The CMU Portugal online Info Session “How to apply to a CMU Portugal Affiliated Ph.D. Program Scholarship” was held online on April 21st, gathering potential candidates willing to know more about the available 2026 scholarships.
The event gathered potential candidates interested in learning more about the 12 scholarships currently available for the 2026/2027 academic year. These scholarships support cutting-edge research in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) within the scope of the CMU Portugal Program.
The Session was moderated by Mariana Carmo, CMU Portugal’s Communications and Events Manager , who began by introducing CMU Portugal National Co-Director Inês Lynce for the opening remarks.
João Fumega, CMU Portugal’s Education Officer, provided an overview of the program and detailed the main requirements and application guidelines. Megan Berty, CMU Portugal’s Associate Director at CMU, then discussed the research period at CMU, highlighting the support offered by the Pittsburgh coordination office.
The session also featured first-hand insights from Tamás Karácsony, an Affiliated Ph.D. student in the area of Electrical and Computer Engineering at FEUP and researcher at INESC TEC. Tamás who joined the program in the 2021/2022 academic year shared his experience from the initial application process to his research period at CMU in the 2023/2024 academic year.
Tamás’ primary advice was simple: candidates should start the transfer process as early as possible. Some steps – particularly visa applications and finding housing – often take longer than expected, and starting mid‑academic year can make the transfer process even more challenging.
As a reflection on his research period at CMU, he shared that the true value of the experience comes from getting involved with the CMU faculty, connecting with other students, and collaborating across labs or departments. He emphasized that networking is one of the biggest advantages of the whole experience and that the combination of CMU’s immersive research environment and having the co‑supervision of a CMU faculty is what makes the visit more impactful.
The session concluded with a 20-minute Q&A, which provided all participants with the opportunity to clarify their doubts directly with the panelists.
Under this Call, selected candidates will be hosted at a Portuguese University and benefit from a research period of up to 12 months at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.
Applications are open until May 12th.
For further questions, you can visit our website under the Affiliated Ph.D. Program page, check our FAQ Page or contact us at apply@cmuportugal.org.