How long: there is no fixed limit; usually 6–8 semesters. Since 2023 both universities and polytechnics may award the doctorate (Law No 16/2023).
Your status: doctoral students have no special status. The main funding is studentships from FCT, the national research foundation: the 2026 call offered 1,600 studentships, with applications from 2 to 31 March 2026.
How to get in: a master's degree; bachelor's graduates with an outstanding academic or scientific CV may also be admitted.
Where to look: doctoral positions and calls are published on the websites of universities and their doctoral schools and on EURAXESS. Programmes in Portugal in our database: Portugal – 790 doctoral programmes (as of September 2026) »
Sources: Eurydice – national description of third-cycle (PhD) programmes (updated 27 April 2026); FCT – press release on the 2026 doctoral studentship call. As of October 2026.
Sources: European Commission – Study in Europe (education.ec.europa.eu/study-in-europe), Eurostat, official national study and residence portals and authorities, Eurodesk, enic-naric.net, studentnews.eu. As of September 2026.
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