Scholarships and Grants

Complete information about scholarships and grants for students in Portuguese higher education institutions.

I do not have Portuguese nationality. Can I apply for a scholarship?

In addition to Portuguese citizens, the following can also apply for scholarships:

• Citizens of European Union member states with the right of permanent residence in Portugal and their family members, under the terms of Law No. 37/2006, of August 9;
• Citizens of third countries:
  • Holders of permanent residence authorization, under the terms of Article 80 of Law No. 23/2007, of July 4;
  • Beneficiaries of long-term resident status under the terms of Article 125 of Law No. 23/2007, of July 4;
  • From states with which cooperation agreements have been concluded providing for the application of such benefits;
  • From states whose law, under equal circumstances, grants equal treatment to Portuguese students;
• Stateless persons;
• Beneficiaries of refugee status.
• Beneficiaries of refugee status in humanitarian emergency situations or temporary protection.

Online Application (BeOn)

How can I apply for a scholarship?

Applications for scholarship grants are submitted exclusively online through the BeOn platform, available here.

Where can I check the status of my application?

You can check the status of your application on BeOn, in the "Result" tab, on your personal page.

Can I change data in my application after submission?

You should only submit your application after verifying and validating all the data entered.

By submitting the application, you are confirming that all data has been verified and validated by you and that the respective services can analyze it.

After submitting the application, you can only change some personal data: address, phone contacts, email, and IBAN.

Any other changes must be requested:

• For public higher education, from the Social Action Services of the higher education institution;
• For private higher education, from the respective Social Action Office or, in some cases, from the Directorate of Student Support Services of the Directorate-General for Higher Education.

How do I know if my scholarship application was submitted?

Submission of the application generates an email and a success message on the respective page.

We suggest that you print your application form.

Access Credentials

How do I obtain access credentials to apply for a scholarship?

If you are already enrolled in higher education but have never applied for a scholarship, you should request your credentials from the Social Action Services or Social Action Office of your higher education institution.

If you have already applied for a scholarship through the BeOn platform in a previous academic year, you can use your credentials (they remain active) directly through your personal page at https://www.dges.gov.pt/wwwbeon/.

I am applying to the national competition for access, how can I obtain credentials to apply for a scholarship?

Applications for scholarships are made exclusively online, through the BeOn platform, accessible through the Directorate-General for Higher Education website.

For this purpose, you need a user code and a password.

If you are applying for admission to higher education through the national competition for access and this is the first time you want to apply for a scholarship, you can request your credentials (user code and password) when applying to higher education.

If in your higher education application you indicate that you want to apply for a scholarship, you should follow the instructions you will receive in your email with the "Notification of receipt of application for access to higher education."

Access credentials for scholarship purposes can also be requested from the Social Action Services or Social Action Office of your higher education institution (after enrollment and registration).

Can I use the credentials from the national competition for access to apply for a scholarship?

No. Access credentials for scholarships are different from those you have for the national competition for access.

I forgot my password to access my personal application area. How do I proceed to obtain a new password?

You should, on the scholarship application form entry page, at https://www.dges.gov.pt/wwwbeon/, request password recovery in "Forgot your user code or password?" by entering your tax identification number (NIF) and email address. You will immediately receive an email with the data to access your personal area.

Automatic Assignment - CNA Candidates

I am a candidate for the 1st year of public higher education - can I be covered by the automatic assignment process?

Students who meet, cumulatively, the following conditions are covered by the automatic scholarship assignment process:

• Enter higher education through the national competition for access (CNA) in the academic year in which they apply for a scholarship;
• As of May 31 of the academic year prior to entry, were beneficiaries of tiers 1, 2, or 3 of family allowance;
• Submit an application for a scholarship.

When will I know the decision on my application?

If you meet the conditions to be covered by automatic assignment, the decision on your application will be known within a maximum of 3 days after the publication of the results of each phase of the CNA, provided you have already, by that date, applied for a scholarship.

If you do not meet the conditions to be covered by automatic assignment or meet them but, as of the publication date of the results of each phase of the CNA, have not yet submitted your scholarship application, the decision on your application will be known within the general deadlines established in the Regulation.

What scholarship amount can I receive?

