Application for entering the Program is initially open to portuguese students only, who have 4-5 years undergraduate education in life, exact or computer sciences at a foreign or Portuguese University. Exclusive dedication to the Program will be required, including availability to relocate to Oeiras in the first year, as well as up to 3 years to work in a national and/or foreign research centers. The final requirement is a University registration as a PhD student; this registration can be made, namely in the case of candidates who are concluding their undergraduate studies, upon their preliminary admission to the program.

Candidate selection will proceed in two steps. Following a pre-selection based on the materials submitted, the final 12 students will be selected by personal interview. Final selection will be based on academic records but also, more particularly, on motivation, maturity and autonomy. Persons with an unusual track or profile are encouraged to apply.

The selected students will receive a postgraduate fellowship from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia for the 1st year of their studies in Oeiras, and will be granted access to fellowships for the remaining three years of their training.