Deadline: 30 December 2027 (or until the maximum number of students selected has been reached)

Expressions of interest are currently being accepted for a research period at the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley), aimed at doctoral students enrolled in Portuguese higher education institutions, regardless of their nationality and scientific field. This initiative seeks to promote the internationalization of Portuguese science by fostering research exchanges and collaborations between Portuguese universities and UC Berkeley in areas of mutual scientific interest, supporting research stays of up to 6 months at UC Berkeley.

Each year, up to eight students will be selected for research stays of up to six months at UC Berkeley. Applicants must first identify a faculty member at that university who agrees to supervise their work. The last evaluation period occurred in 31 March 2026, and the next will began in 30 June 2026.

Eligibility

Open to PhD students enrolled in Portuguese higher education institutions, in any scientific field.

Funding

The CPS – Center for Portuguese Studies will be the host institution for selected candidates and will be responsible for the administrative procedures for acquiring Visiting Student Researcher status , namely through the payment of the following costs:

• VSPA (University Services Fee)
• Visa (DS-2019 – visa – Processing Fee)
• Administrative fees for the Institute of European Studies at UC Berkeley

For scholarship holders from the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), the additional support provided for in the regulations applies, including a monthly maintenance allowance abroad (if the host institution abroad is UC Berkeley), a supplementary training allowance, a single travel allowance, and a single installation allowance.

How to apply

Before submitting the application, candidates must identify and obtain agreement from a UC Berkeley faculty member who will act as supervisor during the stay.

Applications must be submitted in English by completing the designated electronic form and accompanied by the following documents:

• Short CV (in English; maximum two pages);
• Motivation letter (in English): candidates should indicate their planned arrival date, considering that the earliest possible arrival is six months after selection for this program;

• Proof of acceptance from UC Berkeley (in English);
• Proof of enrollment in a PhD program.

Additional information can be found here.