Students covered by the automatic assignment process can receive an annual scholarship amount:

• Corresponding to 5.5 times the social support index, for students who are beneficiaries of tier 1 of family allowance (in 2023-2024: 2,643€);
• Corresponding to 2.5 times the social support index, for students who are beneficiaries of tier 2 of family allowance (in 2023-2024: 1,202€);
• Corresponding to 125% of the maximum tuition fee legally set for the 1st cycle of public higher education, for students who are beneficiaries of tier 3 of family allowance (in 2023-2024: 872€).

Can the scholarship amount change during the year?

The services competent for analyzing the application have 30 days to verify the application, which may result in a change in the amount or cancellation of the scholarship assignment, with adjustments made to amounts paid and to be paid.

If I am a 1st year scholarship recipient through the automatic process, do I also need to apply for the +Superior scholarship?

Yes, students who wish to benefit from a new +Superior scholarship must apply for it within the general deadline of September 30 (or until May 31 of the following year, in which case a proportional scholarship will be awarded, depending on the application date), on the Directorate-General for Higher Education's BeOn platform.

For more information click here.

Application Deadlines

What is the deadline to submit a scholarship application?

Applications for scholarship grants must be submitted:

• Between June 25 and September 30;
• Within 20 working days following registration, when this occurs after September 30;

If registration occurs before September 30, you always have a period of 20 working days to submit the application, even if this period exceeds September 30;

• Within 20 working days following the issuance of proof of internship start by the entity providing it, in the case of graduates or masters who are completing a professional internship.

Candidates for enrollment and registration in a course through the national competition for access and entry into public higher education can submit their scholarship application before entry and registration.

Can I submit a scholarship application outside the fixed deadline?

Applications can still be submitted between October 1 and May 31, in which case the scholarship amount to be awarded is proportional to the amount calculated for one year, considering the period between the month following the application submission and the end of the academic period or internship.

I finished my bachelor's degree and next academic year I will start my master's. When should I apply for a scholarship?

You should submit your scholarship application:

• Between June 25 and September 30;
• Within 20 working days following registration, when this occurs after September 30.

Filling Out the Form

How do I fill in the data regarding real estate assets?

Only data regarding the property intended as Permanent Own Home (HPP) of the household should be filled in, and only if that property is owned by one or more members of the household.

If the household resides, for example, in a rented house, real estate assets should not be filled in.

If one or more members of the household own other properties, but none corresponds to their HPP (because, for example, they are rural properties or are rented to third parties), real estate assets should also not be filled in.

Do all members of the household need to have a Portuguese NIF to apply for a scholarship?

No. Only the applicant needs to have a Portuguese NIF. The remaining household members can have a foreign NIF.

To enter the foreign NIF, associated with each household member, you must, before the number, place a two-letter code with the country code.

Examples:

• FR - France
• LU - Luxembourg
• DE - Germany
• CV - Cape Verde
• AO - Angola
• MZ - Mozambique
• CA - Canada
• ZA - South Africa

What are IRS validation codes?

IRS validation codes are codes assigned by the tax authority to each electronic IRS declaration.

You can find this code in the upper right corner of the IRS declaration.

You can view the electronic declaration by accessing your tax portal page following these steps: Obtain/Certificates/IRS/Declaration and selecting the calendar year prior to the start of the academic year to which the scholarship application refers.

What is a displaced student?

A displaced student is one who, due to the distance between their place of residence and the place where they attend the course in which they are enrolled, needs to reside in this place, or in its neighboring localities, to be able to attend the curricular activities of the course in which they are enrolled.

What is a household for scholarship purposes?

The student's household consists of themselves and the following people who live with them in a common household, housing, and/or income:

• Spouse or person in a de facto union of the student or another household member;
• Relatives and in-laws, in direct line and collateral line, up to the 4th degree;
• Adoptive parents, guardians, and persons to whom the student is entrusted by judicial or administrative decision of entities or services legally competent for this purpose;
• Adopted and wards of the student or any household member and children and young people entrusted, by judicial or administrative decision of entities or services legally competent for this purpose, to the student or any household member;
• Godchildren and godparents, under the terms of Law No. 103/2009, of September 11.

Students with habitual residence outside their household of origin can constitute single-person households if they prove:

• They ensure their subsistence autonomously;
• In the calendar year prior to the application, they earned income equal to or greater than six times the social support index in force in that year.

