Most national PhD funding schemes in Europe quietly close the door on anyone outside the EU. The FCT PhD Studentships (Bolsas de Doutoramento) are an exception. They are awarded by the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal's national funding agency for science, technology and higher education research, and they are open to third-country nationals. For a Pakistani student with a Master's degree and a research idea, that makes them one of the more realistic fully funded doctoral routes in Western Europe. You can read the full scholarship details on our listing, but this guide goes further into how the scheme works and where applicants tend to slip.
Who does this suit? Someone who already knows roughly what they want to research, is willing to contact supervisors in Portugal months ahead, and wants a PhD in a country where the stipend stretches further than it would in many other Western European capitals. Who should skip it? Anyone hoping to fund a Bachelor's or a standalone Master's. FCT does not fund those.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Funding | Fully funded: monthly stipend, tuition waiver, training and conference funding, social security/health insurance contributions, relocation support in many calls |
| Level | PhD only |
| Fields | All fields, including engineering, sciences, health sciences, social sciences and humanities |
| Deadline | Regular-line call typically opens for a window in March, with the deadline typically late March or early April. Exact dates vary by call and doctoral programme |
| Country | Portugal |
| Provider | Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) |
| Official site | fct.pt |
Two doors into the same funding
The first thing to understand about FCT is that there is more than one way in. Many applicants only know about the general call and miss half the opportunities.
The regular line is the national general call. It typically opens once a year, around March, for a short window. You submit your own research proposal, and FCT panels assess it.
The second route is through funded research projects. FCT also funds individual and collaborative research projects at Portuguese universities and research units, and many of those projects include studentship positions. These are advertised by the universities and research units themselves, with their own timelines and start dates. If you only watch the general call, you will never see them.
My advice: treat these as two separate searches. Keep an eye on the FCT website for the regular-line call, and separately check the research units and departments you are interested in for project-linked postings. A project-linked position often comes with a defined topic and a supervisor already attached, which can suit students who are less sure about writing a proposal from scratch.
What the funding package actually includes
The studentship is described as fully funded, and the package has several parts:
- A monthly living stipend. FCT reviews and adjusts it annually, so check the current figure on the official site rather than relying on an old number you saw in a forum.
- A full tuition fee waiver at the host Portuguese doctoral programme.
- Funding for training, conference attendance and research-related travel.
- Social security and health insurance contributions during the studentship.
- Relocation support in many calls for candidates moving to Portugal from abroad.
Note the wording on relocation: "in many calls", not all. Do not budget your move around a relocation allowance until you see it written into the terms of the specific call or project you are applying to.
The stipend matters more in Portugal than the raw amount might suggest. The country has one of the lower costs of living in Western Europe, and Lisbon, Porto and Coimbra host its largest and most internationally connected research communities. Universities with strong research bases include the University of Lisbon, University of Porto, University of Coimbra and NOVA University Lisbon.
Eligibility, and why Pakistani students qualify
FCT studentships are open to Portuguese citizens, other EU nationals, third-country nationals, stateless persons and political refugees. Pakistan falls under third-country nationals, so a Pakistani passport is not a barrier here. That alone sets this scheme apart from many bilateral European PhD programmes.
The academic requirements are where people get filtered out:
- A completed Master's degree (or equivalent), because that is what Portuguese doctoral programmes require for enrolment.
- Admission, or admission in progress, to an accredited doctoral programme at a Portuguese university or research institution.
- A research proposal or project plan aligned with the specific FCT call or funded project.
- A strong academic record and, where applicable, prior research experience relevant to your field.
The admission point is the one students underestimate. FCT funding is contingent on enrolment in a doctoral programme. If the university does not accept you, the studentship cannot go ahead. So you are really running two applications in parallel: one to the university, one to FCT.
Supervisors: required, optional, or somewhere in between
For most project-linked studentships, a supervisor is required. For the regular line, some calls may allow proposals without a pre-arranged supervisor. In practice, having one substantially strengthens your application either way.
The reason is simple. A Portuguese supervisor knows what FCT panels look for, can help you shape the proposal around the call's priorities, and can confirm that the research unit has the facilities you need. Write to prospective supervisors well before the call opens. If the call opens in March, your first emails should go out long before that, not in the same month.
