Portugal has supported close to four thousand Mozambican students over the past 10 years through scholarship and training programs—including higher education, science, defense, and police sciences—according to data released Thursday by Portuguese Cooperation.
For the 2026/2027 academic year, 17 new Mozambican students are receiving scholarships to pursue higher education in Portugal, with eight entering undergraduate degree programs and nine enrolling in master’s degree programs at universities in Aveiro, Coimbra, Lisbon, Porto, and Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro.
The eight new undergraduate scholars, hailing from various Mozambican provinces, will depart for Portugal on Monday to attend courses in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), fields designated as strategic for training professionals capable of contributing to Mozambique’s sustainable and inclusive development.
Currently, Portuguese Cooperation supports 109 Mozambican students through scholarships, of whom 74 attend higher education institutions in Portugal, 25 study in higher education in Mozambique, and 10 attend secondary school at the Portuguese School of Mozambique – Center for Teaching and Portuguese Language.
The Ambassador of Portugal to Mozambique, Jorge Monteiro, described education and training as foundational pillars of bilateral cooperation between the two nations, maintaining that investing in youth qualifications represents one of the most effective ways to support Mozambique’s development.
“Without qualified human resources, all that potential remains on paper,” said Jorge Monteiro during a meeting with the eight new undergraduate scholars held today at the Gallery of the Camões – Portuguese Cultural Center in Maputo.
The diplomat further highlighted the importance of preparing Mozambican youth to meet national needs at a time when people under 30 represent more than two-thirds of the country’s population, emphasizing that investing in youth yields long-term development returns.
The Head of the Cooperation Department at the Scholarship Institute (Instituto de Bolsas de Estudo – IBE), Isabel Matola, stressed that gaining access to a scholarship represents both an opportunity and a responsibility, with beneficiaries duty-bound to maximize their education and subsequently place their acquired knowledge at the service of the nation.
“A scholarship is an opportunity, but it is also a responsibility,” stated Isabel Matola, calling on students to fulfill the obligations associated with the award and maintain dedication throughout their academic journey.
According to Portuguese Cooperation, surging demand for scholarships led Portugal and Mozambique to reinforce these opportunities, with candidate selection guided by academic merit, gender parity, and geographical balance to include youth from across the country’s diverse regions.
Portugal has granted approximately 2,700 scholarships to Mozambican students over the last 50 years, while 292 students were placed this year in Portuguese higher education institutions through the special access regime (regime especial de acesso), according to data released in September under the bilateral framework.
Among the new scholars is 17-year-old Marcos Valentim from Maputo Province, who will study Computer Science Engineering at the Instituto Superior Técnico in Lisbon.
The student told Lusa that he intends to acquire skills to apply in strategic areas such as technology, finance, and artificial intelligence. Solenia Catija Mondlane, 19, will study Medicine at the University of Coimbra, aiming to later pursue specialization in Neurosurgery and contribute to the growth of that medical discipline in Mozambique.