Students who prove they do not earn income are considered single-person households if they:

• Are in institutional care, entrusted to the care of a private social solidarity institution or other entities financed by social security, and whose social situation is confirmed by the care institution in which they are located;
• Are members of religious orders;
• Are interned in care centers, educational guardianship centers, or detention centers.

The relevant household composition is that which exists on the date of application submission.

Note: The household considered for scholarship application purposes may be different from the household considered for tax purposes.

What is NISS?

NISS is the social security identification number.

Note: If the NISS of any member of your household has only 9 digits (old numbers), you can convert it to 11 digits at http://www.seg-social.pt/pedido-de-niss1.

What is NIF?

NIF is the tax identification number, commonly known as the taxpayer number.

What is considered household movable assets?

Movable assets consist of the sum of all credits in bank accounts (checking and term), savings certificates, stocks, investment funds, PPRs, and other movable assets, of all household members. The value to be indicated is the sum of all these values of all household members, as of December 31 of the calendar year prior to the start of the academic year to which the scholarship application refers.

The household has Electronic IRS. Is it necessary to declare any income in the "4.Income" tab of the application form?

No. You should only declare income obtained in Portugal or abroad that is not included in the IRS declaration.

I changed institutions (and/or courses) in higher education. How do I change the information in my scholarship application?

On your personal page, in the "Personal data" tab, you must click on the "request change" button. Then select the type of educational institution, the educational institution, and the course. Indicate the date of the change of institution and/or course and submit.

I made a request to change institution and/or course on my personal page, but I haven't submitted the application yet. Should I wait for acceptance of the change request for institution and/or course to submit my application?

Acceptance of the request may not be immediate.

So:

• If you have already submitted your application, you should wait.
• If you have not yet submitted your application, you can proceed with filling it out and submitting it.

Required Documents

What documents are needed to submit my scholarship application?

To fill out the scholarship application form, you need to have the following documents regarding all members of your household:

• Citizen Card or, alternatively:
• Taxpayer card to have the tax identification number (NIF);
• Social Security beneficiary card to have the Social Security number (NISS).
• IRS declaration for the calendar year prior to the start of the academic year to which the scholarship application refers (if you have submitted a declaration).
• Municipal Property Tax (IMI) declaration or property register of the property used as permanent own home of the household (if the household owns HPP);
• Balance of bank accounts, checking and term, with the situation as of December 31 of the calendar year prior to the start of the academic year to which the scholarship application refers and value of other movable assets (savings certificates, stocks, bonds, retirement savings plans, etc.).

You should also have proof of IBAN (International Bank Account Number) with identification of the account holder to which you want to receive the scholarship (if awarded to you).

I was asked for a document that I cannot obtain within the fixed deadline. How do I proceed?

In place of the requested document, you should send a declaration explaining the reason why you cannot present the said document.

Failure to send all documents may lead to rejection of the application.

I was asked for the Social Security Data Consultation Authorization Form and the Tax Situation Consultation Authorization Form. How can I obtain and send these documents?

In the "Documents" tab, print the said forms.

All household members identified in the forms must sign them. In the case of household members under 18, the signature must be made by the legal representative.

After all members have signed, you must scan each form into a single file, in PDF, TIFF, or TIF format. Each file cannot exceed 500KB in size.

Then proceed to upload them in the fields associated with each authorization.

How should I send the documents that are requested before submitting the scholarship application?

Documents to be sent must be scanned in PDF, JPEG, PNG, GIF, TIFF, or TIF format and each cannot exceed 500KB in size.

Then, on the "Documents" page, proceed to upload all requested documents and complete the submission by clicking the "Submit Documents" button.

After uploading all documents, you must proceed to submit the application on the "Submission" page.

The application can only be submitted after all requested documents have been sent.

How should I send the documents that are requested after submitting the scholarship application?

Documents requested after submitting the application must be sent within 10 working days through your personal area.

Documents to be sent must be scanned in PDF, JPEG, PNG, GIF, TIFF, or TIF format and each cannot exceed 500KB in size.

Then, in the "Missing Documents" tab, proceed to upload all requested documents and complete the submission by clicking the "Upload Documents" button.

After submission, it is not possible to upload more documents.

Assignment Conditions

Are scholarships awarded to students enrolled in any type of course?

