Fully Funded Veterinary Scholarship 2027 Entry at University of Lisbon Open
If your background is in Veterinary Medicine, Biology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry or a closely related field, I would put this University of Lisbon research grant on your shortlist—especially if you want hands-on laboratory experience before moving into a PhD or postdoctoral career.
The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Lisbon is recruiting one research scholarship holder for a project studying how cattle develop strong, long-lasting antibody responses. The selected researcher will receive €1,359.64 per month for an initial 10-month period, with possible renewal up to 12 months.
What makes this call particularly useful is its unusually broad academic entry point: Bachelor’s graduates, Master’s graduates and current PhD students can all potentially qualify.
University of Lisbon Veterinary Research Scholarship: Quick Facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Institution | Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon |
| Country | Portugal |
| Positions | 1 |
| Research Area | Veterinary Sciences, Biology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry |
| Eligible Level | Bachelor’s, Master’s or current PhD student |
| Monthly Scholarship | €1,359.64 |
| Initial Duration | 10 months |
| Maximum Duration | Up to 12 months |
| Workload | Full-time, 35 hours/week |
| Workplace | CIISA, University of Lisbon |
| Selection | CV + motivation + relevant experience + possible interview |
| Deadline | 7 September 2026, 11:59 PM Lisbon time |
Who Should Apply?
You can apply if you hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Veterinary Medicine, Biology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry or a related field, or if you are currently enrolled in a PhD in one of these areas.
There is an important technical condition for Bachelor’s and Master’s graduates: you must be enrolled in a non-degree course. You may initially submit a sworn declaration stating that you will enrol, but formal proof will be required when the scholarship contract is signed.
Current PhD students instead need to provide proof of PhD enrolment.
For foreign graduates, I would deal with degree recognition early. Academic degrees earned outside Portugal must eventually be formally recognised, and foreign candidates who do not provide conversion of their final grade to the Portuguese scale can be assessed using the minimum grade.
What Will You Actually Be Doing?
This is not a desk-based scholarship.
The project, “Deciphering the cellular mechanisms underlying high-affinity long-lasting antibody responses in cattle,” investigates immune cells involved in producing durable antibody responses—knowledge that could ultimately support better vaccine strategies.
You may work with:
- cattle and mouse immunisation
- biological sample collection
- single-cell RNA sequencing
- flow cytometry and microscopy
- ELISA assays
- antigen expression and purification
- bovine T- and B-cell co-culture experiments
The successful researcher is also expected to contribute to conference presentations and scientific papers.
For someone planning a future PhD in immunology, veterinary science, molecular biology or vaccine research, that practical experience could be more valuable than the stipend alone.
How Competitive Is the Selection?
The selection system tells you exactly where to spend your effort.
60% of the assessment comes from your CV, including 30% for academic background, 10% for scientific publications and 20% for laboratory experience related to the project.
Your motivation letter contributes 10%, other relevant experience such as conferences contributes another 10%, and the interview is worth 20%.
Only the three highest-ranked applicants after the initial assessment are expected to reach the interview stage.
Candidates scoring below 9.5 out of 20 are excluded.
My advice: if you have relevant laboratory work involving immunology, molecular biology, flow cytometry, sequencing or cell culture, make it impossible for the selection committee to miss it in your CV.
Do You Need IELTS?
The call requires excellent English and excellent Portuguese, but it does not publish a minimum IELTS, TOEFL or other English-test score.
So I would not invent a language-test requirement that the scholarship itself does not state. Applicants should instead be prepared to demonstrate the required language ability through the documentation or assessment process requested by the Faculty.
The Portuguese requirement is particularly important here because this is a laboratory-based position in Lisbon rather than a purely international English-only programme.
How Do You Apply?
Applications must be sent by email to: [email protected]
Use the subject/reference: BI_001_LMED_2024.17538.PEX
Your application should include the completed application form, motivation letter, signed and dated CV, academic certificates with final grades, relevant degree-recognition documentation for foreign qualifications, proof or declaration of enrolment, and any required professional-status declaration.
Recommendation letters are optional.
Application Deadline
The last date to apply for this University of Lisbon research scholarship is 7 September 2026 at 11:59 PM Lisbon time.
I would not leave this application to the final evening. Foreign applicants in particular should start with degree-recognition documents and enrolment requirements, because those are far more likely to delay an otherwise strong application than writing the motivation letter itself.
If your academic background matches the project and you already have relevant laboratory experience, this is a very practical route into European veterinary immunology and vaccine research—with €1,359.64 per month while you build that research profile.