Starting higher education is an important milestone, but it can also represent a financial challenge for many families. What not all students know is that there are various scholarships and support mechanisms available to help cover the costs of attending university.
At NOVA University Lisbon, students can benefit from a range of support schemes, from higher education welfare grants to the Access to Degree Programme Scholarships (BACE), as well as institution-specific funding opportunities offered by NOVA’s Academic Units.
- HigherEducation Scholarships from the Institute for Higher Education
Higher Education welfare scholarships are intended for students with limited financial resources and are administered by SASNOVA (NOVA’s Social Services).
Their purpose is to ensure that financial difficulties do not prevent students from attending or completing a higher education programme.
These scholarships are governed by specific legislation and regulations and are managed by the Institute for Higher Education (IES, I.P.), in coordination with higher education institutions and their welfare services.
Applications are submitted online through the IES, I.P. platform and are open to students enrolled on degree-awarding programmes.
- Scholarshipsfor Students with Disabilities
Students with a disability level of 60% or higher may apply for a scholarship corresponding to the tuition fees actually paid.
Applications are submitted online following registration and authentication on the dedicated platform, available here.
For further information, please consult the Regulations for the Award of Higher Education Scholarships to Students with Disabilities of 60% or Above.
Any matters relating to this scholarship should be addressed directly to the Institute for Higher Education.
More information:
https://sas.unl.pt/bolsas/bolsas-de-estudo/
- NOVA Access toDegreeProgramme Scholarships (BACE)
NOVA also offers the Access to Degree Programme Scholarships (BACE), an initiative designed to promote access to and participation in higher education for students facing documented financial hardship.
These scholarships complement existing social support mechanisms and help reduce the financial barriers associated with academic progression.
Applications:
https://bolsasacesso.unl.pt
- Scholarshipsand Support Across the NOVA Community
In addition to these university wide schemes, NOVA’s schools, faculties and institutes offer scholarships, merit awards and other funding opportunities tailored to their students. In many cases, their websites also provide useful information on support available through SASNOVA and DGES.
Find information for your Academic Unit below:
NOVA School of Science and Technology (NOVA FCT): https://www.fct.unl.pt/bolsas-e-premios
NOVA School of Social Sciences and Humanities (NOVA FCSH): https://www.fcsh.unl.pt/comunidade/inclusao-social/apoio-financeiro/
Nova School of Business and Economics (NOVA SBE): https://www.novasbe.unl.pt/pt/cursos/bolsas-e-financiamento/apresentacao
NOVA Medical School: https://www.nms.unl.pt/pt-pt/ensino/alunos/bem-estar-e-apoio-ao-estudante/bolsas
NOVA School of Law: https://novalaw.unl.pt/estudar-em-lisboa/
NOVA Information Management School (NOVA IMS): https://novaims.unl.pt/pt/ensino/alunos/bolsas/
National School of Public Health (ENSP NOVA): https://www.ensp.unl.pt/bolsas-e-oportunidades/
ITQB NOVA – António Xavier Institute of Chemical and Biological Technology: https://www.itqb.unl.pt/education/bolsa-estudo-de-merito
- WhatIs Changing in the Higher Education Scholarship System?
A revision of the Higher Education Scholarship Framework has recently been announced and will be introduced gradually.
The new model aims to make the system fairer and better aligned with students’ realities, taking into account household financial circumstances more accurately, as well as the costs associated with attending higher education in different municipalities across Portugal.
Key measures include:
Incentive Grant
From the 2026/2027 academic year onwards, an Incentive Grant worth €1,075 will be introduced for students from households eligible for the first family allowance bracket.
The grant will be awarded automatically to eligible students in their first year of enrolment, but an application will still be required.
Applications must be submitted online through the BeOn platform:
https://www.dges.gov.pt/wwwbeon/
The grant will be paid in a single instalment.
Enhanced Accommodation Support
Scholarship recipients studying away from home will benefit from a strengthened accommodation support scheme.
Where a place in university accommodation is not available, students may receive an additional grant amount calculated according to private rental costs in the municipality where they are studying.
Recognition of Commuting Student Status
The new framework clarifies the criteria for recognising displaced student status (students who must live away from their family home to attend university), allowing for a more accurate assessment of cases where factors such as travel time, teaching timetables or specific mobility needs have a significant impact on programme attendance.