2026 Studentships Competition Sees Record Number of Applications

The 2026 edition of the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) PhD Studentships Competition received a record 4,461 applications, an increase of 7% over the previous edition. The competition will award 1,600 Studentships, 600 of which will be in non-academic settings. The estimated investment is over 36 million euros per year, for a total of 145 million euros.

A total of 3,628 applications were submitted under the general application track, an increase of 5.6% compared to 2025. The specific track for non-academic settings received 833 applications, representing a 13.5% increase compared to 2025 for this type of Studentships, confirming applicants’ growing interest in doctoral programs in non-academic contexts.

As in the previous round, the formalization of Studentships handled by the institutions designated by the applicants, following validation by those institutions. This model strengthens the connection between the institutions and the doctoral students, fostering closer scientific and administrative support. The deadline for institutions to confirm their affiliation with the applications is April 17.

As for the profile of the applicants, 54% are women and 46% are men, with an average age of 31. Most of the applications submitted are for work plans to be carried out in Portugal (84%), followed by Studentships , which involve carrying out the work plan in Portugal and abroad (14%), and, lastly, applications with a work plan exclusively abroad (2%).

In the general application category, the Social Sciences attracted the highest number of applications (26%), followed by Engineering and Technology (21%), the Humanities (18%), the Natural Sciences (11%), Medical and Health Sciences (11%), the Exact Sciences (9%), and Agricultural Sciences (4%).

In the specific funding category for non-academic settings, the field of Engineering Sciences and Technologies attracted the most applicants (43%). Together with the Exact Sciences (7%), it accounts for half of the applications in this funding category. This is followed by Medical and Health Sciences (18%), Natural Sciences (9%), and Agricultural Sciences (8%), while Social Sciences and Humanities account for 15% of applications (9% Social Sciences and 6% Humanities).

Companies remain the primary non-academic host institutions, chosen by 44% of applicants, while the remaining 56% of host entities are distributed among public administration, technology and innovation centers, state laboratories, interface centers, collaborative laboratories, third-sector entities, nongovernmental organizations, companies, entities linked to health and sports, museums, and others.

The preliminary results of this competition are expected to be announced in early August 2026, with the final results to be released in November.

As in the previous edition, all applications from non-academic settings must include at least one host academic institution and an intersectoral advisory team, thereby strengthening the ties and cooperation between R&D institutions and various sectors of activity. In this way, the FCT’s mission to enhance scientific knowledge and promote collaboration between academia and the non-academic world is realized, contributing to researchers’ employability and to a qualified response to society’s needs.

FCT’s PhD Studentships are funded by the State Budget and co-financed by the European Social Fund. Currently, FCT funds approximately 6,900 Studentships , having awarded 1,719 new Studentships 2025.

All information regarding the 2026 edition of the Studentships competition is continuously updated on the respective competition pages: General Application Track and Specific Application Track for Non-Academic Settings.