Can You Get €1,090/Month Scholarship at University of Porto to Study Criminology
If you have a Bachelor’s degree in Criminology and are enrolled—or preparing to enroll—in a Master’s programme in Criminology, the University of Porto has opened a paid research scholarship worth €1,090.98 per month.
The position is based at the Faculty of Law’s Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Justice (CIJ) and supports a project examining predatory publishing and academic evaluation systems. It is a full-time, 35-hour-per-week research studentship with an initial duration of 12 months.
Who Can Actually Apply?
The eligibility is much narrower than the headline may suggest. You must have:
- A Bachelor’s degree in Criminology
- Enrolment in a Master’s programme in Criminology
Proof of Master’s enrolment is required by the time the contract is signed. So if your Bachelor’s degree is in sociology, law, psychology or another related subject, this particular call does not state that those qualifications can substitute for Criminology.
Can International Students Apply?
The call does not exclude foreign applicants, and it specifically explains how degrees awarded outside Portugal are handled.
If your academic qualification was obtained from a foreign university, the degree must ultimately be recognised by a Portuguese higher-education institution under Portugal’s recognition rules by the hiring stage.
There is an important scoring consequence too: if a foreign-degree applicant has not submitted recognition and conversion of the final grade by the application deadline, the applicant receives a fixed score of 10 points for that academic-grade subcriterion.
That means foreign candidates can apply, but early degree recognition could strengthen the academic assessment.
What Will You Actually Do?
This is not simply financial support for attending classes and the selected researcher will work on a live research project involving:
- Literature reviews
- Technical report writing
- Supporting and transcribing interviews
- Analysing qualitative interview data
- Participating in research meetings
- Helping organise scientific events
- Contributing to international conference communications
- Potentially co-authoring academic papers
The project is supervised by Professor Rita Faria at the University of Porto. Applicants with previous experience in semi-structured interviews, qualitative analysis, academic research and teamwork therefore have a clear advantage. Advanced English is also listed as a preferred qualification.
How Much Does the Scholarship Pay?
The scholarship provides €1,090.98 per month, paid by bank transfer. The holder also receives personal accident insurance and may opt into Portugal’s voluntary social-insurance scheme under the applicable conditions.
The initial contract lasts 12 months and may potentially be renewed depending on satisfactory evaluation, institutional requirements and available funding. The total period cannot exceed two years.
How Competitive Is the Selection?
Your CV matters heavily. The main evaluation is a curricular assessment worth 75%, with an optional English-language interview worth 25% if the jury needs additional information to distinguish candidates.
Academic performance is heavily weighted, while research experience is also scored through activities such as participation in research projects, publications or technical reports, and conference presentations.
If an interview is held, the panel will specifically assess qualitative-research experience, English ability, motivation and availability.
What Documents Do You Need?
Applications are submitted through the University of Porto’s Apply UP system under reference BOLS-FDUP-26-5. The core documents include:
- CV in English
- Bachelor’s degree certificate
- Eligibility declaration
- Proof of Master’s enrolment before recruitment
- Foreign-degree recognition documentation where applicable
- Any additional documents supporting your academic or research merit
Missing the CV, required qualification certificate or eligibility declaration leads to exclusion.
University of Porto Research Scholarship Deadline
Applications must be submitted by 28 August 2026 at 23:59 Lisbon time. Because foreign applicants may need academic-recognition documentation and because research experience affects ranking, this is not an application worth leaving until the final evening.
Questions Candidates Are Likely to Ask
Can someone outside Portugal apply?
Yes, the call accommodates foreign qualifications, but those degrees must satisfy Portuguese recognition requirements by the required stage.
Can I apply with a Bachelor’s in Law or Sociology?
The published requirement specifically asks for a Bachelor’s degree in Criminology, so related degrees should not be assumed eligible.
Do I already have to be studying a Master’s?
You must be enrolled in a Master’s programme in Criminology, with proof required by the contracting stage.
Is IELTS required for admissions at University of Porto?
No specific IELTS score is required by this University of Porto research-scholarship call. Instead, advanced English speaking, writing and reading ability is listed as a preferred qualification, and shortlisted candidates may be interviewed in English.
For admission to the University of Porto Master’s in Criminology, the Faculty of Law currently does not publish a universal minimum such as IELTS 6.0 or 6.5 on its international admissions page. Applicants must satisfy the admission and language conditions stated for their particular intake. University-wide guidance also makes clear that language and admission requirements can depend on the faculty and programme.
One important distinction is that U.Porto’s general international-student guidance says applicants may need Portuguese proficiency at an independent-user level, with an oral proficiency assessment possible where documentary proof is unavailable. Applicants should therefore not assume that an IELTS certificate alone establishes eligibility for the Criminology Master’s; they should check the current FDUP call for the language of instruction and any Portuguese-language requirement before applying.
For the research scholarship itself, the practical English requirement is straightforward: you should be comfortable reading academic literature, writing reports, conducting research work and, if shortlisted, completing an interview in English.
Is this just a scholarship or an actual research role?
It is a research studentship with a defined work plan, including interviews, qualitative analysis, reporting and academic dissemination.
Not Sure Whether Your Degree Qualifies?
If you are unsure about your Bachelor’s subject, foreign-degree recognition, Master’s enrolment, research experience or English level, leave your question in the comments below the article. Mention your country, degree title and current study status, and we can help you judge whether this University of Porto opportunity genuinely matches your profile.