Scholarships can be awarded under the social support system for attendance at courses taught in higher education institutions to students enrolled in:

• Technical higher professional courses;
• Bachelor's degree courses;
• Integrated master's degree courses;
• Master's degree courses.

Scholarships can also be awarded to graduates or masters who, within 24 months of obtaining the degree, are completing a professional internship for the exercise of a profession.

I will be attending a doctorate. Can I apply for a scholarship?

Regarding scholarships for doctorates, you should contact the Foundation for Science and Technology, whose website is: http://www.fct.pt/.

How many ECTS do I need to be enrolled in for scholarship purposes?

You must be enrolled in a minimum of 30 ECTS, except for the exceptions provided for in the Regulation.

I want to study abroad. Can I apply for a scholarship?

Scholarships awarded under the Regulation for the Award of Scholarships to Higher Education Students are intended only for students enrolled and registered in Portuguese higher education institutions, in technical higher professional courses, and in study cycles leading to bachelor's or master's degrees.

Analysis and Decision

I am a public higher education student. Who is responsible for analyzing my scholarship application?

Analysis of scholarship applications and preparation of the decision proposal are the responsibility of the social action services of the higher education institution.

I am a private higher education student. Who is responsible for analyzing my scholarship application?

Analysis of scholarship applications and preparation of the decision proposal are the responsibility of the services of the higher education establishment responsible for activities in the field of social action, commonly called Social Action Offices.

For some educational establishments, this analysis is still carried out by the Directorate of Student Support Services of the Directorate-General for Higher Education.

Who is responsible for the decision on my scholarship application?

The decision is the responsibility of:

• In the case of public higher education institutions, the respective rector or president;
• In the case of private higher education establishments, the Director General of Higher Education.

Payments and IBAN

Will I receive the annual scholarship amount in a single transfer?

According to the regulation for awarding scholarships to higher education students:

1. Scholarship payment is made monthly, directly to the student via bank transfer.
2. When paying installments, adjustments can be made to adjust amounts paid or to be paid to the annual scholarship amount awarded.

I have already submitted my application. How can I change my bank account number (IBAN: International Bank Account Number)?

You can change your IBAN through your personal page at https://www.dges.gov.pt/wwwbeon/, selecting the "Application - Personal Data" tab.

Only the applicant can make this change on their personal page.

When is the scholarship payment made?

The Regulation for awarding scholarships provides for the definition of a calendar that sets the payment dates for scholarships, to be made by order of the Director General of Higher Education.

For more information on payments consult here.

Housing Supplement

What is a displaced student?

A displaced student is one who, due to the distance between their place of residence and the place where they attend the course in which they are enrolled, needs to reside in this place, or in its neighboring localities, to be able to attend the curricular activities of the course in which they are enrolled.

For the purposes of awarding housing supplement under the following articles, a displaced student is also considered one who is in one of the following situations:

• Is a beneficiary of emergency student status for humanitarian reasons;
• Is a beneficiary of temporary protection;
• Being a Portuguese citizen, does not habitually reside in Portugal.

If I have a place in a public higher education institution residence, what supplement amount can I receive?

The student can receive up to a monthly supplement, equal to the monthly base amount paid by scholarship recipients in residences, up to the limit of 17.5% of the social support index.

They may also be entitled to an additional month of this supplement when, through proof issued by the competent services of the institution in which they are enrolled and registered, they prove to have carried out or be carrying out academic acts, namely assessment tests and internships, as well as the preparation of a scientific dissertation, project work, or professional internship, subject to a final report, which involve maintaining their displaced status.

What if I don't have a place in a public higher education residence?

If you have applied for housing in a social action services residence but did not get a place, you can benefit, during the academic period of scholarship award, from a monthly supplement equal to the amount actually paid for housing and proven by receipt, up to the limit of 55% to 95% of the social support index, depending on the municipality where the higher education institution you attend is located.

Displaced scholarship recipients from public higher education who refuse the housing granted to them in a social action services residence cannot benefit from the housing supplement.

If I am a student at a private higher education institution, am I entitled to a housing supplement?

Students can benefit, during the academic period of scholarship award, from a monthly supplement equal to the amount actually paid for housing and proven by receipt, up to the limit of 55% to 95% of the social support index, depending on the municipality where the higher education institution you attend is located.

