Forty-three students from the National University of Timor-Lorosa’e (UNTL) have been offered scholarships to study in Portugal. 
UNTL Rector, Aurelio Guterres says the study abroad scholarship program was held every year through cooperation between UNTL and the European Union.
Rector Guterres said the students would be encouraged to develop their Portuguese language skills while on exchange.
This scholarship program began in 2012.
“Every year we estimate 40 scholars undertake their studies (through this program) in Portugal and Fiji,” he said.
He says this scholarship was offered not only to UNTL students but students from private universities were also encouraged to apply.
Successful applicants are obliged to attend methodology courses and learn to write academic articles.
Tertiary Education deputy minister, Marcal Avelino said Brazil and the Camoes Institute provided basic Portuguese language training for UNTL lecturers and students.
He said lecturers and students from the Dili Institute of Technology (DIT) had undertaken basic Portuguese language courses and would likely continue to the intermediate level.
Avelino said the department’s target was for all theses to be written in Portuguese.
