950 PhD Scholarships awarded on the 2018 Call

(English version available soon)

The Foundation for Science and Technology today released the results of the Call for the Attribution of PhD Studentships 2018, under which 950 Studentships will be awarded in all scientific areas, from among 2,540 individual applications evaluated.

The Studentships now awarded are for the development of research and development work plans associated with obtaining the academic degree of PhD, to be started from September 1, 2018 through PhD Programs in Portuguese or foreign Universities.

The applications were reviewed by 36 discipline-based scientific panels, taking into account three criteria, namely: i) the absolute merit of the applicant; ii) the merit of the work plan; and iii) the merit of the hosting conditions. The cut-off lines for each panel were defined by an international scientific coordination team, as provided for in Notice of the Call (see details in the respective minutes, which include the number of Studentships awarded per panel). The overall approval rate was about 37% (i.e., similar to the approval rate in 2017).

As of today, the candidates have access to the comments that justify the classification assigned to their application and have up to 10 working days to, during a prior hearing of interested parties, present possible arguments to the evaluation panel. 

Analysis of the results now released shows that:

• 78% of the Studentships awarded relate to work plans carried out entirely in Portugal;
• 18% refer to mixed Studentships , with work plans to be carried out partly abroad; and
• 4% refer to work plans carried out entirely abroad.

Women represented 56% of the selected applicants and men 44%. Of the selected candidates, 91% were of Portuguese nationality, while 28 Studentships were awarded to candidates of Brazilian nationality, 20 Studentships to candidates of Italian nationality and 10 Studentships to candidates of Spanish nationality. In total, Studentships was granted to candidates from 22 countries, including Portugal.

In addition to the Studentships awarded in this Call for individual applications, FCT is also supporting in 2018 more than 550 Studentships awarded under Doctoral Programs and international partnerships. In total, more than 1520 Studentships doctoral grants will be awarded this year, representing an increase of more than 14% over the total number of Studentships supported in 2017, as summarized in the table below.

The next Call for the Award of PhD Studentships will be announced at the end of 2018. As with the last two Calls, the application period will run during the first quarter of 2019, so that the results will be available by summer 2019.

See more information in the attachment.