The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program sends 800 U.S. faculty and professionals abroad each year. Grantees can research in a wide variety of academic and professional fields.
AWARD DETAILS
AWARD ACTIVITY AND DISCIPLINES
Category: U.S. Scholar Program.
Type: Teaching / Research.
Award Activity: The recipient of this Award is expected to give lectures and teach seminars and subject modules in the field of Computer Sciences, with a total workload of 192 hours to Bachelor’s and Master’s students of Computer Engineering and Informatics.
Scholars selected for this Awards can choose to:
- Advise and/or mentor students
- Assist in faculty, curriculum, and/or program development
- Conduct a research project designated by the host institution
- Teach graduate and/or undergraduate courses designated by the host institution
- Teach graduate and/or undergraduate courses of the applicant’s choosing
Fulbright Scholars may be asked to give public talks, mentor students and engage with the host community, in addition to their primary activities.
Disciplines: Computer Science, Information Sciences/Systems
Areas of Interest: While this award is open to any project in the disciplines listed above, there is interest in Scholars from any of these particular areas:
- Computer Engineering
- Computer Networking
- Internet of Things
- Machine Learning
AWARD LOCATION AND PERIOD
Location: Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre, School of Technology and Management, Department of Technologies, Portalegre, Portugal
Length: Four months.
Period: Preferred starting month is October, as agreed with the Portuguese host institution.
AWARD REQUIREMENTS
CANDIDATE PROFILE
Citizenship/Residency Requirement: Applicants residing in Portugal at the time of application or thereafter are not eligible to apply for this award.
Permanent residents of Portugal are not eligible to apply for this award.
Invitation Requirement: A letter of invitation is optional.
If applicants can obtain the letter of invitation, the letter of invitation must express the host’s interest in the project and describe the proposed activities and timeline for the project; it must be written in English and printed on institutional letterhead.
Follow this link for guidance on seeking Letters of Invitation and developing contacts abroad.
Degree Requirements: Ph.D. (or other terminal degree) required
Career Profile: Mid-Career Academics, Senior Academics
Language Proficiency Requirements: None, English is sufficient.
ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATION INFORMATION
Additional qualifications include superior academic qualifications (PhD), research activities (publications, communications and conferences) and a minimum of 5 years of teaching experience.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
The Fulbright Commission in Portugal seeks accomplished candidates with required terminal degrees, career profile and relevant experience, who have the potential to make improvements in their fields of study and to foster long term collaborations.
Candidates should demonstrate clearly the reasons for pursuing a project in Portugal and their choice of Portuguese affiliation. Additionally, candidates should have a demonstrated interest in the country and its culture and in engaging with the wider community while in Portugal.
INTERVIEW REQUIREMENTS
As part of the selection process, some candidates will be invited for interview (via Zoom) with the Portuguese Selection Committee, in January or February 2026.
The interview will be conducted in English.
CONTACTS AND HELPFUL LINKS
Contacts:
Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre, School of Technology and Management, Department of Technologies – Faculty
Department Coordinator: João Luís de Miranda
Deputy Coordinator: Luís Manuel Tremoceiro Baptista
Assistance will be provided by Professor Maria José D’Ascenção, Polytechnic Institute’s Pro-President for Internationalization and Institutional Cooperation, at email: mariajma@ipportalegre.pt, or telephone: (+351) 245 301 500.
Candidates can seek further information about the Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre (IPPortalegre) at https://www.ipportalegre.pt/ and about the School of Technology and Management (ESTG) at https://estg.ipportalegre.pt/pt/.
Helpful Links:
Instituto Politécnico de Portalegre / Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre (IPPortalegre)
Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Gestão / School of Technology and Management (ESTG-IPPortalegre)
Departamento de Tecnologias / Department of Technologies (DT)
Diplomatic Portal – Country Profile: Portugal
AWARD BENEFITS
AWARD ALLOWANCES
Grant stipend of €11.200 (approx. $11,829), which corresponds to a monthly stipend of €2.800 (approx. $2,957).
Award allowances are paid in a lump sum on the first month of the grant.
(Exchange rate of December 1, 2024)
TRAVEL ALLOWANCE
Travel allowance of €1.100 (approx. $1,162).
Travel allowance is paid on the first month of the grant.
(Exchange rate of December 1, 2024)
DEPENDENT BENEFITS
The Fulbright Commission offers funding for dependents who stay with the scholar during the entire period of their grants, in the following amounts:
- Travel allowance of €1.100 (approx. $1,162) per dependent;
- Monthly dependent allowance of €250 (approx. $264) for spouse and of $500 (approx. $528) per child (under 18 yo).
Dependents allowances are paid on the first month of the grant.
(Exchange rate of December 1, 2024)
SPECIAL AWARD BENEFITS
Housing: The host institution provides housing accommodation in a fully furnished two-bedroom apartment in Portalegre.
The host also provides computer facilities, internet access, and office space.
COUNTRY OVERVIEW
Over the last decades, Portugal has seen remarkable progress in learning, science and innovation, reflected in the quality of education offered at Portuguese universities. Internationalization and academic mobility are one of the priorities of Portuguese higher education institutions, which are increasingly attractive to a growing number of international scholars and researchers. Warm hospitality, a great climate, and an affordable lifestyle also make Portugal an enticing destination.
The academic year starts in mid-September or October, depending on the higher education institution. The fall semester ends in December and the spring semester starts in February and ends in May or June. In general, Portuguese faculty and students have good proficiency of English language; students can speak and understand enough to attend classes taught in English.
To learn more about Portuguese Higher Education Institutions and Research Centers, visit Study & Research in Portugal.
ESTIMATED COST OF LIVING
Estimated monthly costs can range from $500 (for one person) to $2,000 (for a family of four) without rent.
Portugal offers an excellent schooling system with a wide range of public (free, from nursery to 12th grade) and private (national and international) schools.
Foreign citizens with a valid visa can access the National Health Care Service (SNS), which is high-quality and affordable: an emergency appointment at a public hospital costs approximately $25, and a medical specialty at a private hospital costs approximately $100.
VISAS
Fulbright U.S. grantees are responsible for obtaining a Temporary Stay Visa to Portugal. The Commission can provide informal assistance but the Portuguese Embassy and Consulates are the sole authorities in matters pertaining to visa issues. Grantees should carefully look into visa information and start the visa application well in advance of travel.
For additional information about National Temporary Stay Visas or the Portuguese Republic’s Consular Network in the U.S.A, visit the Diplomatic Portal.
PREVIOUS FULBRIGHT RECIPIENTS
The list of US Grantees to Portugal, as well as testimonies about their projects and experience, can be found on the Commission’s Fulbrighters page and on YouTube’s Fulbright_PT Grantees and Alumni playlist.
APPLICATIONS
APPLICATIONS AND DEADLINE
Number of Grants: One grant to Award.
Applications: Applications must be submitted through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program website: https://fulbrightscholars.org/us-scholar-awards#steps
Deadline: Monday, September 15, 2025.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For more information about the U.S. Scholar Program in Portugal, contact Dora Reis Arenga, U.S. Program Manager at the Fulbright Commission Portugal, darenga@fulbright.pt.