They may also be entitled to an additional month of this supplement when, through proof issued by the competent services of the institution in which they are enrolled and registered, they prove to have carried out or be carrying out academic acts, namely assessment tests and internships, as well as the preparation of a scientific dissertation, project work, or professional internship, subject to a final report, which involve maintaining their displaced status.

What is a housing supplement for doubly displaced students?

A doubly displaced student is one who, carrying out a curricular internship in a locality different from their place of residence and the place where they attend the course in which they are enrolled, needs to reside in the internship locality, or in its neighboring localities, as a result, cumulatively:

• Of the distance between their place of residence and the place where they carry out the curricular internship;
• Of the distance between the place where they attend the course in which they are enrolled and the place where they carry out the internship.

How long can I receive the supplement for doubly displaced students?

Doubly displaced students are entitled to receive a second housing supplement up to a maximum limit of four months.

What documents do I need to present?

Verification of the conditions for doubly displaced students is done by submitting an application for this purpose, reviewed and decided by the entity competent for analyzing applications of the institution in which the student is enrolled.

Housing Supplement for Non-Scholarship Recipients

Who is the housing supplement for non-scholarship recipients intended for?

The housing supplement for non-scholarship recipients is intended for higher education students who:

• Are in the condition of displaced student;
• Have a per capita income of the household in which they are integrated equal to or less than 28 times the social support index;
• Meet the remaining conditions provided for in the Regulation for the Award of Scholarships to Higher Education Students;
• Present receipts for housing payment during class time and the rental contract when receipts are not electronic.

Is it necessary to apply for a scholarship to benefit from housing supplement for non-scholarship recipients?

Yes. To be able to benefit from housing supplement for non-scholarship recipients, if the scholarship is not awarded, you must first apply for a scholarship, by filling out and submitting the respective application.

Subsequently, be attentive to the result, in case it is rejected under conditions that still allow the award of the housing supplement.

How can the housing supplement for non-scholarship recipients be requested?

Students who wish to apply for housing supplement for non-scholarship recipients must submit a scholarship application, answering YES on the scholarship application form to the question "If your scholarship application is rejected due to higher income, do you still apply for housing supplement for non-scholarship recipients?"

The scholarship application is submitted online, through the BeOn platform, available here.

What is the deadline to apply for housing supplement for non-scholarship recipients?

To be able to benefit from housing supplement for non-scholarship recipients, the scholarship application must be submitted by October 31, answering YES on the scholarship application form to the question "If your scholarship application is rejected due to higher income, do you still apply for housing supplement for non-scholarship recipients?"

What if I have applied for a scholarship and it has been rejected?

Students whose scholarship application has been submitted and rejected can benefit from housing supplement for non-scholarship recipients only if the scholarship was rejected due to per capita income higher than 23 times the social support index.

If the scholarship was rejected for any other reason, they cannot benefit from housing supplement for non-scholarship recipients.

What documents must be presented for the award of housing supplement for non-scholarship recipients?

In addition to the documents that may be requested in the context of the scholarship application, for the award of housing supplement for non-scholarship recipients, receipts for housing rent payment and rental contract may be requested or should be sent when receipts are not electronic.

Can housing supplement for non-scholarship recipients be awarded without a receipt?

No. Similar to what is required of scholarship recipients, housing supplement for non-scholarship recipients can only be awarded upon presentation of housing rent receipts.

How many months are covered by housing supplement for non-scholarship recipients?

Similar to what applies to scholarship recipients, the number of months covered by housing supplement for non-scholarship recipients depends on the number of months of enrollment, up to a maximum of 10.

Displaced students who benefit from housing supplement can benefit from an additional month when, through proof issued by the Higher Education Institution (IES), they demonstrate having or being carrying out academic acts that involve maintaining their displaced status.

What is the amount of housing supplement for non-scholarship recipients?

The monthly amount of housing supplement for non-scholarship recipients corresponds to the monthly expense actually paid for housing and proven by receipt, up to the limit of 50% of the values set in the Regulation for the Award of Scholarships to Higher Education Students for housing supplement for scholarship recipients, which vary depending on the municipality where the Higher Education Institution or respective organic unit is located.

In 2024-2025, the limit values for housing supplement for non-scholarship recipients are as follows:

How and when are subsequent receipts presented?

