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Do you know about all the programs PALCUS offers our community?
Please visit our website and become a member today!
We can't do what we do without your support!
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PALCUS Youth Opportunities
Our youth is the future of our community, so it is important that we do everything possible to ensure their academic success. To that end, PALCUS has established a multi-faceted education program to help students of all ages succeed in their academic careers.
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In this issue...
PALCUS Programs
- Heritage Portugal Program
- NextGen Leadership Academy
- PALCUS Scholarships
Fellowships:
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Fellowship at Universidade Católica
- Fellowship at Universidade de Lisboa
Internships:
- Macedo Vitorino Paid Internship
- Summer internship program at Indico
Other Programs and Resources
Webinar: How to apply for College in Portugal - Universdade Católica
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Heritage Portugal Program
Heritage Portugal is an immersive cultural experience — not just sightseeing. Each day is purposefully planned with visits to cultural sites, conversations with leaders in Portuguese heritage and innovation, and opportunities to build lifelong community connections. The goal is to strengthen your sense of identity and belonging while inspiring future engagement and leadership.
- Deepen your understanding of Portuguese culture and history
- Connect with peers who share your heritage
- Discover opportunities for personal and professional growth
Learn more about the program by visiting
https://palcus.org/pages/heritage
✔️ Program Dates: May 18–30, 2026
✔️ Open to: Portuguese-Americans ages 18–35
✔️ Only Participant Cost: $500 (non-refundable deposit)
➡️ This $500 fee is the only cost you are responsible for.
Everything below IS INCLUDED in the program:
✅ Round-trip airfare from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Portugal
✅ All lodging during the program
✅ Meals and group activities during scheduled program events
⚠️ Participants are responsible for meals and personal expenses during free time, and for arranging travel to and from Newark prior to the group flight.
Application deadline: January 31, 2026, 11:59 p.m. PT
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NextGen Leadership Academy
The NextGen Leadership Academy (NextGen) is a fellowship for the advancement of Young Portuguese-Americans (18-35 years of age) who have demonstrated outstanding promise, leadership potential, and passion for celebrating and preserving the Portuguese language and culture in the United States. We are proud to recognize these young leaders for their excellent work and accomplishments.
NextGen first launched in 2021, welcoming an inaugural cohort of 32 fellows, referred to as NextGen Co-founding Ambassadors. The NextGen program supports fellows in the development of their leadership skills through engaging workshops, roundtable discussions, webinars, and speaker sessions with prominent public and private sector leaders, covering topics of critical importance to the Portuguese- American community, in addition to offering valuable networking opportunities within the community.
PALCUS believes strongly that our youth are the future of our community, and we strive, through a variety of educational, cultural, and professional initiatives, to do everything possible to ensure their success. We view this NextGen Leadership Academy as a key pillar in that commitment.
If you or someone you know would like to participate in the NextGen Leadership Academy, please contact PALCUS at nextgen@palcus.org.
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PALCUS Scholarships
The PALCUS Scholarship Program was established with the purpose of supporting Portuguese-American students in the pursuit of their higher education goals. The merit-based scholarships are awarded to students of Portuguese ancestry who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in their academic careers and who show a commitment to completing an approved plan of study.
PALCUS offers the following scholarships:
- PALCUS General Scholarship - Undergraduate
- PALCUS General Scholarship - Graduate
- Alexandre Antonio da Costa Simoes Memorial Scholarship – designated for a student studying Portuguese
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Duque de Bragança Scholarship - designated to a student that demonstrated an interest in Portuguese history
- Rosa Family Scholarship – Designated for a student from Connecticut
- NEW THIS YEAR: Luso-American Education Foundation (LAEF) Scholarship
To be eligible, students must be a current full-time college undergraduate (at least freshman) or graduate student in an approved program of study (high school seniors / entering freshmen are not eligible).
Application deadline: April 15, 2026, 11:59 p.m. PT
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Fellowship at Universidade Católica
One PALCUS Member per Year to be Awarded a Full Fellowship in Portugal, Completely Free of Charge.
Universidade Católica Portuguesa annually awards 5 grants to U.S. Students of Portuguese descent applying for Undergraduate (Licenciatura), Integrated Masters or Master degree programs in any field of study offered at the University, with the exception of Medicine.
Although the grants are awarded by UCP’s Schools, and each School is prepared to award one grant per year, in total, only 5 grants will be given each year.
