CAPES PDAI scholarships accept applications from eligible Indigenous Brazilian graduate candidates until October 26, 2026 at 23:59 BrasÃlia time. CAPES extended the original deadline. The program supports master’s and doctoral study, with scholarship implementation planned from the first semester of 2027.
Official sources checked: October 3, 2026. Independent guide by Excelsior Scholarships; applications go to the official sponsor.
What changed in the PDAI calendar?
The official deadline extension replaces the earlier October 1 date. If you saved an older notice, update your calendar and read the amendment alongside it. Applications must use CAPES’ electronic system; this independent guide does not receive applications or documents.
| Level | Monthly award | Maximum duration |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s | R$2,100 | 24 months |
| Doctorate | R$3,100 | 48 months |
The CAPES PDAI program page lists 200 master’s and 100 doctoral awards. These are program allocations, rather than a promise that every eligible applicant will receive funding. Selection and course placement still apply.
Check Indigenous and academic eligibility
The official selection notice requires Brazilian nationality, residence in Brazil, Indigenous self-identification and recognition by the applicant’s community. It specifies community and self-declaration documents, a recognized undergraduate qualification, an updated Lattes curriculum and other academic and funding conditions.
Read the requirements as a checklist, rather than treating one document as proof of every condition. Your community declaration addresses belonging; your academic records address education; your research project addresses the proposed work. If a form is unclear, ask CAPES or a participating graduate program about the specific item before submitting.
Choose a participating graduate program
Begin with the official list of participating postgraduate programs. Compare the degree level, research lines and practical location of each option. A program’s availability in the PDAI process does not mean every research topic has an appropriate supervisor. Read faculty profiles and look for a clear match between your question and the program’s work.
Then consider the support you will need to complete the degree. Useful questions concern supervision, access to research materials, community engagement, housing and the academic calendar. Record the answers next to each course choice so you can compare them using the same criteria.
Prepare the research and community documents
A strong preparation file connects your proposed research to a concrete problem. Explain what you want to investigate, why it matters, how you will approach it and what a realistic result could look like. Keep the scale compatible with the degree’s duration. A focused question is easier to discuss with a supervisor than a promise to solve several unrelated problems.
Give community documentation enough time. Use the sponsor’s models and confirm that the right people have signed the required declaration. Keep a legible copy for your records. Academic certificates and transcripts should also be complete and readable, including all pages the application asks for.
- Read the current notice and the October deadline amendment.
- Confirm eligibility and compare participating graduate programs.
- Prepare identity, residence, academic and Indigenous declarations.
- Review the research project and required application materials.
- Submit in the official system and save the confirmation.
Plan for selection and study costs
Submitting an application is the beginning of selection. Check for document-review results and any appeal period, then follow the participating programs’ subsequent stages. Use the amended calendar as your reference because old screenshots and earlier summaries can retain dates that have changed.
For finances, compare the monthly award with housing, meals and transport in the program’s city. Ask when funding is expected to start and what enrollment documents are needed for implementation. For related preparation, see our application checklist, Brazilian student funding guide and study in Brazil guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the new PDAI deadline?
October 26, 2026 at 23:59 BrasÃlia time, according to CAPES’ extension notice.
Is PDAI for undergraduate study?
This verified call supports master’s and doctoral study. It is not an undergraduate tuition award.
Is self-identification the only document required?
No. The call also requires community recognition and its specified supporting documents, alongside academic and application materials.
Does applying guarantee a scholarship?
No. Eligible applications go through document review and participating graduate programs’ selection stages.