• Jan 05, 2024
• Kawaljeet Kaur

Portugal Announces to Reward Undergraduates and Graduates with Salary Bonuses

The government of Portugal has announced a salary bonus for students after completing their bachelor's and master's degrees from Portuguese universities. This decision applies to both domestic and international students that aim to enhance their qualifications. The bonus duration mirrors the respective study cycles that will provide tangible support to the recent graduates. 

Students who will complete their academic degrees before 2023 can also take advantage of this incentive. The ordinance, outlined by Prime Minister Antonio Costa in September which was published on December 28, delineates the rules governing the salary bonuses of graduates. 

All taxpayers living in Portugal under the age of 35 who have earned a bachelor's or master's degree from a national higher education institution are covered by the premium. This applies to both public and private educational institutes and the clause also covers degrees earned elsewhere as long as they are accepted in Portugal.

The Portuguese government emphasizes that this support is exclusively dedicated to those belonging to Category A (dependent work) and Category B (self-employed workers). It ensures a targeted approach with social security statuses and regulated taxes. 

Eligible candidates will receive an annual salary bonus of €697 (INR 63,343) per year in their undergraduate program and €1,500 (INR 1,36,317) per year in their postgraduate program. This incentive is not limited to recent graduates, students who have completed their degrees before 2023 can also claim the salary bonus. 

This move by the Portugal government is significant to attract more international students to study in Portugal. Recent statistics by the Directorate-General for Education and Science reveal that approximately 446,028 international students have enrolled in universities in Portugal for the 2022/23 academic year, showing a three percent increase from the previous years. 

This move has made it easy for international students to help students financially and explore different job opportunities in the country. If you want to make your career in Portugal, start your journey with Career Clinic and get updated with all study abroad news.