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GULBENKIAN.PT

Gulbenkian Merit scholarships

These scholarships are for high-potential young students with limited financial means who are entering a public university or polytechnic for the first time with an average grade of 17 (170 points) or higher. They are worth 2.000 € per academic year and can be combined with the DGES social support grant.

Date

Start date01 Sep 2026 / 10:00
End date30 Oct 2026 / 15:00

Lisbon time

Documents

The Gulbenkian Merit scholarships aim to recognise merit, provide financial stability, and offer better conditions for academic performance in higher education.

Conditions

  • The scholarship amounts to €2,000 per academic year and includes an additional one-time grant of €2,000 for participation in an international mobility period, such as Erasmus or another similar programme offered by each higher education institution.
  • Scholarships may be renewed until completion of the master’s degree, subject to the renewal conditions set out in the regulations

Eligibility

  • Admission grade for higher education equal to or higher than 170 points through the general access and admission competition for the 2026/27 academic year, in the programme in which the applicant is enrolled.
  • Proof of application for a social action grant from the Directorate-General for Higher Education (DGES). In order to enable verification of household income, applying for a DGES grant is a mandatory condition for applying for the Gulbenkian Merit Scholarship, regardless of household income level.
  • Scholarships will only be awarded to selected applicants whose annual per capita income, as verified by the Social Services of the respective higher education institution, does not exceed €14,000.
  • Only applicants to legally recognised Portuguese higher education institutions and duly accredited and registered study programmes will be considered.
  • Applications from holders of a higher education degree will not be accepted.

How to Apply

  • Applications must be submitted through an online form, in Portuguese.
  • Before submitting the application form, please read the Regulations (available in the documents section) and verify all eligibility criteria.
  • To access the application form, applicants must first register on the website.
  • Complete all mandatory fields in order to submit the application, including uploading the documentation required under the Regulations.

Faq

Can the minimum average of 170 points required to apply be rounded up? If my average is 169, can I still apply?

No rounding is allowed. Only applications with an average of 170 points or higher will be considered valid.

Where can I obtain the document proving my admission to a public higher education institution, including the admission grade?

You can access the document proving your admission to higher education for 2026–27 at DGES website.

I'm no longer in the first year of my degree. Can I apply?

No. The scholarships are only available to first-year undergraduate students who entered higher education in 2026 through the general admissions process.

I'm in the first year of a degree, but this is not my first enrolment. Can I apply?

You may apply provided that you entered higher education in 2026 through the general admissions process. Repeat enrolments and transfers are not accepted. This information is verified through DGES.

I'm in the first year of a degree at a private higher education institution. Can I apply?

Only applications from candidates who entered higher education through the general admissions process are accepted. Therefore, you cannot apply.

Can I apply if I'm a foreign national?

People of any nationality may apply, provided that they entered higher education through the general admissions process.

To enter higher education through the general admissions process, the Directorate-General for Higher Education (DGES) requires the following conditions:

  • Hold a secondary education qualification or a legally equivalent qualification;
  • Take, or have taken within the previous two years, the national examinations corresponding to the admission exams required for the different courses and institutions to which you are applying;
  • Complete any prerequisite requirements, if these are required by the institution for the course you are applying to;
  • Not be covered by the international student status regulated by Decree-Law No. 36/2014 of 10 March, as amended and republished by Decree-Law No. 62/2018 of 6 August.

I don't have a Portuguese Citizen Card. How can I apply?

You should apply using the provisional number assigned to you on your ENES form.

The ENES form is the official document issued by secondary schools and is essential for students who wish to apply to higher education.

How can I obtain proof that I applied for a DGES scholarship?

You only need to submit a screenshot of your scholarship application or of the current status of your DGES scholarship application.

When will the results of the call be announced?

The results will be announced and communicated within approximately 120 days after the application deadline, i.e. by February 2027.

The call depends on DGES for income verification. Since this verification is not immediate, the results may take up to 120 days, or longer in some circumstances.

The Foundation will not respond to requests for information about the results until approximately 120 days have elapsed.

If candidates are selected for a scholarship, they will receive a message directly from FCG.

Candidates should wait to be contacted by FCG.

What document can be used as proof of my DGES application?

You may submit a screenshot or a PDF of one of the following:

  1. The email you received confirming your application; 
  2. The application form, which can be obtained at DGES website.

How can I contact FCG with questions?

Questions relating to the application, the application form, or how to complete it should be addressed to FCG via a My Gulbenkian message or by email at: [email protected]

FCG cannot guarantee a timely response to requests for clarification submitted during the two working days before the application deadline.

Contacts

Email: [email protected]

Updated on 02 october 2026

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