Coimbra Group Scholarship Programme confirms strong global appeal in 2026
26 June 2026
The 2026 edition of the Coimbra Group Scholarship Programme has once again demonstrated the programme’s continued relevance and international attractiveness. This year, 720 early-career researchers and professors from Africa, Latin America and the European Neighbourhood applied for a short-term research stay at one of the participating Coimbra Group universities, representing a 64% increase in applications compared to the previous edition. Meanwhile, Coimbra Group member universities made available 74 research scholarships, reaffirming their long-standing commitment to fostering international academic cooperation and supporting emerging research talent.
The strongest growth was recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America, with both regional programmes attracting more than 330 applications each. Applications from Sub-Saharan Africa increased by 72%, while Latin America experienced an even stronger rebound of 88% compared to 2025. Together, these figures underline the programme’s growing visibility and continued importance for researchers seeking to strengthen international collaboration and expand their academic networks.
The European Neighbourhood programme continued to provide valuable opportunities for researchers from neighbouring countries, although the number of applications declined compared to the previous year. According to the preliminary analysis, the programme remains structurally stable but is likely facing increased competition from other mobility schemes available in the region.
Since its creation in 1999, the Coimbra Group Scholarship Programme has enabled thousands of early-career academics from outside the European Union to undertake research stays of one to three months at Coimbra Group universities. Beyond supporting individual researchers, the initiative strengthens institutional links, promotes internationalisation, and contributes to long-term scientific cooperation between Europe and partner regions.
The 2026 results once again highlight the programme’s enduring value and the commitment of Coimbra Group member universities to fostering academic excellence and global research partnerships.