The CFPAS are merit-based and consist of a full tuition and fee waiver as stated below:
- 3 academic years for a 3-year Undergraduate (Licenciatura)
- 4 academic years for a 4-year Undergraduate (Licenciatura) (Law/Nursing)
- 5 academic years for a 5-year Integrated Master’s (Dentistry)
- 2 academic years for a 2-year Master’s
Learn more at https://www.ucp.pt/pt-pt/internacionalestudar-na-catolicacandidatos-internacionaisbolsas-e-fundos/catolica-fellowships
Application deadline: February 28, 2026
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Fellowship at Universidade de Lisboa
PALCUS announces that a partnership has been established with Universidade de Lisboa, where going forward on a yearly basis, one eligible PALCUS applicant will be awarded a Master in Law & Management fellowship completely free of charge, offered by Universidade de Lisboa, located at Alameda da Universidade 1649-004 Lisboa - Portugal, for one Portuguese-American law student.
Universidade de Lisboa is a strong supporter of PALCUS and the Portuguese American community. Universidade de Lisboa brings together various areas of knowledge and has a privileged position for facilitating the contemporary evolution of science, technology, arts and humanities. The quality of teaching, research, innovation and culture of Universidade de Lisboa is attracting an ever-increasing amount of talent from around the world.
The Master in Law & Management is lectured in English and involves two terms:
- Fall Term, about Corporative Law
- Spring Term, about Management
APPLICATION DEADLINE: February 28, 2026
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Macedo Vitorino Paid Internship
PALCUS announces that a partnership has been established with Macedo Vitorino, where going forward on a yearly basis, one eligible PALCUS applicant will be awarded an internship at the law firm of Macedo Vitorino, located at Rua do Alecrim, 26E - 1200-018 Lisboa – Portugal.
This internship at Macedo Vitorino is for a period of 8-10 months in Lisbon, and pays a stipend of 1.000,00€ per month to the successful candidate.
The firm provides a broad range of legal services in Portugal and internationally, including in the field of real estate, commercial contract, M&A, litigation and arbitration, other resolution of disputes, and other legal and business areas.
The internship could provide a practice in several areas (banking, energy, civil law, litigation, employment law, real estate), as well as a contact with the Portuguese law and legal culture.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: February 28, 2026
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Summer internship program at Indico
Role: Venture Analyst Intern
Job Description:
Indico Capital Partners is hiring a Venture Analyst Intern to join its dynamic team in Lisbon, Portugal. Availability to be on-site is required.
The 4 to 8-week internship program is in June/July 2026.
Roles & Responsibilities:
- Participating in preliminary startup screening calls
- Making thoughtful and informed recommendation.
- Effectively communicating insights and plans to other team members.
- Drafting investment memos and research reports
- Working with Excel on business plans and other related documents
- Assisting with social media and PR.
Qualifications:
- Detail oriented
- Ability to think creatively
- Bachelor’s degree or working towards bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Economics or a related field
- Strong Excel skills
- Passion for working with entrepreneurs and a growing entrepreneurial ecosystem
- Exceptional listening and communication skills.
Key Details:
- Non-remunerated internship
- Full-time hours
- Use of Slack and WhatsApp for day-to-day team communication
- Reporting to an Investment Analyst.
Indico Capital Partners is the leading venture capital firm in Portugal, with a focus on Seed to Series-B investments in tech and ocean-related startups. Some of our portfolio companies include: Anchorage Digital, Remote, and Tier, just to name a few. We have backed most of the unicorns originating from Portugal in the last decade. Our focus is to support the best, most unique and scalable high tech and sustainable companies.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: February 28, 2026.
| | OTHER PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES | | WEBINAR: HOW TO APPLY FOR COLLEGE IN PORTUGAL - UNIVERSIDADE CATOLICA | |
Jobs for Portuguese Speakers
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PALCUS Mission
In order to create a singular voice to advocate for the Portuguese-American and Luso-American communities at large, the Portuguese-American Leadership Council of the United States Inc. (PALCUS) was founded in 1991 as a non-partisan, non-profit, organization headquartered in Washington, D.C.
The PALCUS mission is to address domestic and international concerns of the Portuguese-American Community.
The Council conducts an expanding program of educational and public affairs activities on issues of interest to the Portuguese-American community and of salience to the Luso-American Relationship.
PALCUS is committed to serving the community through increasingly active government relations efforts, the promotion of a greater awareness of ethnic accomplishments and encouraging stronger ties between Portugal and the United States. In this role PALCUS advances the community professionally, politically and culturally while working to ensure that issues directly affecting our community are addressed through our network of government and community leaders.
PALCUS is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization under the IRS tax code and incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia. Donations are tax deductible to extent allowed by law and will be acknowledged.
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