FCT PhD Studentship

The Universidade Católica Portuguesa announces a fully funded PhD studentship in Linguistics, supported by the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) and the European Social Fund. This opportunity is part of the Transform4Europe alliance and hosted at the Centre for Philosophical and Humanistic Studies (CEFH), Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences, in Braga, Portugal. The studentship is designed for research activities leading to a PhD degree, with the possibility of collaboration between Portuguese and international institutions, including Universidad de Alicante.

The research focus is on the ontological foundations of human nature, specifically within the sub-topic of language, cognition, and linguistic variation and change. The successful candidate will be supervised by academic staff from both Universidade Católica Portuguesa and Universidad de Alicante, ensuring a multidisciplinary and international research environment. The studentship is awarded for up to four years (48 months), with annual renewals, and may include periods of research abroad (up to 24 months).

Applicants must hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in Linguistics or related fields and must not have previously received an FCT-funded PhD studentship or already hold a doctoral degree. The call is open to Portuguese, EU, and international candidates, including stateless individuals and political refugees. If the research plan includes time abroad, candidates must reside in Portugal at the start. Foreign academic degrees must be recognized and converted to the Portuguese grading scale; guidance is available via the Directorate-General for Higher Education (DGES).

Required application documents include identification, CV, degree certificates or sworn statement, proof of recognition/conversion for foreign degrees, a motivation letter, and a research proposal (maximum 4000 words). Applications must be submitted in Portuguese or English. The evaluation process considers academic merit, relevant experience, motivation, and interview performance, with a bonus for peer-reviewed publications related to the research theme.

The studentship provides a monthly maintenance allowance (as per FCT regulations), covers tuition, registration, and enrollment fees, includes personal accident insurance, and social security contributions if not already enrolled. Payments are made directly to the fellow and the institution. The renewal process requires supervisor and host entity opinions, proof of exclusive dedication, and renewed enrollment.

Applications are accepted from 15 May to 31 May 2026. Submit your application and all supporting documents by email to [email protected]. Only one application per candidate is allowed. The results will be communicated via email, and candidates have the right to appeal or dispute the provisional ranking. The position promotes equal access and non-discrimination, and all research outputs must acknowledge FCT and ESF funding.

For further information, contact CEFH at [email protected] or CADOS at [email protected]. More details and the full call are available at Euraxess and Braga UCP.