“The decree-law that creates a salary premium to be awarded to young people who complete higher education and stay to work in Portugal was approved”, can be read in a statement from the Council of Ministers.

The State Budget for 2024 (OE2024), foresees that the value of tuition fees will not undergo any changes, but students will be able to benefit in another way, as long as they remain working in Portugal after finishing the course.

“With the dual objective of rewarding the continuation of higher studies and encouraging the most qualified young people to remain in the country, the Government will grant from 2024 onwards, an incentive for young people that have recently graduated in the amount corresponding to one year of tuition per each year of declared work in Portugal”, states the report that accompanied the OE2024 proposal.

With a budget of around €215 million, the measure will cover the 250,000 students who completed a bachelor’s degree, integrated master’s degree or degree in public and private higher education institutions this year.

Young people will be entitled to a refund of the amount equivalent to the tuition fee over a period equivalent to the number of years of the course, up to four years for graduates, up to six years in the case of integrated master’s degrees and two years for master’s degrees.

The only condition is that during that period they are working in Portugal.

“The maximum amount will be up to €697 for each year of work for integrated degrees and up to €1,500 for master’s degrees”, stated the report.