How Timor-Leste's National Scholarship Fund Supports Students at Home and Abroad
By Muntasir • Published Jan 18, 2026 • Updated Sep 20, 2026 • Scholarships & Funding, Study in Southeast Asia
Timor-Leste's Human Capital Development Fund (FDCH) is the government body that pays for both local university places and scholarships abroad, splitting support between the National University of Timor Lorosa'e (UNTL) and partner universities overseas. It sits under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Culture and runs separate domestic and overseas tracks.
🎓 Domestic awards fund study at UNTL, Betano Polytechnic Institute, and private institutions inside Timor-Leste.
Overseas awards run through government-to-government partnerships rather than one open global list.
💵 In 2023, FDCH and the United States agreed to fund Fulbright master's places for Timorese students.
In March 2025, FDCH signed a partnership with five Indonesian universities to place Timorese students there.
Some domestic awards have shifted from full funding toward partial, cost-sharing scholarships in recent years.
What FDCH Is
FDCH stands for Fundo de Desenvolvimento do Capital Humano, the Human Capital Development Fund. It is Timor-Leste's main government vehicle for funding higher education, sitting under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Culture. Instead of one scholarship program, FDCH runs two separate tracks: one that funds students staying inside Timor-Leste, and one that places students at partner universities abroad.
Domestic Scholarships
The largest share of FDCH support funds study inside the country. Recipients attend the National University of Timor Lorosa'e (UNTL), the Betano Polytechnic Institute, or private higher education institutions around Timor-Leste. These awards cover course fees at the partner institution, which keeps the pathway open to students who cannot afford private tuition on their own.
In recent years, FDCH has shifted some of these domestic awards from full funding toward partial, cost-sharing scholarships, a change that Timorese student groups have pushed back against. If you are applying for a domestic award, confirm with FDCH or your institution's financial aid office whether the specific award on offer covers fees in full or requires a family contribution.
Overseas Scholarships
FDCH funds overseas study through direct agreements with foreign governments and universities rather than a single open application to any country. In 2023, FDCH and the United States signed an agreement committing at least 150,000 US dollars to fund up to three Timorese students in Fulbright master's degree programs in the United States.
On 5 March 2025, FDCH signed a memorandum of understanding with five Indonesian universities, Gajah Mada University, Atmajaya Catholic University, the University of Mercu Buana, the University of Borobudur, and Politeknik ATMI Surakarta, opening structured places for Timorese students in Indonesia. The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Culture witnessed the signing in Jakarta, alongside Timor-Leste's ambassador to Indonesia.
FDCH has similar cooperation with institutions in Macau, including the University of Saint Joseph, aimed at building Timor-Leste's pool of trained professionals through structured university partnerships rather than individual scholarship applications.
How the Two Tracks Compare
| Track | Where you study | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic | UNTL, Betano Polytechnic Institute, or private institutions in Timor-Leste | Course fees paid in-country, some awards now partial |
| Overseas | Partner universities under government-to-government agreements | Fulbright master's in the US, undergraduate and postgraduate places in Indonesia |
How to Apply
FDCH announces open rounds and eligibility through its own office and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Culture rather than through a single standing portal for every award. Overseas places tied to a specific country partnership, such as the Indonesian universities or the Fulbright agreement, get announced separately when that round opens. Check with your school counselor, your university's international office, or FDCH directly for the current round before you assume a scholarship listed elsewhere is still open.