The University of the Azores is offering five fully funded PhD fellowships for researchers wishing to pursue doctoral work at the intersection of humanities, social sciences, and the unique challenges of island and coastal communities.
The fellowships are made possible through a collaboration protocol signed in 2025 between the University of the Azores and Portugal's Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), within the framework of EUNICoast. They represent a concrete step in the alliance's commitment to building shared research capacity across its member institutions.
What the fellowships cover
Selected candidates will be enrolled in one of four doctoral programmes at the University of the Azores: Insular and Atlantic History, Atlantic Islands; History, Heritage and Legal-Institutional Framework; Insular Literatures and Cultures; or Political Theory, International Relations and Human Rights.
Research projects must contribute to at least one of two EUNICoast thematic areas:
- identities, local knowledge and cultural heritage in islands and coastal communities (Hub 1),
- governance, planning, management and monitoring of islands and coastal communities (Hub 3).
The majority of research time takes place at the University of the Azores, with a period of up to 24 months at another EUNICoast partner institution. Co-supervision from a partner university outside Portugal is mandatory, making these genuinely transnational doctoral experiences.
Fellowships run for up to four years, funded by FCT, with a monthly maintenance allowance and personal accident insurance included.
Who can apply
The competition is open to candidates of any nationality holding a bachelor's or master's degree in a relevant field and not yet in possession of a PhD. Applications must be submitted online via the University of the Azores Services Portal (servicosonline.uac.pt), under the "Candidaturas/Applications" tab, between 6 April and 11 May 2026.
As a mandatory co-supervisor from an EUNICoast partner institution must be included in the application, candidates are encouraged to contact their institution's research or international relations office early in the process.
These five fellowships are an opportunity to carry out doctoral research grounded in the realities of coastal and island Europe, within a network of 12 universities across 11 countries. Interested candidates are encouraged to contact their institution's research office or international relations team for guidance on how to apply.
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