Scholarship in Portugal for Pakistani students 2025

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Scholarship in Portugal for Pakistani students 2025

Scholarship in Portugal for Pakistani students 2024 is the best choice allowing them to explore study options in Europe. Portugal is the oldest nation-state in Europe and an officially recognized European Union Country. Lisbon is the capital, largest, and tourist destination city of Portugal. The official language of Portugal is Portuguese but English is also widely spoken. The official currency used in Portugal is the Euro.

There are two types of scholarships in Portugal: government scholarships and university scholarships. The scholarships are awarded to Bachelor's, master's, and PhD programs for various courses. The scholarship grants can cover tuition fees and living expenses depending on the funding. The duration of scholarships also varies depending on your chosen program and scholarship policies.

You can study and avail of scholarships in Portugal without IELTS. Many Universities offer scholarships in Portugal without IELTS for Pakistani students. The scholarships in Portugal for Pakistani students can be partially or fully funded. The tuition fees and living expenses in Portugal are very reasonable and affordable compared to other developed countries in Europe.

The minimum CGPA requirement for a scholarship in Portugal is 2-2.5. You can get part-time work of 30 hours/week in Portugal and a work permit after completing your studies. After staying on a long-term visa for about five years you can apply for Permanent residency (PR) in Portugal.

Scholarship in Portugal for Pakistani students
Teaching Language	English and Portuguese
Top Scholarship in Portugal for Pakistani Students	University of Porto Scholarships University of Coimbra Scholarships Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation Scholarships Lisbon Mba Scholarships Nova School of Business and Economics Scholarships University of Aveiro Scholarships University of Minho Scholarships DGES Scholarships Santander Scholarships for University Support Erasmus Mundus Scholarship Program
Scholarship duration	Varies for the length of each program
Scholarship Type	Partially and Fully funded
Eligibility for Scholarship	Merit-based or need-based English Language Proficiency may be required
IELTS Requirement	Some Universities require a score of 6; Other may require Proficiency in English
CGPA Requirement	Minimum 2-2.5
Part-time working hours	30 hours/week
After study work	Yes Available
Embassy	House 8, Street 36, F-7/1. Islamabad Pakistan
Average Monthly expense	500-800 euros/ Month
Scholarship Processing Time	Not a specific duration; try to apply early
Scholarship Programs Available	Bachelors, Masters and PhD Programs

Best Scholarships in Portugal for Pakistani Students

As a Pakistani student, you can find many partially and fully funded scholarships in Portugal. Some of them are given below;

University of Porto Scholarships
University of Coimbra Scholarships
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation Scholarships
Lisbon Mba Scholarships
Nova School of Business and Economics Scholarships
University of Aveiro Scholarships
University of Minho Scholarships
DGES Scholarships
Santander Scholarships for University Support
Erasmus Mundus Scholarship Program

1. University of Porto Scholarships

Funding Type	Partially and Fully funded
Eligibility Criteria	Academic requirements as per the University of Porto
Documents Required	Academic transcripts, Passport, Letter of Acceptance
Programs	Bachelors, Masters and PhD
IELTS Requirement	Yes, a score of a minimum of 6 bands

The University of Porto offers various scholarships and financial aid for Pakistani students to study in Bachelor's, master's, and PhD programs. They are mostly merit-based and awarded based on students' academic excellence and research passion. The scholarships provided by the University of Porto are the following;

SASUP Scholarships
Merit Scholarships
Scientific Scholarships
Other Grants

Benefits

Tuition fee waiver
Living and accommodation coverage
Health coverage
Access to library and research grants

2. University of Coimbra Scholarships

Funding Type	Partially and Fully funded
Eligibility Criteria	Academic requirements as per the University of Coimbra
Documents Required	Academic transcripts, Passport, Acceptance letter
Programs	Bachelors, Masters and PhD
IELTS Requirement	Yes, a score of 6 bands

The University of Coimbra offers the following merit-based scholarships for International students currently enrolled in full-time degree programs and research;

Merit scholarships for graduate studies
Strategic support scholarships
Incentive scholarships
Foundation Year award
International Student Merit Board
International UC Ambassador student

Benefits

The specific benefits depend upon the type of scholarship. Here are some common benefits for University of Coimbra Scholarships;

Half or full tuition fee waiver
Monthly stipend
Living and Accommodation allowance
Research Allowance

3. Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation Scholarships

Funding Type	Partially funded
Eligibility Criteria	Master's degree and passion for research on Portugal Culture
Documents Required	Academic transcripts, Research proposal, and study plan
Programs	PhD
IELTS Requirement	English Language Proficiency

It is an international scholarship project for world-class authors, curators, and artists in the field of visual arts and programming. The scholarships are awarded for projects that contribute to international collaborations and strengthening networks. Only PhD candidates researching Portugal culture and arts are eligible to apply.

