Portugal Government Higher Education Scholarships 2025-2026
- Omran Aburayya
- Aug 15
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 22
If you're pursuing higher education in Portugal and financial constraints are holding back your academic ambitions, the Portugal Government Higher Education Grants 2025 might be your lifeline. Managed by Portugal’s Directorate-General for Higher Education (DGES), this partial-funding program offers monthly support to low-income students enrolled in public or private institutions—spanning CTESP, Bachelor's, Integrated Master’s, and Master’s levels. Applications are open for the 2025–2026 academic year, providing crucial academic assistance and peace of mind to students across all fields of study.
🎓 Scholarship Summary
Location: Portugal (public or private higher education institutions)
Host Institution: Managed centrally by DGES
Study Level:
CTESP (Higher Professional Technical Courses)
Bachelor's (Licenciatura)
Integrated Master's
Master's (Mestrado)
Note: Doctoral funding is separately administered via FCT, not DGES
Target Group: Low-income students enrolled in Portuguese HEIs; includes Portuguese nationals, EU residents in Portugal, non-EU legal residents, and humanitarian/emergency cases (Syrian, Afghan, Ukrainian students)
Fields of Study: Open to all disciplines—Science, Social Sciences, Engineering, Arts, Health, Economics, etc.
Value & Coverage:
Paid monthly across 10 installments for the academic year
Maximum amount up to €5,981.73 awarded in humanitarian/emergency situations
Award Duration: Typically entire academic year; prorated if applied during later period
Application Deadline: Regular window from June 25 to September 30, 2025; late submissions accepted within 20 working days post-enrollment; applications during academic year accepted until May 31, 2026
Eligible To: Students enrolled in eligible programs and meeting income/assets thresholds or humanitarian criteria
📚 Scholarship Overview
The DGES Higher Education Scholarship aims to remove financial barriers for students from economically disadvantaged families by providing monthly support and fostering education continuity . It spans a wide range of academic levels and disciplines, welcoming applicants across Portugal’s higher education landscape.
In response to humanitarian crises, extraordinary provisions allow Syrian, Afghan, and Ukrainian students to receive the maximum award amount of €5,981.73, regardless of income thresholds . The programme's flexibility also applies to applications submitted throughout the academic year, with financial installments accordingly prorated .
📚 Eligible Study Programmes
Students must be Studying in a recognized academic subject area, such as:
Engineering and Technology
Social Sciences and Law
Arts and Humanities
Health and Medical Sciences
Education and Teacher Training
🎁 Benefits
Financial Stability: Monthly installments over 10 months support tuition and living costs.
Max Amount for Special Needs: Emergency and humanitarian cases can receive up to €5,981.73 .
Inclusive Access: Opens doors to students from a wide spectrum of disciplines and backgrounds.
Flexible Application Windows: Apply early, late, or even during the academic year—support scales accordingly.
No Application Fee: The process is completely cost-free .
✅ Eligibility Criteria
Must be enrolled in a CTESP, Bachelor’s, Integrated Master’s, or Master’s program at a Portuguese higher education institution .
Household income and assets must fall below thresholds (e.g., under €11,049.89 income and €115,303.20 assets)—with flexibility in humanitarian scenarios .
Must not already hold a degree equal to or above the one being pursued .
Excluded: International students not legally residing in Portugal, unless classified as humanitarian/emergency cases .
📝 Application Procedure
How to Apply:
Log into the DGES Student Portal using institutional credentials or request access via your institution’s Social Action Services (SAS) .
Complete the online application form with personal, academic, and financial information .
Upload key documents:
NIF (Taxpayer ID) & NISS (Social Security Number) for all household members
Bank balances and asset valuations as of December 31 of prior year
IRS (tax return), if applicable
Proof of housing (IMI declaration or rental agreement)
IBAN for receiving scholarships
Submit within deadline—June 25 to September 30, 2025 (or within 20 working days post-enrollment; or until May 31, 2026 prorated) .
For first-time applicants, a pre-registration step may be required to obtain credentials .
Notifications of results are typically delivered via the portal or direct communication—follow your institution’s guidance.
⭐ Final Thoughts
The Portugal Government Higher Education Scholarship 2025 is an empowering example of inclusive educational policy—standing as a testament that financial hardship should not block academic potential. Whether you're pursuing CTESP, a Bachelor’s, Integrated Master’s, or Master’s degree, this scholarship provides significant aid—especially for humanitarian cases deserving special considerations. Apply now and elevate your future!
