Part-Time on a Student Visa (Article 97): Rules and Approvals so you stay within your permit conditions.

Finally, keep track of your renewal requirements. Many awards depend on a minimum grade average, regular enrolment or progress reports. Set calendar reminders for each deadline. Students who miss a renewal form usually do so because nobody reminded them, not because they didn’t care. If you treat your scholarship like an ongoing contract rather than a one-time prize, it will keep supporting you until graduation.

Disclaimer

This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Laws, prices and regulations vary by location and change over time. Consult a qualified professional for guidance on your specific situation.