Call for Applications 12 Ph.D. Dual Degree scholarships 2021-2022, Portugal

he Carnegie Mellon Portugal Program (CMU Portugal) and Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT), have an open call for up to 12 Ph.D. Dual Degree scholarships for the 2021/2022 academic year.

The dual degree Ph.D. programs have a typical duration of 5 years, in order for the student to
meet the requirements of both universities involved, thus spending three years in Portugal and
two years in the United States of America (More details below).

The applications are currently open and must be submitted online directly at CMU. Specific application deadlines for each Ph.D. program, are the following:

• December 10, 2020 (11:59 a.m., EST) for Computer Science, Human-Computer-Interaction, Language Technologies, Robotics, and Software Engineering
• December 15,2020 (11:59 a.m., EST) for Engineering and Public Policy
• December 31, 2020 (11:59 a.m., EST) for Electrical and Computer Engineering.

The Dual Degree Ph.Ds. fellowships allow students to spend three years in Portugal and two years in Pittsburgh, integrated as regular students of Carnegie Mellon University. Upon completion of the Ph.D., the student is granted two diplomas, one from his selected Portuguese university and one from CMU.

In addition to the two diplomas, the integration in the CMU scientific community also stands out as one of the most relevant features for Ph.D. students. Being a CMU student allows them to be part of the ecosystem of one of the most prestigious Universities in ICT and opens up a number of future opportunities within international research networks in a global market.

Since the start of the CMU Portugal Program, in 2006, 125  have been selected and 81 have already completed their Ph.D. Our alumni network is also a proof of the Program’s success with several students in leading positions most relevant companies in the world such as Facebook, Google, IBM, JPMorgan Chase & Co., but also in universities international reference such as CMU itself, but also Princeton, University of California, University of Chicago, and several universities in Portugal. Several alumni of the program ended up being at the origin as founders or collaborators of some Portuguese companies that are currently a reference in the area of ​​ICT such as Unbabel and Feedzai.

Dual Degree Ph.D. Programs

Applications submitted will be considered for both admission in one of the Ph.D. Programs and also for a CMU Portugal Scholarship. 

The CMU Portugal Program has a decentralized applications process for admission in which each Ph.D. program manages its own application process. Applications are submitted directly to CMU. To apply, follow the next steps:

• Determine which dual degree Ph.D. Program you are interested;
• Select the Ph.D. Program you are interested in in the table below and you will be directed towards that Ph.D.´s applications page in the CMU website.

While staying in Portugal, the accepted candidate will receive the fellowship directly from FCT. While pursuing their studies at Carnegie Mellon, the Ph. D. students will receive the FCT funding through the home department of the doctoral program in which they are enrolled. All the admission requirements and deadlines are available below in “terms of the call”. 

Program	Type of Application	Dates of the call	Terms of the call
Computer Science	Admission and Scholarship	December 10, 2020 (11:59 a.m. EST)	2021/2022 Call Terms Guidelines
Robotics	Admission and Scholarship	December 10, 2020 (11:59 a.m. EST)	2021/2022 Call Terms Guidelines
Software Engineering	Admission and Scholarship	December 10, 2020 (11:59 a.m. EST)	2021/2022 Call Terms Guidelines
Language Technologies	Admission and Scholarship	December 10, 2020 (11:59 a.m. EST)	2021/2022 Call Terms Guidelines
Human-Computer Interaction	Admission and Scholarship	December 10, 2020 (11:59 a.m. EST)	2021/2022 Call Terms Guidelines
Engineering and Public Policy	Admission and Scholarship	December 15, 2020 (11:59 a.m. EST)	2021/2022 Call Terms Guidelines
Electrical and Computer Engineering	Admission and Scholarship	December 31, 2020 (11:59 a.m. EST)	2021/2022 Call Terms Guidelines

Scholarships Support and Duration

The dual degree Ph.D. programs have a typical duration of 5 years, in order for the student to
meet the requirements of both universities involved, thus spending three years in Portugal and
two years in the United States of America. Typically, students start the coursework in a
Portuguese university – currently there are six Portuguese universities involved (Aveiro,
Coimbra, Lisboa, Minho, Nova de Lisboa, and Porto) – then spend a period of time at CMU, in
Pittsburgh, in the United States of America, and finally return to Portugal to complete the Ph.D.

The Ph.D. students enrolled in the dual degree Ph.D. program will receive financial support in a
form of a Carnegie Mellon Portugal Program Fellowship that will cover tuition fees paid directly
to the institution and a monthly stipend. While staying in Portugal, the accepted candidate will
receive the fellowship directly from FCT. While pursuing their studies at Carnegie Mellon, the
Ph.D. students will receive the FCT funding through the home department of the doctoral
program in which they are enrolled.

Once the candidate accepts the admission offer, instructions on the steps to be followed will be
provided. Awarded scholarships shall start on the beginning of the 2021/2022 academic year.

Source / More information: Official Website.