MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND SPORT OF SPAIN
Spanish Government Scholarships
full · bachelors, masters, phd
- ~1,000-6,000 euros / year (est.)Typical general-grant value
- 4 main programme linesLevels and types covered
- Bachelor's, master's and PhDDegree levels
- Income-based and merit grantsAward basis
- Tuition plus allowancesWhat it funds
- SpainWhere you study
At a glance
full
Funding
€6k
Max amount
May 15, 2027
Deadline
Spain
Country
Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sport of Spain
Provider
The Spanish Government Scholarships are a family of public grants run by the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sport of Spain for study at official Spanish universities and vocational institutions. The programme spans 4 main lines: the general state grants known as Becas MEC for bachelor's, master's and vocational students; research and postdoctoral contracts such as Juan de la Cierva for early researchers and Ramon y Cajal for experienced ones; and complementary foundation programmes from bodies like Fundacion La Caixa. General grants are income-based and combine tuition coverage with allowances that commonly range from about 1,000 to 6,000 euros a year depending on income band, distance from home and academic results. The main Becas MEC call usually opens between March and May 2026, special education-support grants run from April to September 2026, and the postdoctoral Juan de la Cierva contracts are expected around December 2026 to January 2027. Because amounts and windows are set by a fresh ministerial order every cycle, confirm the exact current-cycle figures and dates on the official Spanish Ministry of Education scholarships portal before you apply.
What's covered
- Tuition coverage — Full or partial coverage of public tuition fees (precios publicos) at official Spanish universities for eligible general-grant holders.
- Variable income grant — A means-tested cash grant that commonly ranges from about 1,000 to 6,000 euros (est.) a year, calculated from household income and academic performance.
- Residence and distance allowance — Additional allowances for students who must live away from the family home to study, contributing toward accommodation and transport.
- Materials and basic grant — A fixed basic component (cuantia fija) toward books, materials and study costs for qualifying students.
- Research and postdoctoral salary — Juan de la Cierva and Ramon y Cajal contracts pay a researcher salary plus social security; recent Ramon y Cajal lines have funded posts worth on the order of ~39,000 euros (est.) a year before tax, set per call.
- Disability support — Supplementary financial assistance is available under some lines for students with a recognised disability.
How to apply
Most general grants are applied for online through the Ministry of Education scholarships portal during the published call window; research contracts are submitted through the state research agency or host institution.
- Identify your programme — Decide whether you need the general Becas MEC grant, a research contract (Juan de la Cierva / Ramon y Cajal) or a foundation programme, and read its official call.
- Check eligibility and thresholds — Confirm you meet the academic, residence and (for income-based grants) household income thresholds published for the current cycle.
- Register on the portal — Create or sign in to your account on the official becaseducacion.gob.es portal and open the application for the matching grant.
- Complete and upload documents — Fill in the online form and upload transcripts, proof of admission or enrolment, income records and, for research lines, your CV and project.
- Submit before the deadline — Submit the application before the official closing date and keep the confirmation; await evaluation and notification from the Ministry or funding body.
Eligibility
Nationality and residenceSpanish nationals for most lines; several general grants also accept EU citizens legally resident in Spain. Some research contracts accept international researchers.
EnrolmentBe enrolled in, or admitted to, an official (oficial) study programme at a Spanish university or recognised institution.
Academic thresholdMeet the minimum grade and credit-load requirements set for the relevant grant; some components require a minimum average mark.
Financial needFor income-based general grants, household income and assets must fall below the published thresholds (umbrales de renta).
Research projectsMaster's, PhD and postdoctoral lines require relevant qualifications and, where applicable, a research proposal or host-institution agreement.
Each programme (Becas MEC, Juan de la Cierva, Ramon y Cajal, foundation grants) publishes its own annual call with binding eligibility rules; read the call that matches your level before applying.
Eligible countries
Spain, European Union member states (selected lines)
Deadlines
General grants 2026/2027~15 May 2026 (est.)
Juan de la Cierva 2026/2027~January 2027 (est.)
Selection
Selection differs by line. Income-based general grants are awarded automatically to all applicants who meet the published academic and income thresholds for the cycle. Research and postdoctoral contracts (Juan de la Cierva, Ramon y Cajal) are competitive and ranked by an expert committee on the applicant's CV, publication record and the quality of the proposed research and host environment.
Verified sources
- Becas y ayudas - Ministry of Education of Spainbecaseducacion.gob.esofficial
- Becas educacion - application portalbecaseducacion.gob.esofficial
About the provider
The Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sport of Spain (Ministerio de Educacion) is the central government body responsible for education policy and the national system of public grants and scholarships (becas y ayudas al estudio) for study at official Spanish universities and vocational institutions.
Frequently asked questions
Answers below are best-effort estimates from the most recent application cycle. Values marked ~ or (est.) may shift year-to-year — confirm specifics on the official scholarship page.
Who can apply for Spanish Government Scholarships?
+
Mainly Spanish nationals, and for several general grant lines EU citizens resident in Spain; some research contracts also accept international researchers. Eligibility is set per programme.
What degree levels are covered?
+
There are grants for bachelor's, master's, PhD and vocational study, plus postdoctoral research contracts such as Juan de la Cierva and Ramon y Cajal.
How much money do the general grants provide?
+
Means-tested general grants commonly range from about 1,000 to 6,000 euros (est.) a year depending on income band, distance and academic results; confirm the exact figures in the official call.
Are tuition fees covered?
+
Yes, eligible general-grant holders receive full or partial coverage of public tuition fees at official Spanish universities, often combined with cash allowances.
Which subjects are eligible?
+
All major fields, including humanities and arts, engineering, natural sciences, social sciences and law, health, education and vocational training.
Are postdoctoral researchers eligible?
+
Yes. The Juan de la Cierva programme funds early-stage postdoctoral contracts and Ramon y Cajal funds more experienced researchers.
Can EU citizens apply?
+
Some general grant lines accept EU citizens who are legally resident in Spain; eligibility depends on the specific programme and its annual call.
Is there support for students with disabilities?
+
Yes, several lines provide additional financial assistance for students with a recognised disability.
When does the main application window open?
+
The general Becas MEC call typically opens between March and May 2026; other lines have their own windows published by the Ministry in early 2026.
How do I apply?
+
Most general grants are submitted online through the official becaseducacion.gob.es portal; research contracts go through the state research agency or your host institution.
Do I need a research proposal?
+
Bachelor's and most general grants do not, but master's, PhD and postdoctoral research lines require a relevant qualification and, where applicable, a research project.
Where can I confirm the current-cycle details?
+
Always confirm amounts, thresholds and deadlines on the official Spanish Ministry of Education scholarships portal, because they are reset by ministerial order each cycle.