Admission requirements: for applications to be considered and evaluated, candidates must:

•    Hold a bachelor's degree;

•    Have Portuguese and/or English as their native language and/or demonstrable proficiency at level C1 (minimum) in English;

•    Be enrolled in a master's degree programme at a Portuguese university;

Only candidates who have completed the cycle of studies leading to a bachelor's degree by the application deadline will be admitted. If they do not yet have their degree certificate, a sworn statement from the candidates stating that they have completed the necessary qualifications for the purposes of the competition by the application deadline will be accepted. The award of the scholarship is always dependent on the presentation of proof of the academic qualifications necessary for the award of the scholarship.

The scholarship amount is €1,040.98, according to the table of values for scholarships awarded directly by FCT, I.P. in the country (https://www.fct.pt/financiamento/programas-de-financiamento/bolsas). Added to this amount is voluntary social insurance corresponding to the first tier, if the candidate chooses to take it out, as well as personal accident insurance.

Selection methods: The assessment takes into account the candidate's merit, the merit of the motivation letter and the merit of the recommendation letter. Applications deemed admissible will be scored on a scale of 1 to 20 for each of the following assessment criteria:

Criterion A – Candidate's Potential and Merit, weighted at 50%

A1 – Indicators of Interest and Scientific Potential (30%)

•    Stated interests in the area of research

•    Participation in training activities (workshops, summer courses, seminars)

•    Small initial productions (reports, essays, posters, relevant academic work)

•    Demonstrated academic reading and writing skills

A2 – Initial Participation or Involvement in Projects (10%)

•    Voluntary or collaborative participation in academic or scientific initiation projects

•    Demonstration of ability to work in a team and carry out research tasks

A3 – Academic and Organisational Involvement (5%)

•    Support or collaboration in academic events (not necessarily as the main organiser)

•    Active participation in study groups, research centres, student associations

A4 – Recognition or Indicators of Dedication (5%)

• Academic merit scholarships

• School awards

• Evidence of academic responsibility and commitment

Criterion B – Letter of motivation, weighted at 40%

Criterion C – Letter of recommendation, weighted at 10%.

For tie-breaking purposes, candidates will be ranked based on the scores assigned to each of the evaluation criteria in the following order of precedence: criterion A, criterion B, criterion C. Candidates whose application is evaluated with a final score lower than 16 points are not eligible for a scholarship.

Composition of the Selection Panel: 

• Sandie Mourão, NOVA FCSH CETAPS (President);
• Carolyn Leslie, NOVA FCSH CETAPS (1.º Effective Member);
• Aoife K. Ahern, Complutense University of Madrid, Spain (2.º Effective Member);
• Carmen Becker, Technische Universitaet Braunschweig, Germany (Substitute member).

Applicable legislation and regulations: 

- Law No. 40/2004, of 18 August (Statute of Scientific Research Fellows), as amended by Decree-Law No. 123/2019, of 28 August; 

- Regulations on Research Fellowships at NOVA University Lisbon, Order No. 9484/2023, available at https://diariodarepublica.pt/dr/detalhe/despacho/9484-2023-221611620.

Publication/notification of results: The final results of the assessment will be sent by email to all candidates, in order of final score obtained. 

After the provisional list of assessment results has been communicated, candidates have a period of 10 working days to make a statement, if they so wish, at a preliminary hearing of interested parties, in accordance with Articles 121 et seq. of the Code of Administrative Procedure. The final decision must be made within a maximum of 60 working days after the conclusion of the preliminary hearing of interested parties or the public consultation. 

An appeal may be lodged against the final decision within 15 working days, or an appeal may be lodged with the highest executive body of the funding entity within 30 working days, both after the respective notification.