FAPESP BEPE scholarships now use rules effective September 1, 2026, with continuous applications restricted to current FAPESP direct-doctorate, doctorate and postdoctoral fellows. BEPE supports a research stay abroad connected to the funded project in São Paulo. Undergraduate and master’s fellows should check the separate call arrangements rather than assuming the continuous route still applies.
Official sources checked: October 3, 2026. Independent guide by Excelsior Scholarships; applications go to the official sponsor.
What changed in September 2026?
The current BEPE rules identify the eligible domestic scholarship modalities. The FAPESP council announcement also explains separate arrangements for undergraduate and master’s awards, including a future call for scholarships granted from September 1, 2026. Check which domestic award date and modality apply to you.
A previous student’s experience can be useful for practical advice but cannot establish eligibility under the new rules. Begin with your own award record, its remaining duration and your proposed research dates. That gives your supervisor the information needed to check the current framework.
Plan the stay and the required return
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Is my current modality eligible? | The September rules changed continuous-route access |
| Does the timing meet my modality’s conditions? | The stay must fit the domestic award calendar |
| What work will continue after I return? | The overseas research must feed back into the São Paulo project |
The current framework specifies an initial six-month request, possible exceptional extension and a return to Brazil with domestic scholarship reactivation for at least six months. It recommends submission at least six months before the intended stay. Review the modality-specific starting conditions in the full rules.
Explain why the overseas research is necessary
Describe the particular contribution of the host: a technique, research environment, collection, equipment or collaboration that serves your existing project. Then state what you will do with the results after returning. A proposal becomes easier to assess when the overseas tasks and the domestic project connect directly.
For example, if you need to learn an analytical method, separate training time from the actual analysis. Identify the material you will bring, the work the host will support and the output expected at the end. This is a planning example, not a sponsor requirement that every project use the same method.
Coordinate both supervisors and institutions
Speak with your domestic supervisor before approaching a host. Once a possible host agrees in principle, compare dates, resources, access permissions and supervision arrangements. A welcoming email is a useful beginning, but the application still needs the documents required by the sponsor.
Prepare a list of decisions that require institutional agreement. Depending on the project, these can include access to facilities, research data, samples or participants. Leave time to address them through the proper offices. The research plan should remain feasible if an approval or training stage takes longer than expected.
Build a complete application file
- Confirm the current domestic award and eligible modality.
- Map the proposed stay against the remaining award period.
- Agree on a focused plan with domestic and overseas supervisors.
- Collect the sponsor’s required letters and project documents.
- Submit through the official process with time for review.
Keep the project versions consistent. The dates in the host letter, research schedule and funding request should describe the same visit. If you change the plan, ask how the change must be approved rather than treating an informal agreement as a modification of the award.
Budget for the actual destination
Compare the listed maintenance, travel, insurance and installation benefits with the costs you expect. The rules identify expenses that are not covered, including certain fees and dependent benefits. Ask the host about required charges before finalizing the budget.
Compare BEPE with our CAPES PDSE guide. Use the document checklist and Brazilian funding routes to organize wider options.
Frequently asked questions
Can every FAPESP fellow use the continuous BEPE route?
No. The current rules restrict it to the stated doctoral and postdoctoral modalities. Other fellows need to check separate calls.
Is there one annual BEPE deadline?
The eligible continuous route is open year-round, subject to planning and modality conditions. Special calls have their own dates.
Can I finish the domestic award before returning?
The verified rules require a return period with domestic award reactivation. Check the remaining time before proposing the visit.
Does BEPE fund an unrelated overseas degree?
Its purpose is a research stay linked to the funded São Paulo project. It is not a general award for a new unrelated degree abroad.