Scholarships for International Students in Iberian Universities

Funding for international students in Portugal and Spain comes from three broad sources: the institutions themselves, national and foundation programs, and international schemes such as Erasmus+ mobility grants.

Institutional scholarships are the most accessible starting point. Many universities offer merit-based tuition reductions for high-performing applicants, and some reserve places for students from specific regions or fields. These are usually decided alongside your admission, which means your academic file has to be strong when you apply — not later.

National and foundation programs are more competitive and often more generous. In Portugal, established bodies such as Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, FCT, Fundação Luso-Americana para o Desenvolvimento (FLAD) and Fundação Aga Khan run schemes with their own eligibility rules and calendars.

Timing is the practical challenge. Scholarship deadlines frequently fall before or shortly after admission decisions, so you cannot wait for an acceptance letter to start. Build a calendar with every deadline the moment you shortlist your programs.

Read eligibility carefully: nationality, field of study, level of study and financial-need criteria differ by scheme, and a single mismatch invalidates the application. Our Scholarships & Funding directory tracks the main options across both countries so you can filter what genuinely applies to you.