Benefits

5000 Euros covering travel and accommodation
The grants can be renewed for 3 years

4. Lisbon MBA Scholarships

Funding Type	Partially funded
Eligibility Criteria	3-5 Years of professional experience in MBA, GMAT, or GRE admission test
Documents Required	Bachelor's degree in any area, Admission, and language tests
Programs	MBA Programs
IELTS Requirement	English Langauge Proficiency

This Institute provides MBA scholarships in Portugal for Pakistani students. This scholarship aims to provide excellence and meritocracy for a productive learning environment. There are the following scholarships provided by Lisbon MBA scholarships;

The Lisbon MBA Scholarship
Entrepreneurship Scholarship
Woman in Business Scholarship
Social Impact Scholarship
Merit Scholarship

Benefits

Upto 40 % off Tuition fee

5. Nova School of Business and Economics Scholarships

Funding Type	Partially and fully funded
Eligibility Criteria	Depends on the Specific program you are enrolled in
Documents Required	CV, Passport, NIC, Academic Record
Programs	Undergraduate and post-graduate
IELTS Requirement	English language proficiency is required

This scholarship is for attracting and nurturing the best minds to transform their future with success and responsibility. These scholarships are available for regular students studying in this institute. About 2 Million Euros are granted for various programs in 2023. The scholarships are available for the following programs;

Bachelors
Masters
Executive Bachelors
PhD Programs

Benefits

Tuition fee coverage full or half
Living allowance
Accommodation
Other Allowances for research, books, etc

6. University of Aveiro Scholarships

Funding Type	Partially funded
Eligibility Criteria	Academic excellence and full-time enrollment at the University of Aveiro
Documents Required	Academic Record, Scholarship application, etc
Programs	Undergraduate and Masters
IELTS Requirement	Optional, A Proficiency certificate is also acceptable

This scholarship is provided to undergraduate and master's students every year in two cycles. It is a partially funded scholarship awarded to academically remarkable students. The scholarship is only applicable for full-time enrollment in degree programs. The students must have to write an application for these incentives.

Benefits

Reduction of tuition fee to 1000 euros from 3500-5000 euros for both undergraduate and masters

7. University of Minho Scholarships

Funding Type	Partially and fully funded
Eligibility Criteria	Academic excellence and full-time enrollment at the University of Minho
Documents Required	Academic Record, CV, Passport
Programs	Undergraduate and post Graduates
IELTS Requirement	Yes, a score of 6.5

The University of Minho offers various need-based and merit-based scholarships to international students. The funds are co-financed by the Portuguese state and European social fund. These are regulated by the ministry of science, technology, and higher education. The scholarships provided by the University of Minho are following:

Academic Merit Scholarships
Social Emergency Fund
Excellence Scholarships
Other Grants and School Prizes

Benefits

Full or half Tuition fee waiver
Living and accommodation allowances

8. DGES Scholarships

Funding Type	Partially funded
Eligibility Criteria	Strong Academic record and financial need
Documents Required	Academic Transcripts, CV, Passport
Programs	Undergraduate and Master
IELTS Requirement	Optional

Directorate General and Higher Education (DGES) grants scholarships and financial aid for 1st and 2 cycle students studying at NOVA University. They are mostly need-based scholarships, so students are required to show family household income certificates along with other supporting documents. The students applying for scholarships should be admitted to Nova University in that particular academic year. The scholarship opens in 3 phases in a year and can be renewed annually.

Benefits

Accommodation supplements
Transportation allowance
Grant for students with special educational needs
Mobility complement

9. Santander Scholarships for University Support

Funding Type	Partially funded
Eligibility Criteria	Proof of Financial Need
Documents Required	CV, Motivation Letter, Academic Documents
Programs	Bachelors and masters
IELTS Requirement	Yes

These are Bachelor's and master's degree program scholarships funded by the Santander Portugal Foundation. This is a need-based scholarship so you are required to submit financial proofs that you can not pay the expenses.