When you email, be specific. Name their recent work, explain in a short paragraph what you want to research and why their group fits, and attach your CV. Generic emails sent to dozens of professors usually get ignored.
The paperwork FCT asks for
The documents list is short, which means each item carries weight:
- The completed FCT online application
- Your Master's degree certificate and transcript
- A research proposal or project plan
- A CV, including any publications or research experience
- Letters of reference
- Proof of admission or application to the host doctoral programme
For Pakistani applicants, sort out your degree documents early. If your university or programme asks for attested copies, our IBCC and MOFA attestation guide walks through the process. Reference letters should come from your Master's supervisors or teachers who know your research ability, and you should ask them well in advance. A rushed letter from a busy professor in the final week rarely helps.
From first email to enrolment
The application sequence looks like this:
- Identify a Portuguese doctoral programme and, where relevant, a specific FCT-funded project or supervisor.
- Apply for admission to the doctoral programme at the host university.
- Prepare and submit the FCT studentship application, either through the regular-line call or a project-linked call, with the required documents.
- FCT panels evaluate proposals on scientific merit, feasibility and candidate qualifications.
- Successful candidates receive a studentship contract or award and finalise enrolment.
- Apply for a Portuguese national visa or residence permit for international students using the FCT award confirmation.
Notice that the panels judge three things: scientific merit, feasibility and the candidate. Many proposals from abroad are scientifically ambitious but vague about methods, data access or timeline. Feasibility is where those lose marks. Show that the work can actually be done in the time and with the resources at the host unit.
For the visa stage, FCT award confirmation is the key document. Visa officers will still look at the rest of your file, so it helps to read about common student visa rejection reasons for Pakistani students before you apply.
How the regular-line year usually runs
For the regular line, the typical pattern is:
| Stage | Typical timing |
|---|---|
| Call opens | March (exact window varies by year) |
| Application deadline | Late March or early April |
| Evaluation | Several months |
| Results | Autumn |
| PhD starts | The following academic year |
Every one of these dates is typical, not fixed. Confirm the exact window for your year on the official FCT website. Project-linked studentships run on their own timelines and start dates, so they can appear at other points in the year.
The window between the call opening and the deadline is short. If you start preparing when the call is announced, you will be rushing. The realistic plan is to have your supervisor contact, proposal draft and reference letters lined up before March.
Mistakes that sink otherwise good applications
Writing one proposal and sending it everywhere. FCT asks for a proposal aligned with the specific call or project. Tailor it to the stated priorities each time.
Ignoring the university side. Students focus on the FCT form and leave the doctoral programme application too late. Check each programme's admission requirements early, because the funding depends on enrolment.
Watching only the general call. As explained above, many studentships are awarded through funded projects. If your field is narrow, a project posting may match you better than the open competition.
Assuming every perk applies. Relocation support appears in many calls, not all, and the stipend is adjusted each year. Read the terms of your specific call.
Leaving references to the end. Ask your Master's supervisors early and give them your proposal so they can write about your research specifically.
Frequently asked questions
Can Pakistani students apply for FCT PhD Studentships?
Yes. The studentships are open to third-country nationals, which includes Pakistani citizens, as well as Portuguese citizens, EU nationals, stateless persons and political refugees. You still need to meet the academic and enrolment requirements of your doctoral programme.
Does FCT fund Master's or Bachelor's degrees?
No. FCT studentships fund PhD and doctoral research only. You need a completed Master's degree or equivalent to enrol in a Portuguese doctoral programme.
Is there a single annual deadline?
The regular-line call typically opens once a year, around March, with the deadline typically in late March or early April. Many studentships are also awarded through funded research projects with their own timelines, so there is no single deadline for everything. Check the official site for the current call.
Do I need a supervisor before applying?
It is required for most project-linked studentships. The regular line may allow proposals without a pre-arranged supervisor in some cases, but having one substantially strengthens your application.
Which fields are covered?
All scientific domains are eligible, from engineering and natural sciences to health sciences, social sciences and the humanities.
What happens after I win the award?
You receive a studentship contract or award, finalise enrolment at your host institution, and then apply for a Portuguese national visa or residence permit for international students using the FCT award confirmation. FCT also funds postdoctoral research, so the studentship can lead into further EU research careers.
Before you start, check the current call details on the official FCT website and review the FCT PhD Studentships scholarship page for a summary of requirements and documents.