Latest news and stories about student support in education in Portugal for expats and residents.
New regulations for higher education scholarships will be implemented in phases during the 2026-2027 academic year. The government stated that full implementation was delayed, so current rules remain in place for most areas, with updates limited to displaced student status, accommodation support, and a new incentive grant for low-income students.
The Council of Ministers has approved a new social action model for higher education, raising the average annual grant from 1,734 euros to 2,660 euros. The government is increasing its total investment to 220 million euros for the 2026/2027 academic year, with maximum grants reaching up to 7,818 euros for displaced students from low-income households.
A study from the Reflection Centre of the Belmiro de Azevedo Foundation, Edulog, finds students from rural areas and low‑resource backgrounds remain the most disadvantaged when accessing higher education, with distance and costs cited among key barriers, Dinheiro Vivo reports. The research examines regional inequalities and student mobility over the past decade and flags persistent gaps despite policy efforts. Families and students planning higher‑education paths should consider distance, transport and financial support options early. What is the Belmiro de Azevedo Foundation? and What is Edulog? (see explainers).
The Belmiro de Azevedo Foundation (Fundação Belmiro de Azevedo) is a private philanthropic foundation set up by the family of businessman Belmiro de Azevedo to fund education, research and social projects. It also commissions studies on higher education access and mobility, so its research is often used by universities and policymakers when planning scholarships and regional support.
The number of support requests is lower than the applications submitted during the same period last year. The academic institutions with the highest number of scholarship applications are the University of Lisbon and, in the private sector, the Lusófona University.
Former Minister of Education João Costa argued today for earlier support for students with difficulties and an articulated intervention that does not overlook the challenges faced by students' families, such as housing, poverty, or job insecurity.
The rector highlighted the word “hope” and the support provided to all students, particularly those suffering from anxiety and those living away from home.
A guide to the financial aid and housing subsidies available to university students in Portugal.
Students entering Higher Education for the 2026/27 academic year can apply for scholarships starting this Friday, 14 August. The process now allows applications before enrolment, and the government has introduced a new calculation model that considers local living costs, aiming to increase the average annual scholarship value by 53%.
New higher education scholarship regulations increase support for displaced students from 92 to 161 euros per month and eliminate the requirement for a rental contract.
Students are calling for support for displaced students and those with financial difficulties, arguing that the freedom to choose an educational institution should not be only 'for those who can afford it'.
Meeting in a general assembly, the FNESPC calls for a change in the IRS regime for young people and for a “valuation of institutions and students located outside major centres,” such as Porto and Lisbon.
It is official: the promise to have scholarship values closer to the actual cost of studying has been postponed. What can students actually count on?
The MetaPROF movement has created a pool of resources to assist students with the costs and processes associated with requesting a re-evaluation of their exam grades.
The Azorean government ensures that 'more than 97% have already received their support payments'.
University students are providing personalised, free tutoring to secondary school students facing financial hardship. This study support is promoted by the Academic Federation and the Porto City Council to ensure everyone has equal opportunities for university access.
The new social action model provides that the calculation of scholarship amounts will now consider the average cost of studying in higher education and the income that families can make available to the student.
The new social action model in higher education will be evaluated annually for the first five years and, subsequently, every three years, according to the draft regulation presented today by the Government.
Between September and November, an unmanned lander is scheduled to be sent to the Moon to begin the foundations of the future lunar base. Additionally, Passos Coelho welcomes the Government's measures.
The Lisbon Academic Federation has formally disagreed with the minister's justification for modifying student support measures.
The local authority is providing support to “minimise the cost that families face with university expenses”
Those responsible for the National Programme for the Promotion of Mental Health in Higher Education gave a very positive assessment this Monday of the programme, which has been in effect since 2024 and ends in September.
Higher education students are asking the Government for more investment in social support.
The project manages to change the lives of several students who suffered from chronic boredom in class, school isolation, addictions, or who were self-harming.
The committee points out “significant shortcomings” regarding personal data protection in the proposed legislation on student support.
This is one of the changes to the proposal presented earlier this month to rectors, presidents of polytechnics, and students.
Students from households with incomes below the poverty line will also receive the maximum school grant. The calculation of support will now take into account the cost of living in the municipality of the educational institution and whether the students are living away from home or not.
