Scholarships in Portugal for Indian Students 2026: Full Guide

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Bottom Line Up Front: Portugal offers some of Europe’s best scholarships for Indian students — particularly for PhD students who can get full funding plus a monthly stipend through FCT. For Master’s students, the La Caixa Fellowship (up to €25,000/year) and university merit awards can cover significant costs. This guide covers every scholarship available for Indian students studying in Portugal in 2026.

FCT Scholarship (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia)

The FCT is Portugal’s national science foundation. For PhD students, it is the most valuable scholarship in Portugal:

• Monthly stipend: €1,074/month (₹98,000/month) — paid for up to 4 years
• Tuition fee coverage: Full tuition waiver at Portuguese public universities
• Eligibility: Master’s graduates with excellent academic records applying for PhD programs
• How to apply: FCT opens calls annually (usually April–June); apply via bolsas.fct.pt
• Indian students eligible: Yes — open to all nationalities enrolled at Portuguese universities

La Caixa Postgraduate Fellowship

The La Caixa Foundation (Spanish banking foundation) funds postgraduate studies in Spain and Portugal:

• Amount: Up to €25,000/year for 2 years (MSc) or 4 years (PhD)
• Coverage: Tuition + living grant + health insurance + relocation allowance
• For Indian students: Open to all nationalities; apply from India before moving
• Eligible universities: Top Portuguese and Spanish universities including IST, U.Porto, Nova SBE, UB
• Deadline: February–March annually; apply via laCaixa.org/en/scholarships
• Competition: High — typically 300+ candidates for 100 slots in Spain+Portugal combined

Erasmus+ Scholarships for Indian Students in Portugal

• Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s (EMJM) — Full funding: tuition + €1,000–1,400/month living grant; Indian students highly competitive for EMJM; apply via eacea.ec.europa.eu
• Erasmus+ Mobility Grant — €500–1,000/month for outgoing exchange semesters; for students already enrolled at Portuguese universities

University-Specific Scholarships in Portugal

University	Scholarship	Amount
Técnico Lisboa (IST)	Merit Scholarship	€1,000–4,000/yr tuition reduction
University of Porto	U.Porto Excellence Award	30–50% tuition reduction
Nova SBE	Nova SBE Merit Grant	€1,000–8,000/yr reduction
University of Coimbra	UC Excellence Scholarship	25–75% fee reduction
U.Minho (Braga)	UM International Merit	€500–2,000/yr reduction

Portuguese Government Scholarships (IPDJ / Camões Institute)

• Camões Institute Scholarships — Portuguese language and culture scholarships; 1–3 month programs; primarily for language learning but opens door to longer study
• IPDJ International Students Grants — specific grants for students from developing countries including India

Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation Scholarship

The Gulbenkian Foundation is one of Portugal’s most prestigious private foundations. It funds:

• Research grants for arts, sciences, social sciences, and medicine
• Collaboration grants for Indian-Portuguese research projects
• Amount: €5,000–20,000 for specific research programs
• Apply via gulbenkian.pt; competitive but accessible for exceptional candidates

How to Apply for Scholarships in Portugal from India — Timeline

Scholarship	Application Opens	Deadline
La Caixa Fellowship	January	February–March
Erasmus Mundus (EMJM)	October	January–February
FCT Doctoral Call	April	June–July
University merit awards	With application	Varies by university
Erasmus+ Mobility	March (if enrolled)	April–May

How Kadamb Overseas Helps With Portugal Scholarships

• Scholarship eligibility assessment based on your academic profile
• La Caixa and Erasmus Mundus application guidance
• Research project alignment for FCT doctoral applications
• SOP and LOR preparation optimized for scholarship committees
• University merit award applications coordinated with admission process

Book a free counselling session to identify the best scholarships for your profile. Also see: Cost guide for Portugal, Técnico Lisboa guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Indian students get a scholarship in Portugal?
Yes — FCT doctoral scholarships, La Caixa Fellowship, Erasmus+ Mundus, and university merit awards are all open to Indian students. Kadamb Overseas helps identify and apply for the right scholarships based on your academic profile.

Is the La Caixa scholarship available in Portugal?
Yes — La Caixa covers both Spain and Portugal. Up to €25,000/year covering tuition + living costs. Competitive but accessible for strong candidates. Deadline is typically February–March for September intake.

How much does FCT scholarship pay Indian students in Portugal?
FCT doctoral scholarship provides €1,074/month (₹98,000/month) stipend + full tuition waiver for PhD programs at Portuguese public universities. It is available to all nationalities including Indian students.