Coimbra Research Fully-funded Scholarship for Forestry Research in Portugal Open

If you have a Master’s degree and practical experience in forestry, GIS, drones or field experiments, the Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra is offering a research scholarship worth €1,359.64 per month under the iN_Seed project in Portugal.

The project, titled “Forest Seeds and Natural Intelligence: A Technology-Supported Approach to Promoting Resilient Ecosystems,” focuses on forest regeneration, direct seeding and technology-assisted ecosystem management. The selected researcher will work mainly through the Coimbra School of Agriculture, with field activities also taking place in central and northern Portugal.

Who Can Actually Apply?

Applicants must already hold a Master’s degree and must also be enrolled in either:

• A doctoral programme, or
• An eligible non-degree course designed to provide initial scientific research training.

This is therefore not simply a stand-alone scholarship for any Master’s graduate. Your enrolment status forms part of the eligibility conditions.

The call is particularly suitable for researchers with a background connected to forestry, silviculture, forest management, environmental sciences, remote sensing or related disciplines.

What Skills Does Coimbra Actually Want?

The formal degree requirement is only the starting point.

The successful applicant is expected to have practical experience with forest research and geospatial technologies. Specifically, the call asks for knowledge or experience in:

• Establishing experimental projects or sampling plots
• Conducting forest inventories
• Geographic Information Systems
• Multispectral drones
• Field-based forestry research

A valid driving license is also required, which makes sense because field trials will take place at different locations rather than entirely on campus. Applicants must additionally have good oral and written command of both Portuguese and English.

What Will You Actually Do?

This is a research-heavy role combining fieldwork, scientific analysis and project support. The selected fellow will review existing research and technologies relating to the establishment of forests through direct seeding, then help monitor experimental trials and analyse the data generated by them.

The work also includes scientific and technical monitoring of project activities, assisting with project coordination, and preparing reports, scientific papers and dissemination materials.

In practical terms, this is a good match for someone who enjoys moving between field sampling, GIS-based analysis, drone data and scientific writing rather than working exclusively in one environment.

Can International Researchers Apply?

The call does not restrict applicants by nationality. However, candidates with degrees obtained outside Portugal must provide the appropriate recognition of their foreign academic qualifications, where required under Portuguese rules.

That makes international applications possible, but degree recognition should not be treated as something to sort out after everything else. The other major hurdle for many foreign applicants will be language: Portuguese and English proficiency are both part of the stated requirements and selection criteria.

How Much Does the Scholarship Pay?

The monthly maintenance allowance is €1,359.64, paid by bank transfer. The scholarship holder is also covered by personal accident insurance. If the fellow chooses to participate in Portugal’s voluntary social-security system, the amount corresponding to the first contribution level may also be added according to the applicable rules.

How Will Candidates Be Ranked?

This competition gives unusually high weight to practical technical experience. The assessment is divided as follows:

30% — experience establishing experimental projects or forest sampling plots
30% — GIS and drone proficiency
20% — professional experience relevant to the project
10% — Portuguese and English proficiency
10% — teamwork and stakeholder-management skills

That tells applicants exactly where to concentrate their CV and motivation letter.

If you have conducted forest inventories, operated multispectral drones, created GIS layers or managed sampling plots, those experiences should be described with specific examples rather than buried inside a generic skills section.

An interview will only be used if there is a tie among the highest-ranked applicants.

What Documents Do You Need?

Applications must be submitted digitally through the Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra scholarship recruitment platform.

The required material includes:

• Application form
• Identification details
• Bachelor’s and Master’s certificates
• Proof of relevant enrolment
• Foreign-degree recognition where applicable
• CV
• Motivation letter

Recommendation or reference letters are optional, although candidates may include them together with referee contact details. All required documents must be submitted within the official application period.

Coimbra Forestry Research Scholarship Deadline

Applications for the Forestry research scholarship are open from 12 August to 25 August 2026, inclusive. The final deadline is therefore 25 August 2026 at 23:59 Lisbon time. Because this position requires evidence of several specific technical skills and, for some applicants, foreign-degree recognition, waiting until the final day could make an otherwise strong application unnecessarily risky.

Questions Applicants Are Likely to Ask

Can international candidates apply?
Yes. Nationality is not listed as a restriction, although foreign degrees may require formal recognition in Portugal.

Do I need a PhD?
No. You need a Master’s degree, but you must also be enrolled in a doctoral programme or an eligible non-degree research-training course.

Is Portuguese compulsory?
Yes. Good Portuguese and English proficiency are specifically required and form part of the evaluation.

Do I need drone experience?
The call explicitly asks for proven experience using multispectral drones, and GIS/drone competence accounts for 30% of the assessment.

Is a driving licence mandatory?
Yes. A valid driving licence is included among the specific requirements.

Is this mainly office-based research?
No. The project includes forest field trials across central and northern Portugal, together with GIS, data analysis and scientific reporting.

Not Sure Whether Your Forestry Background Is Strong Enough?

If you are unsure whether your Master’s subject, GIS experience, drone work, Portuguese level or foreign degree fits this scholarship, leave your question in the comments below the article. Mention your degree, fieldwork experience and the software or drone technologies you have used, and we can help you judge whether this Coimbra research position is realistically worth applying for.