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Call for PhD Scholarships 2026 - FCT
Doctoral Research Grants are intended to fund research activities leading to the award of a doctoral degree.
As part of the pursuit of a public policy of advanced training based on research with socio-economic relevance, the Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P. (FCT) is calling for PhD Research Scholarships under the FCT Research Scholarship Regulations (RBI) and the Research Fellow Statute (EBI), in their current wording.
In this general call for doctoral research grants, applications are accepted in all scientific areas and with research work to be carried out in scientific and academic institutions. A specific application line is also open in this call for research grants whose work plans take place partly in one or more non-academic entities(for more details, see the page for this funding line).
Doctoral Research Grants, in the general line of application, are aimed at people enrolled or who meet the conditions necessary to enroll in a cycle of studies leading to a doctoral degree, and who intend to carry out research activities leading to that degree in any academic entity that produces and disseminates knowledge, nationally or internationally, including public and private higher education institutions, R&D units, Associated Laboratories, as well as other private non-profit institutions whose main purpose is R&D activities.
The contest is open between March 2 and 5:00 p.m. (Lisbon time) on March 31, 2026.
Summary of the Call for Proposals and U.Porto Guidelines
The Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P. (FCT) has opened the 2026 Call for PhD Research Grants, aimed at applications in all scientific fields.
1) Application lines
– Doctoral Scholarships – General Line (BD): research leading to a doctoral degree carried out mainly in an academic environment.
– Doctoral Scholarships – Specific Line in a Non-Academic Environment (BDANA): research carried out mainly in a non-academic context, in close coordination with an academic institution.
2) Deadlines and platform
– Submission of applications: 02/03/2026 to 31/03/2026 (17:00 Lisbon time).
– The process takes place entirely on the myFCT platform (submission, evaluation, prior hearing, final decision and appeal mechanisms).
3) Eligibility and main restrictions
– Individuals who are enrolled in or qualify for a doctoral program may apply.
– Whose candidacies are not admissible:
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- already holds a doctorate degree;
- has already benefited from a doctoral scholarship directly funded by the FCT, regardless of its duration.
- Only one application per candidate is allowed; multiple submissions will result in exclusion.
4) Duration and type of scholarship
– Scholarship start date between September 1, 2026 and August 1, 2027.
– Scholarships for a minimum of 3 months and a maximum of 48 months, with annual renewals when applicable.
– Mixed scholarships: the period in a foreign institution may not exceed 24 months.
– General Line: can envisage components in non-academic institutions for up to 6 months.
5) Specific requirements for the BDANA Line (Non-Academic Environment)
In order to be admitted to the BDANA Line, the application must, among other requirements, ensure:
– identification of at least one non-academic entity operating in Portugal and at least one academic institution (national or foreign);
– the existence of at least two supervisors, one associated with the non-academic entity (in Portugal) and the other with the academic institution;
– forecast of ≥12 months (consecutive or interpolated) of execution in the non-academic entity with activity in Portugal, duly reflected in the schedule.
6) Institutions to be indicated in the application
Host institution(s)
- Entities where the work plan is developed and where the scientific and technical resources are located. In the BDANA Line, there must be an academic institution and a non-academic entity.
Institution awarding the degree
- The higher education institution responsible for awarding the doctoral degree (there may be more than one under a co-tutorial arrangement). In the case of U.Porto, the candidate must select the option “Universidade do Porto – [respective Organic Unit]”.
- Enrollment in the doctoral program is relevant at the time of contracting.
Contracting Institution (CI)
- The Contracting Institution must be a Portuguese academic institution which, under a program contract with the FCT, ensures the contractualization and management of the approved grant.
- Essential rules:
- the CI must correspond to one of the institutions indicated as academic host and/or degree-granting institution, and have the legal capacity to contract; → At U.Porto, the degree-granting institution must be selected, i.e. the option “Universidade do Porto – [respective Organic Unit]” must be selected;
- Non-academic entities cannot be CIs (e.g. R&D Units, Research Institutes, Associated Laboratories, etc.);
- the CI has 10 working days after the closing of applications (and before the start of the evaluation) to associate/validate the application in myFCT; failure to validate the application implies exclusion and non-evaluation of the application; → The process is coordinated between the SIP and the interlocutors designated by the OU directorates;
- the CI indicated is binding and cannot be changed after submission, except in exceptional cases (demerger/merger/extinction).
- Exceptions: fellowships entirely abroad and fellowships under FCT-Tenure Chairs managed by FCT (IC = FCT).
7) Evaluation: criteria and weightings
The evaluation is based on three criteria, on a scale of 0 to 5:
A – Merit of the candidate (30%);
B – Merit of the work plan (40%);
C – Merit of the reception conditions (30%);
Applications with a final score of less than 3,000 are not eligible for funding.
8) Obligations and critical aspects for advisors
- Submission of the application presupposes that all nominated supervisors have confirmed their association in myFCT; it is recommended to ensure this confirmation in advance.
- Non-associated advisors are not considered in the evaluation and cannot be added in the contractualization phase.
- The supervisor’s CV must be available in Portuguese or English (CIÊNCIAVITAE or PDF), with up-to-date affiliations.
9) Ethics and scientific integrity
- Ethical issues (e.g. research with human beings, personal data, animals, dual use) must be clearly identified and dealt with within the framework of the competition’s Ethics Guide.
- Violation of integrity standards (plagiarism, false statements) and improper contact regarding content/decisions may result in exclusion.
10) Support and contacts
- Technical and operational questions regarding the form/submission: info.bolsas@fct.pt (recommended deadline 72 hours before closing).
- Authentication issues: credenciais@fct.pt
11) Complementary documentation (recently updated)
FCT, I.P. Research Grant Regulations (effective from 25/12/2025)