If housing supplement for non-scholarship recipients from public higher education is awarded, subsequent rent receipts must be delivered monthly to the Social Action Services (SAS) of the respective Higher Education Institution (IES), and information on how to send them should be obtained from the institution.

Only in the case of private higher education, subsequent receipts must be sent through Be Com | DGES.

To benefit from housing supplement for non-scholarship recipients, must I apply for a place in a Social Action Services (SAS) residence of the respective Higher Education Institution (IES)?

Yes. Similar to what is required of displaced scholarship recipients, housing supplement for non-scholarship recipients can only be awarded when, having applied for housing in a SAS residence, the same was not obtained.

Are non-scholarship recipients with housing supplement also awarded travel supplement?

No. Travel supplement is intended only for displaced students who benefit from housing supplement and are scholarship recipients.

Travel Supplement

What is travel supplement?

Displaced scholarship recipients who are beneficiaries of housing supplement are entitled to receive travel support, in the months in which they benefit from that supplement, in the amount of €40, with a maximum annual amount of €400.

Annual Transportation Benefit

What is the annual transportation benefit?

When the courses in which students are enrolled are not, at the date of entry, similar to courses existing in their place of residence, they are entitled to the award of the annual transportation benefit, consisting of the payment of a round-trip air or sea ticket between the place of study and their habitual place of residence, in each academic year. For this, they must be:

• Residents in an Autonomous Region who are enrolled and registered in a course taught in a higher education institution on the mainland, in the other Autonomous Region, or on a different island from their residence; or
• Residents on the mainland who are enrolled and registered in a course taught in a higher education institution in the Autonomous Regions.

What is the amount awarded and documents to present?

Payment covers the lowest commercial value of the respective ticket, discounted from the value of the social mobility subsidy awarded to citizens, under air services between the Mainland and the Autonomous Region of the Azores and the Autonomous Region of Madeira, provided for, respectively, in Decree-Law No. 41/2015, of March 24, and Decree-Law No. 134/2015, of June 24.

The annual transportation benefit amount has as a maximum limit the value of the social support index.

What documents do I need to present?

Verification of conditions for the award of the annual transportation benefit is done by presenting proof of ticket payment and proof of subsidy, reviewed and decided by the entity competent for analyzing applications of the institution in which the student is enrolled.

ERASMUS Mobility Supplement

What is ERASMUS mobility supplement?

Scholarship recipients who are awarded, according to their own regulations, a scholarship under the Erasmus+ Program benefit, for the approved mobility period, from a monthly supplement:

• €100.00 if the base annual scholarship amount calculated under the terms of this regulation is less than seven times the social support index;
• €150.00 if the base annual scholarship amount calculated under the terms of this regulation is equal to or greater than seven times the social support index.

Enrollment Cancellations

If I cancel my enrollment, until which month will I be entitled to receive the scholarship?

You will be entitled to a scholarship until the month prior to enrollment cancellation, except for the exceptions provided for in the legislation in force.

Reanalysis Due to Changes

My household situation has changed compared to last year - can I request a reanalysis of my application?

Whenever there is a significant change in the composition or economic situation of the household compared to the previous year, the student can request a review of their scholarship application.

In this review, the rule is generally that the new analysis period refers to the moment when the invoked change occurred.

For this purpose, students should go to the social action services of the higher education institution they attend to formalize the application.

If your institution does not have social action services, you should direct your question through the Electronic Counter - BE.COM.

Following the review request, new documents regarding the household will be requested that allow concluding the analysis. If a scholarship is awarded or the scholarship amount is changed, it will begin in the month in which the change occurred.

What are changes in the composition or economic situation of the household?

Examples of changes in composition or economic situation of the household:

• The household has more or fewer members than the previous year, due to birth, death, change of residence;
• Someone became unemployed or started working;
• Someone was on medical leave, earning less income as a result;
• They stopped receiving some pension, subsidy, or help they used to receive.

What is the analysis period?

For the purposes of awarding scholarships, the per capita income of the household is generally calculated based on income from the calendar year prior to the scholarship application.

However, instead of the previous year, the analysis period may be different if changes in the composition of the household or its economic situation are invoked, normally being associated with the moment when the change occurred, and should always correspond to 12 months.

References

• DGES - Scholarships and Grants (Portuguese)
• BeOn Platform - Online Scholarship Application

Last updated: January 2026