CMU Portugal Program: Open call for up to 10 Dual Degree Ph.D. Scholarships

CMU Portugal Program - FCT; Portugal; Presencial; EUR 10 000 - 20 000; Tempo integral

Resumo da oferta

A prestigious scholarship program in Portugal offers up to ten Ph.D. scholarships for candidates in Language Technologies and Robotics. The selected candidates will study primarily at CMU and will have their scholarship renewed annually based on satisfactory progress. Applicants must hold a Licenciatura or Master’s degree. Applications open from October 1 to December 10, 2025, and interested candidates must visit the CMU admissions page for details.

Qualificações

• Candidates must hold a Licenciatura or Master’s degree, preferably in CMU Portugal research areas.
• Candidates must not have benefited from a Ph.D. scholarship funded by FCT.
• Candidates must not hold a doctoral degree.

Responsabilidades

• Candidates spend up to two years at Carnegie Mellon University and up to three years in Portugal.
• Candidates must submit applications directly through the CMU department.
• Candidates must submit required documents including CV, degree certificates, and letters of recommendation.

Formação académica

Licenciatura or Master’s degree

Descrição da oferta de emprego

Offer Description

The CMU Portugal Program (CMU Portugal) and Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) opens a call to award up to ten (10) Ph.D. scholarships (Bolsas de Investigação para Doutoramento, BD). FCT funding is subject to the respective higher authorization from the Portuguese Government. The Ph.D. will take place in Portugal and at Carnegie Mellon University, complying with the provisions of the RBI and the Research Fellowship Holder (EBI) under the scope of the CMU Portugal Dual Degree Ph.D. Programs in the following fields:

• Language Technologies (LTI)
• Robotics

Applications for Language Technologies and Robotics open on October 1, 2025 and close December 10, 2025 (03:00 p.m., EST).

Program Structure

The successful candidates of the CMU Portugal Dual Degree Ph.D. Programs spend up to two years at Carnegie Mellon University and up to three years at a university in Portugal. At the conclusion, the candidates are awarded two Ph.D. degrees, one by Carnegie Mellon University and the other by the partner university in Portugal. Details are available on the CMU Portugal website.

Under the Research and Education Collaboration Agreement signed between FCT and CMU, the scholarship will be financed by FCT in Portugal and by CMU while at CMU. Applicants may need to submit additional documentation to be awarded the FCT scholarship.

1. Admissions

Admissions are generally open from October 1 to December 16, 2025, 04:59 a.m. (WEST – Lisbon), with variations by Ph.D. program. Applications are submitted through the Ph.D. program admissions webpage of each CMU department. The FCT scholarship is granted only if the candidate is accepted by a CMU Ph.D. program and by a partner Portuguese University. False statements or acts of plagiarism will result in cancellation of the application and possible sanctions.

Applications submitted before deadlines may incur reduced fees. More information is available on the CMU Ph.D. program admissions page.

2. Scholarships Type and Duration

The scholarship type is Bolsa de Investigação (País) for Doctoral Students. Following the agreement, the Ph.D. funding has a duration of one year, renewable up to 5 years with satisfactory progress, with at most two years at CMU and up to three years at the partner university in Portugal. The scholarship cannot be awarded for a period shorter than 3 consecutive months. The estimated starting date is September 1, 2026.

3. Admissibility and Application Requirements

• National citizens or citizens from another EU member state
• Citizens of third States
• Stateless persons
• Citizens enjoying political refugee status

To apply for the Ph.D. scholarships, it is necessary:

• Hold a Licenciatura or Master’s degree, preferably in CMU Portugal research areas identified in the current announcement
• Not having benefited from a Ph.D. scholarship or Ph.D. in companies scholarship directly funded by FCT
• Not to hold a doctoral degree

Applications are submitted directly through the Ph.D. program admissions of each CMU department where applicants should indicate their interest in the CMU Portugal Dual Degree Ph.D. program.

To apply and know all required information for each Ph.D. program, please visit the CMU Portugal Program website at the Admissions and Scholarships page.

Research areas available for Ph.D. scholarships and supervisors are defined by the CMU Portugal Program. It is not mandatory to present a work plan or supervisor letter at the time of application. Attachments required include: CV, degree certificates, recognition of foreign degrees (where applicable), statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, and standardized test results as specified by each CMU department.

• CV
• Certificates of qualification of degrees held
• Recognition/recognition of foreign degrees and classification conversion
• Statement of purpose
• Letters of recommendation
• GRE (waived or optional depending on program)
• English proficiency test (mandatory)

The scholarship will be granted only if candidates are accepted by CMU and by a Portuguese Ph.D. program eligible under the CMU Portugal Dual Degree Ph.D. Programs agreement. More information about the Portuguese programs is available on the CMU Portugal Program website.

4. Evaluation Criteria

The evaluation considers merit, alignment with the CMU Portugal Program, GRE where required, and English language scores. Admissible applications are scored 0-5 in each criterion:

• Subcriterion A1 – Academic curriculum (25%) – main degrees and related academic activities; CV and certificates.
• Subcriterion A2 – Professional curriculum (15%) – professional experience and scientific activities; CV and recommendation letters.
• Subcriterion A3 – Statement of Purpose (25%) – description of skills and goals and fit with CMU Portugal Program.

Criterion C – Alignment with CMU Portugal Program main areas (15%).

Candidates are ranked by a weighted average of criteria A, B, and C, with tie-breakers in the order A, B, C. Foreign-degree candidates have specific evaluation notes. Candidates with a final score below 3.50 points will not be eligible for scholarship awarding; waitlist rules apply for those meeting minimum but not recommended.

5. Evaluation Process

The application and selection procedures follow CMU and CMU Portugal Program regulations. A committee will publish final evaluation reports with the scores and reasoning for each criterion. The composition and duties of the committee are described in the Addenda and on the CMU Portugal Program website.

6. Disclosure of Results

The list of candidates considered for scholarships will be published on the CMU Portugal webpage. All candidates will be notified by email of the evaluation results.

7. Deadlines and Procedures for Prior Hearing, Complaint and Appeal

After the preliminary results, candidates have 10 working days to express opinions. The final decision follows the hearing and any subsequent complaints or appeals within specified time limits.

8. Scholarship Awarding Requirements

Scholarship contracts are with FCT. Required documents include identification, degree certificates, recognition of foreign degrees, CVs, work plan, enrollment in the Doctoral Program, admission letter from CMU, and supervisory documentation. Compliance with rules and previous scholarship duties are checked. If documents are not delivered within 6 months of the conditional decision, the scholarship expires and the process terminates.

9. Funding

Funding is from FCT and, where eligible, the European Social Fund, through PDQI, according to regulations in place.

10. Scholarship Details

During the Ph.D., recipients receive a monthly maintenance allowance per RBI Annex I. The scholarship may include other components per RBI Article 18 and Annex II. All scholars have personal accident insurance. Those without social security may join the voluntary social insurance regime. Details on stipend, social security, and allowances are on the FCT website. Scholars are under exclusive dedication.

11. Scholarship Payment

Payments are by bank transfer; the monthly allowance is paid on the first business day of each month. Tuition components are paid directly to the institution where the fellow is enrolled.

12. Scholarship Renewal

Renewal depends on a submission by the fellow 60 working days prior to renewal, including documents such as supervisor assessments and proof of exclusive dedication.

13. Information and Publicity

All Research and development activities funded by the scholarship must acknowledge FCT and the European Fund, including logos where required. Open access guidelines apply to publications and data.

14. Non-Discrimination and Equal Access Policy

FCT promotes non-discrimination and equal access, prohibiting privilege or denial based on listed attributes.

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