Scholarship letter or Own funds at your home bank: Which Is Better in Portugal? (2026)
The short answer
A scholarship letter that states amount and duration beats cash evidence on every axis for a student. Own funds remain necessary for any gap the award does not cover, and for every non-study route.
Row by row
Fees verified August 2026 against each provider's published data
| Criterion | Scholarship letter | Own funds at your home bank |
|---|---|---|
| Statutory standing | Full exemption from means proof for scholarship holdersWins | |
| Cash required | EUR 0 on full awardWins | EUR 11,040 shown |
| Route coverage | Works on every route; scholarship only study/researchWins | |
| Document burden | One letterWins | 3-6 months of stamped statements |
| Failure mode | Vague letterWins | unstamped statements; both curable, scholarship risk smaller |
So which one
Pick Scholarship letter if
- You hold a named award covering most or all of the monthly threshold.
Pick Own funds at your home bank if
- You are self-funded or your award covers only part of the costs.
Other comparisons
6 more pairsHow we compared these two
The criteria are fixed
Every comparison on this site uses the same 5 rows in the same order, so two pages can be read against each other. We do not add a row because one side happens to win it.
A win is a stated threshold
A row is won on the published number or capability, not on judgement. Ties are declared rather than broken. Figures come from provider price lists and official sources.
How we get paid
Both links earn a commission at the same rate, so the winner of a row is never the higher-paying one. Fees come from each provider's own published price list, not a comparison feed.
Sources: provider price lists and official data, accessed August 2026. Next review: November 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Scholarship letter or Own funds at your home bank?
A scholarship letter that states amount and duration beats cash evidence on every axis for a student. Own funds remain necessary for any gap the award does not cover, and for every non-study route.
When should I pick Scholarship letter?
You hold a named award covering most or all of the monthly threshold.
When should I pick Own funds at your home bank?
You are self-funded or your award covers only part of the costs.