Benefits

500 Euro for Bachelors students
1000 euro for Masters students

10. Erasmus Mundus Scholarship Program

Funding Type	Fully funded
Eligibility Criteria	High Academic marks and extracurricular activities
Documents Required	CV, Motivation Letter, Academic Documents, Letter of recommendation, etc
Programs	Masters
IELTS Requirement	Proficiency in English

It is a famous fully funded scholarship for Pakistani students that allows them to study in various countries across Europe. Few Universities offer the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship for Pakistani students in Portugal. It is a joint master's program in which you can complete your studies in any 3 countries of Europe including Portugal.

Benefits

Travel allowance
VISA expenses
Living expenses covered

Benefits of Scholarship in Portugal for Pakistani Students

As a Pakistani student, you will enjoy the following benefits of studying on Portuguese scholarships:

As a Pakistani student, you will have an opportunity to get a top-quality education in Portugal on a scholarship. Education in Portugal follows the Bologna Process so it is recognized all over the world.
You can get financial aid in terms of tuition fees and living expenses in Portugal.
Portugal is a European Union country so you would have an option to explore other study options among European Union countries.
After getting an education in Portugal you will have a strong chance of getting employment opportunities in Europe.
The tuition fees of Portugal Universities and the average living cost in Portugal for Pakistani students are quite affordable. On average you can spend 500-800 euros per month while living in Portugal as an International student.
You can get part-time working hours of 30 hours/week to support your expenses. The after-study work permit in Portugal is also available.
You can focus on career advancement and personal development while studying in Portugal.
You can apply for PR in Portugal if you meet their specific requirements.

How to Apply for a Scholarship in Portugal

Follow the listed steps to get an idea of how to apply for a scholarship in Portugal;

Identify the specific scholarships that are open for Pakistani students and check your eligibility and scholarship requirements.
Choose the scholarship for a specific university or program that fits best with your interest.
Check and meet your eligibility requirements. You may have to go through a test of language proficiency or admission tests based on the university and scholarship.
Complete the application form and prepare the required documents like CV, transcripts, recommendation letters, and language tests. You may have to write a research proposal if you are applying scholarship for doctoral programs.
Submit your application and attend interviews if required.
Await and keep track of results.
Apply for a study visa to Portugal if you get selected for a scholarship.

Tips to Win Portuguese Scholarships for Pakistani Students

The following tips can be useful to avail Portugal scholarships for international students including Pakistani students;

Try to identify the right scholarship by understanding the specific requirements of the scholarship.
Maintain your academic excellence and relative experience following your qualifications.
Always focus on creating a very impactful statement of purpose for your scholarship.
Try to get strong recommendation letters from your professors.
Fulfill your language proficiency requirements.
Highlight your volunteering activities and leadership qualities.
Try to demonstrate your financial need and submit proofs if applicable.

FAQs

Q1) How to apply for a scholarship in Portugal?

Answer: The application process for scholarships in Portugal is quite simple. You just have to visit the official scholarship site, fill in the application form, and submit it online. You should also check the required documents and fulfill certain requirements as described there.

Q2) Is IELTS required for Portugal?

Answer: Most of the Universities in Portugal do not require IELTS as long as you have an English language proficiency certificate from your previous institution. However, each university has its specific admission policies. So it's better to check for each University.

Q3) How much is the visa fee for Portugal?

Answer: The temporary stay visa on which you can stay in Portugal for 1 year costs about 75 euros. While the residence visa can cost about 90 euros if you have to stay in Portugal for over 1 year.

Q4) What is the success rate of student visas in Portugal from Pakistan?

Answer: Portugal has an impressive visa acceptance rate of about 80% for International students. If you are looking to study in Europe on a scholarship, you should definitely consider Portugal.

Article Author

Mahnoor Iqbal

Mahnoor is a seasoned visa consultancy professional with over 11 years of hands on experience guiding Pakistani students toward successful study abroad journeys. Her expertise spans international education systems, student visa regulations, and global immigration frameworks, making her a trusted voice in the study abroad industry. Over the past 11 years, Mahnoor has worked closely with students, parents, educational institutions, and international partners to simplify complex visa processes and ensure compliance with ever changing immigration laws. Her deep understanding of country-specific visa requirements enables him to provide accurate, up to date,...