Computer Science & Electrical Engineering Scholarships 2027 at Instituto de Telecomunicações
Can Master’s Graduates Get a €1,359/Month IoT and Blockchain Research Scholarship in Portugal?
If your background is in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering or a related field and you want research experience in IoT, distributed ledger technology and wireless systems, I would seriously consider this Instituto de Telecomunicações scholarship in Portugal.
The position is part of the SOVEREIGN project, funded through the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions under Horizon Europe, and offers €1,359.64 per month for an initial 12 months, with possible renewal.
Portugal SOVEREIGN Research Scholarship: Quick Facts
| Opportunity Details | Details |
|---|---|
| Institution | Instituto de Telecomunicações |
| Country | Portugal |
| Location | University of Aveiro |
| Project | SOVEREIGN |
| Field | Computer Science / Wireless Communications / IoT |
| Minimum Qualification | Master’s degree or equivalent |
| Monthly Scholarship | €1,359.64 |
| Initial Duration | 12 months |
| Maximum Possible Duration | Up to 4 years under this scholarship type |
| Workload | 35 hours/week |
| Funding | Horizon Europe – MSCA |
| Deadline | 31 August 2026 |
Who Should Apply?
You need a Master’s degree in Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Computer Science or another relevant discipline.
There is also an important enrolment condition.
This research-grant category is aimed either at students enrolled in a doctoral programme or Master’s graduates enrolled in an eligible non-degree higher-education course connected with research.
You can initially submit a declaration stating your intention to enroll, but proof of enrolment must be provided before the scholarship contract is signed.
Foreign degree holders should also prepare for Portuguese degree recognition, because qualifications obtained abroad must be recognized by a Portuguese higher-education institution.
What Will You Actually Research?
This is a fairly technical cybersecurity and IoT project.
Your task will be to help design a lightweight credential gateway that allows constrained Internet-of-Things devices to use credentials backed by distributed ledger technology without forcing small devices to handle all the computational and communication load themselves.
The work is expected to produce:
- A lightweight DLT-backed credential gateway architecture
- a working prototype using existing SSI and DLT technologies
- The scalable experimental environment
- Performance evidence covering latency, throughput, resource use, scalability and robustness
So this scholarship is best suited to applicants who enjoy building and experimentally evaluating systems, not purely theoretical computer science.
Which Technical Skills Matter Most?
The project specifically values programming knowledge in C and MATLAB, together with experience using Amazon Cloud. Relevant industry experience receives priority.
If I were preparing the application, I would make any experience with IoT systems, cloud platforms, cybersecurity, wireless networks, blockchain/DLT, distributed systems or experimental performance testing very easy to spot on the first page of the CV.
Do You Need IELTS?
The scholarship requires excellent spoken and written English, but it does not specify a minimum IELTS, TOEFL, PTE or other language-test score. English fluency is also part of the application assessment, so applicants should expect their ability to communicate technical research clearly to matter during selection.
I would not take IELTS solely for this vacancy unless Instituto de Telecomunicações later asks you to provide formal proof.
How Will Candidates Be Selected?
Selection is based 100% on curricular evaluation. The committee will examine: your overall CV, relevant project knowledge, suitability and motivation, and English-language fluency.
That makes your motivation letter especially important even though there is no separate interview score listed. Your letter should explain why your technical background matches this specific IoT-security problem rather than simply saying you want European research experience.
How Do You Apply?
Applications must be submitted through the Instituto de Telecomunicações online application system.
You will need:
- Motivation letter
- Detailed CV with transcripts
- Degree certificate, where applicable
- Proof of enrolment or declaration of intention to enrol
One detail is easy to miss: applications sent by email will not be accepted.
Application Deadline
The last date to apply for the SOVEREIGN Research Scholarship at Instituto de Telecomunicações is 31 August 2026 at 23:59 Lisbon time.
If your Master’s background combines programming, networking, IoT or cloud technologies, I would focus the application on concrete evidence of what you have already built or tested. For this project, practical systems experience is likely to speak much louder than a generic interest in blockchain.