FCT opens 1,500 places in Call 2024 Studentships Call

On March 1, the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) launched the Notice of the Call the Evaluation Guide for the Call the Award of Studentships for Doctorates in all Scientific Fields 2024, in the General Lineand in the Non-Academic Environment. Applications will be open between March 18 and April 18, 2024.

The 2024 edition of this Call the number of Studentships be awarded in the specific application line for work plans developed in non-academic entities from 400 to 450 (compared to Call ). The number of Studentships in the general line (1,050) remains unchanged from 2023.

This will be the third edition of Call Studentships Call with a line for Non-academic Environment, which includes: companies; collaborative laboratories; technology and innovation centers and other interface centers; public administration entities or third sector entities such as museums, hospitals, associations in various areas (environment, culture, sports); and non-governmental organizations. The aim is to strengthen, through research, the links between academia and various social and economic actors.

The FCT keeps available, for non-academic entities, an expression of interest in hosting doctoral students, the list of which is available for consultation and continuously updated.

PhD Studentships are intended for candidates who are enrolled, or who meet the necessary conditions to enroll, in a course of study leading to a doctoral degree and who wish to carry out research activities leading to the award of that degree.

The total investment planned under this Call €124 million (€87 million for the general application line and €37 million for the Non-Academic Environment application line). Currently, there are more than 7,300 Studentships directly funded by FCT, of which around 1,300 are in a non-academic environment.

FCT plans to launch another instrument to support doctoral students in 2024

At the beginning of April 2024, a new support instrument will be launched for doctoral students who work in a public administration entity and wish to devote themselves to research on topics relevant to the institution where they carry out their professional activity. Its aim is to enhance and empower public administration professionals, with these entities committing to contribute protected time (minimum 20%) to the research carried out by these professionals. The funding will cover doctoral tuition fees and, in addition, doctoral students will be awarded a supplement corresponding to the fraction equivalent to the candidate's protected time dedicated to research, based on the FCT Studentships . Detailed information and application details for this program will be available soon.