Government of Timor-Leste

On March 18^th, 2025, the Government, through the Ministry for National Liberation Combatants Affairs (MACLN) and in coordination with the Council of National Liberation Combatants (CCLN), announced the awarding of 1,300 scholarships for the 2025 academic year to the children of combatants and martyrs of the national liberation struggle. The scholarships, fully funded by the state, will free access to education at different levels, both in Timor-Leste and abroad.

The announcement was made by the Minister for National Liberation Combatants Affairs, Gil da Costa Monteiro “Oan-Soru,” during a press conference held at the CCLN in Dili, in the presence of the Secretary of State for Veterans, Cesar dos Santos da Silva “Merak,” and representatives of the Municipal Council of National Liberation Combatants from 12 municipalities and the Special Administrative Region of Oe-Cusse Ambeno (RAEOA).

This scholarship program is regulated by Decree-Law No. 8/2009, of January 15, and covers 100 students from each municipality from elementary school to higher education. The number of places was defined by Ministerial Order No. 03/MACLAN-IXGC/II/2025, which establishes the following distribution:

•   Basic Education (1st cycle): 65 scholarships (5 per municipality);
•   Basic Education (2nd and 3rd cycles): 195 scholarships (15 per municipality);
•   Secondary Education: 325 scholarships (25 per municipality);
•   Higher Education in Timor-Leste: 650 scholarships (50 per municipality);
• . Higher Education abroad: 65 scholarships (5 per municipality).

Scholarships for higher education cover only bachelor’s degree course and do not include master’s and doctoral courses.    Only the children of combatants and martyrs registered in the 2003, 2005, and first 2009 registrations are eligible to apply in 2025.    Those who registered in the second registration of 2009 will be apply from 2026, after the verification and contestation process of their data is completed.

The application period for the 2025 scholarships will run from March 24 to April 22 in all municipalities across the country. The final list of selected candidates will be announced in September 2025, both at the headquarters of the MACLN national Directorate of Pensions and Subsidies in Dili and the CCLN municipal administrations.