Scholarships and Student Financial Aid in Portugal

The state grant: bolsa de acção social

Portugal's main financial aid for students is the state grant (bolsa de acção social escolar), run by DGES through the BeOn online platform. The grant is need-based: DGES calculates your family's per capita income using the previous calendar year's tax return, then sets your grant tier from that figure. There is no simple published income ceiling. The calculation runs on a formula, so the only reliable way to know your eligibility is to submit an application and let the system calculate it.

To keep receiving the grant you must stay enrolled in at least 30 ECTS credits a year and make normal academic progress. Grants pay monthly by bank transfer rather than as one lump sum, and cover a base living amount plus, for students living away from their family home, a housing supplement.

In an earlier published table (2023-24), tiered annual grant amounts for students who also qualified for family allowance ranged from roughly 872-2,643 euro depending on income band, with a separate housing supplement of 140-242 euro a month depending on the municipality. Confirm current 2025-26 amounts directly on BeOn, since tiers update most years.

When and how to apply

Applications open on BeOn each year, with DGES setting the standard window from August 14 to October 2, and a late window running through May 31 that pays a prorated amount for the months remaining in the year. Apply as early as possible in your window since processing takes time and you need the grant decision before term fees come due.

You will need your family's income tax documents, proof of enrollment, and, if you already have a Portuguese tax number (NIF), your details on file with Finanças, since the calculation pulls from tax records.

Eligibility for students from other European countries

Non-Portuguese citizens qualify for the state grant if they hold permanent residency rights in Portugal, or if they meet a specific bilateral agreement between Portugal and their home country, per DGES. In practice this route suits EU nationals who already settled in Portugal, more than students arriving fresh from another EU country for a single degree. The grant only supports study at a Portuguese institution, so it does not travel with you if you later move your studies elsewhere.

If you do not qualify for the Portuguese state grant, check your home country's own portable grant or loan scheme first, since several EU countries let citizens carry domestic student finance to study in Portugal.

University and private scholarships

Beyond the state grant, most Portuguese universities and polytechnics run their own merit or need-based scholarships, funded through the institution's own budget, alumni donations, or partner companies. These typically cover part of the tuition fee or offer a fixed cash award, and eligibility rules, deadlines and amounts differ by institution. Check the scholarships section of your target university's website directly, since there is no single national list covering every private award.

Some public universities also run scholarships aimed specifically at international or European exchange students, separate from the general state grant, often tied to a partnership or specific faculty. Ask the international office at your target university what is available before you commit to a place, since these awards rarely appear in general searches.

Combining the state grant with other aid

The state grant does not block you from also applying for a university scholarship, an external foundation grant, or your home country's own portable student finance, since these come from separate budgets. Declare any other funding you receive where the application asks, since some university awards factor in whether you already hold a state grant.

Foundations and external funders

Beyond university and state aid, independent Portuguese foundations occasionally fund specific fields of study or specific nationalities through their own separate application processes. These awards change from year to year and rarely appear in one central directory, so search directly for foundations linked to your field of study or your home country's community in Portugal, and ask your target university's international office whether it partners with any.

If you are refused or need to appeal

BeOn issues a provisional decision first, followed by a final one once all applications for the cycle are processed, since your grant tier depends partly on how many applicants qualify each year. If you disagree with a decision, your institution's Serviços de Ação Social (SAS) office explains the calculation and tells you whether grounds exist for a review. Keep copies of everything you submit, since a review request generally needs the same supporting documents you used originally.

Practical checklist

1. Get a Portuguese NIF (tax number) as early as possible. Most aid applications need one.

2. Gather your family's most recent tax return before the BeOn window opens.

3. Apply on BeOn inside the August-October window, or the late window if you missed it.

4. Check your target university's own scholarship page separately from the state grant.

5. Confirm your enrolled ECTS load stays at or above 30 credits to keep the grant active.