Call Studentships 2017

The Foundation for Science and Technology has announced the results of Call the Award of Studentships associated with Call 2017 Call individual applications. A total of 900 Studentships were awarded, in addition to the more than 500 Studentships in the FCT Doctoral Programs. A total Studentships 1,441 Studentships will thus be awarded in 2017. Since 2011, the FCT has not funded such a high number of Studentships in a single year (see the evolution of the number of Studentships between 2006 and 2017). 

In Call 2,760 applications were submitted, of which 2,453 were considered eligible for evaluation. The success rate was 37%; in 2016, the equivalent rate was 33%, and in 2015, 18%.

The scholarship recipients now selected can set the start date of their work plan between September 1, 2017, and August 31, 2018. The results are thus known before the start of the academic year, so that doctoral students can better plan their research.

Studentships are grants awarded to researchers to carry out scientific and technological activities on a full-time basis. The Studentships award process Studentships several stages between application and the announcement of results. After submission, and once their eligibility had been verified, applications were evaluated separately by two researchers recognized in the respective scientific field, with the assistance of external experts where necessary.

After the individual evaluation of all applications, 305 researchers, divided into 37 scientific panels, met in person to reach a consensus on the evaluations in the context of their disciplinary area and to rank the candidates. Based on the available funding, the FCT proposed to fund the highest-ranked candidates in each panel. All candidates have since been informed of the proposed decision and have access to the panel's comments justifying the ranking assigned to their application. After notification, and in case of disagreement with the proposed ranking, candidates have up to 10 days to present their arguments to the panel at a prior hearing of interested parties, which will be duly analyzed.