Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
مؤسسة كالوست غولبنكيان
ForsaEduforsaedu.comAbout the scholarship program
The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation is a Portuguese foundation based in Lisbon, created in 1956 under the will of the Armenian businessman Calouste Gulbenkian and active in the arts, science, education and development. It awards study and research scholarships, including master's scholarships in Portugal for students from Portuguese-speaking African countries and research scholarships on Portuguese culture for foreigners.
Information last verified: November 3, 2026Official source
Available programmes (2)
Each programme has its own requirements, documents and benefits. Open it to see them in full with the application steps:
- View Details
Gulbenkian Research Scholarships on Portuguese Culture for Foreigners: Up to EUR 2,000 a Month for a Research Stay in Portugal
PhD, PostdocLiving Stipend Only6 majorsNext cycle not announced yet - View Details
Gulbenkian Master's Scholarships in Portugal for Students from Portuguese-Speaking African Countries: EUR 1,150 a Month, Tuition and Travel
MasterFully Funded8 majorsNext cycle not announced yet
Life and living
Lisbon · Portugal
Life and living
Lisbon · Portugal
Living in Lisbon
Portugal’s sunny hillside capital on the Tagus estuary, home to the University of Lisbon, NOVA University and Lusófona University.
Student housing
University of Lisbon residence rooms cost about EUR 200 a month (double or triple only); a private room is about EUR 300–400 or more, a studio EUR 450–550.
Transport for students
The Navegante pass is free for students up to age 23 enrolled at a Portuguese institution (sub23).
Top landmarks
Belém Tower
Alvesgaspar · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Jerónimos Monastery
Holger Uwe Schmitt · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Alfama district
Last verified: October 2026
Sources:INE Portugal – Lisboa municipalityCiências ULisboa – AccommodationComparaJá – Free public transport pass (sub23)
Studying and living in Portugal
Costs and living
Tuition: Portuguese and EU students pay a low annual fee at public universities (EUR 697 for a bachelor’s at the University of Lisbon in 2026–27), while each university sets fees for international students based on the real cost of training. Examples for 2026–27: • University of Lisbon: from EUR 1,500 (law) to EUR 7,500 (economics and management at ISEG) for bachelor’s degrees, EUR 7,000 for engineering at IST and EUR 18,000 for medicine. • University of Porto: EUR 3,500–16,500 a year, with a reduction of up to 45% for citizens of Portuguese-speaking (CPLP) countries. • University of Coimbra: EUR 7,000 for bachelor’s and integrated master’s degrees, EUR 18,000 for medicine. • University of Aveiro: EUR 3,500, 4,150 or 5,000 depending on the field. • University of the Algarve: EUR 1,750–4,500. • Iscte: EUR 7,000 for a bachelor’s; master’s about EUR 5,000 for the first year. Living costs: the University of Minho estimates about EUR 400–500 a month in Braga, NOVA estimates about EUR 650 a month in a university residence in Lisbon, and costs rise sharply in private housing in Lisbon and Porto. The minimum wage is EUR 920 a month in 2026.
Working while studying
Holders of a higher-education study residence permit may work, as employees or self-employed, alongside their studies and need no separate work permit, as long as study remains the main purpose of their stay and they stay enrolled and progress. In practice you need a tax number (NIF) and a social security number to work. The minimum wage is EUR 920 a month in 2026, and jobs are easier to find if you speak Portuguese, especially in tourism, hospitality, services and tech companies in Lisbon and Porto. After graduation: the Foreigners Act lets graduates who studied on a higher-education residence permit apply for a residence permit without a new visa and stay for up to one year to look for work matching their qualifications or to set up a company. Bachelor’s graduates who find a job can also apply directly for a permit to work. Once you have a job, you move to a work residence permit or, for highly qualified jobs, an EU Blue Card.
Last verified: November 2026· Source
Guide to studying in PortugalFrequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Key questions and answers regarding eligibility, documents, and application steps.
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation is listed as: Fully Funded. The exact benefits are not verified yet, so check the official website (https://gulbenkian.pt/en/) before applying.
Eligible levels: Master, PhD, Postdoctoral.
Next cycle not announced yet. Follow the official website for updates.
Apply directly on the official website: https://gulbenkian.pt/en/. ForsaEdu does not receive applications or charge any fee.
Track your academic readiness
Use the checklist in your profile to prepare your documents and make sure you meet this scholarship’s requirements.
Open readiness checklistSimilar scholarships
PortugalQS #237University of Porto
The University of Porto, one of Portugal's largest public universities, offers international students merit scholarships and tuition reductions according to each faculty's rules, alongside government social-support grants and doctoral research grants through the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT). Benefits depend on the program and type of award. Details are published on the official scholarships and funding page.
PortugalQS #230University of Lisbon
The University of Lisbon, Portugal's largest university, offers students various scholarships and grants, including academic merit awards, government social-support grants, scholarships for students from Portuguese-speaking countries and doctoral research grants. Conditions and benefits vary by school and type of award. Details are published on the university's scholarships page.
PortugalQS #327NOVA University Lisbon
NOVA University Lisbon is a Portuguese public university founded in 1973. It has nine academic units, made up of five faculties, three institutes and a school, including the School of Science and Technology, the School of Social Sciences and Humanities, Nova School of Business and Economics, NOVA Medical School, NOVA Law School, NOVA Information Management School (NOVA IMS) and the National School of Public Health. Students can apply for government social-support grants subject to eligibility, and the academic units also offer their own scholarships and discounts, usually as tuition-fee reductions based on merit or for specific groups of international students. Conditions differ from one school to another. Details are published on the schools' websites and the university's scholarships page.