University of Évora Aquatic Ecology Research Scholarships: MSc Opportunities in Portugal

The University of Évora in Portugal has a strong research profile in aquatic and environmental sciences, and its research centres regularly advertise funded opportunities for researchers working on fish ecology, conservation and aquatic ecosystem management.

One such opportunity involved two MSc research scholarships in Aquatic Ecology under a project focused on the implementation and monitoring of a fish capture and translocation plan. The project was funded by Movhera – Hidroelétricas do Norte, S.A.

However, applicants searching for a 2027 University of Évora scholarship should pay close attention to the status of the specific announcement. The competition page supplied for this article refers to an earlier call rather than a confirmed 2027 intake. More recent University of Évora research announcements demonstrate that the university continues to offer aquatic-ecology-related research opportunities, including MSc research positions in 2025 and 2026.

Category	Details
Host institution	University of Évora
Country	Portugal
Research area	Aquatic Ecology
Level	MSc Research
Number of positions	2
Research focus	Fish capture, translocation and monitoring
Project funder	Movhera – Hidroelétricas do Norte, S.A.
Original application period	26 July–9 August 2024
2027 status	No confirmed 2027 call in the supplied announcement

The University of Évora’s research portal identifies the opportunity as two scholarships for MSc researchers connected to the project “Implementação e monitorização do plano de captura e translocação de exemplares piscícolas.” The stated scientific area is Aquatic Ecology.

What Was the Research Project About?

The research was centred on the capture and translocation of fish specimens, together with monitoring activities designed to support aquatic ecosystem management.

An earlier official competition notice for the same Movhera-funded project provides useful insight into the type of expertise sought. The research involved freshwater fish sampling, ecological monitoring and the use of technologies including radio telemetry, acoustic telemetry and PIT tags to monitor fish behaviour.

The work could therefore be particularly relevant to researchers with interests in:

Aquatic ecology
Freshwater ecology
Fish biology
Fisheries science
Conservation biology
Biodiversity conservation
River ecosystem management
Fish migration
Environmental monitoring
Aquatic ecosystem restoration

Who Can Apply for Similar Aquatic Ecology Research Positions?

The precise eligibility requirements depend on the individual research call. However, previous official University of Évora announcements in this research area have sought candidates with backgrounds in Biology or related disciplines, together with master’s-level training in areas such as conservation biology or natural-resource management.

Previous calls have also valued practical experience in aquatic fieldwork, fish sampling and identification, and ecological monitoring.

For example, a 2026 University of Évora MSc research call in Aquatic Ecology requested experience with migratory fish, freshwater sampling, electrofishing, traps and fish-monitoring technologies.

This demonstrates an important point for prospective applicants: academic qualifications alone may not be sufficient for highly specialised research positions. Relevant field and research experience can be an important part of the selection process.

What Could Researchers Work On?

Previous University of Évora aquatic-ecology research calls have included activities such as:

Sampling fish populations in freshwater environments
Monitoring fish behaviour and migration
Conducting ecological field surveys
Collecting and processing research data
Supporting environmental monitoring
Working with telemetry technologies
Preparing technical reports
Contributing to scientific publications

A recent 2025 University of Évora call, for example, involved fish-fauna sampling, assessment of fish behaviour in river systems and preparation of scientific articles.

Is This a Fully Funded Scholarship?

Applicants should be careful with the phrase “fully funded.”

The University of Évora source confirms that the positions were research scholarships funded through the Movhera project, but the supplied announcement does not establish that the scholarship covered all international student expenses such as tuition, accommodation, flights and living costs.

Therefore, prospective applicants should not assume that this particular research scholarship was equivalent to a conventional fully funded master’s degree scholarship.

The exact financial conditions should always be checked in the official competition notice for the relevant year.

Was the 2024 Opportunity Open for 2027?

No.

The specific announcement supplied for this article lists the competition period as 26 July 2024 to 9 August 2024. It should therefore not be described as an application currently open for 2027.

That distinction is important for scholarship applicants because research grants are frequently tied to individual projects and can have short application windows.

The good news is that the University of Évora continues to publish research opportunities in aquatic ecology. In 2025, the university advertised two MSc research vacancies in Aquatic Ecology, while another MSc research opportunity was announced in 2026 under the DiadSEA project.

How to Find Future University of Évora Research Scholarships

Students and researchers interested in future 2027 opportunities should regularly check the university’s official Research Opportunities and research-centre vacancy pages.

Applicants should particularly monitor positions related to:

Aquatic Ecology
Marine and Environmental Sciences
Biology
Conservation Biology
Fisheries
Biodiversity
River ecology
Environmental sciences

The University of Évora also participates in broader doctoral research funding initiatives. For example, the university advertised 20 FCT PhD research scholarships under the EU GREEN Alliance in 2026, showing that funded research opportunities extend beyond individual aquatic-ecology projects.

University of Évora – Research Opportunities

Documents Applicants Should Prepare

For future research scholarship competitions, prospective applicants should keep an updated application package containing:

Academic CV
Degree certificates
Academic transcripts
Research experience documentation
Relevant publications, where applicable
Evidence of fieldwork experience
Professional or academic references
Proof of language proficiency where required
Research statement or motivation letter, if requested

The exact documents vary according to each competition, so applicants should always follow the official call rather than relying on requirements from an older vacancy.

Why University of Évora Is Worth Watching

The University of Évora has an established research environment covering biological sciences, biodiversity, conservation and aquatic and marine biology. Its current Biology doctoral programme, for example, includes Aquatic and Marine Biology among its research areas.

The university is also involved in current aquatic research. One ongoing project focuses on optimizing ecological flows in hydroelectric dams to promote ecosystem services associated with fish fauna and runs through 2026.

For students planning a research career in aquatic ecology, fisheries, conservation or environmental science, these activities make the institution worth monitoring for future funded research vacancies.

Final Takeaway

The University of Évora Aquatic Ecology Scholarship is an example of the type of project-based research funding available to MSc researchers in Portugal. The specific Movhera-funded competition advertised two MSc research scholarships focused on fish capture, translocation and aquatic monitoring.

However, the particular announcement dates from 2024, so it should not be presented as a confirmed 2027 scholarship opening. Applicants interested in the 2027 intake should monitor the University of Évora’s current research vacancy pages for new calls.

The university’s more recent aquatic-ecology research announcements demonstrate that opportunities in this field continue to emerge, making early preparation particularly useful for prospective researchers.

Official source: University of Évora

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