Scholarships in Spain

Studying in Spain with a scholarship

Spain has a large public university system alongside private universities and specialist institutions. International students can study in Spanish, English or, depending on the region, languages such as Catalan, Basque or Galician.

One useful feature of Spain is the range of programmes available. SEPIE, the Spanish Service for the Internationalisation of Education, says Spanish universities offer more than 800 programmes taught fully or partly in English. This is particularly useful at master’s level, although students should still confirm the teaching language of the individual programme.

Scholarship funding is decentralised. There is no single Spanish scholarship application that automatically covers all international students or universities.

Students should normally investigate funding from several sources:

• the university itself
• Spanish Government or AECID programmes
• Erasmus+
• regional authorities
• Fundación Carolina
• research institutions
• external foundations

The best route depends heavily on nationality and study level.

Tuition fees at public universities

Spain can be reasonably affordable at public universities, but students should avoid statements such as “university in Spain costs €1,000.”

Fees are determined partly by Spain’s autonomous regions and can differ between universities.

The European Commission currently gives a general range of around €700 to €1,700 per academic year for bachelor’s study at public universities and approximately €1,000 to €3,500 for master’s programmes.

Private universities can be substantially more expensive, with tuition sometimes reaching around €20,000 per year.

These figures should be treated as planning ranges rather than fixed national prices.

Always check the current fee published by the actual university.

International students may face different fees

Students should also check whether the university distinguishes between:

• EU/EEA students
• non-EU residents
• non-EU students without Spanish residence
• first enrolment and repeated subjects

Some regions and universities charge non-EU students different rates.

A programme advertised at a relatively low public fee may therefore cost more for a student coming directly from outside the European Union.

Before applying, look specifically for the international or non-EU tuition rate.

University scholarships

Spanish universities have considerable independence in setting their own scholarship policies.

SEPIE specifically notes that universities can establish their own scholarships and grants.

These can include:

• tuition waivers
• partial tuition reductions
• academic excellence scholarships
• international student awards
• accommodation support
• research grants
• doctoral contracts
• mobility funding

Some awards require a separate application, while others are linked to admission.

Always check whether the scholarship deadline is earlier than the normal university deadline.

Erasmus+ opportunities

Spain participates fully in Erasmus+, making it one of the major European destinations for student mobility.

Erasmus+ can support students undertaking an exchange period through agreements between participating universities.

This is different from applying independently for a full Spanish degree.

For an exchange, students usually need their home university to have an appropriate agreement with the Spanish institution.

Students interested in Erasmus mobility should ask their international office about:

• partner universities in Spain
• nomination deadlines
• available grants
• credit transfer
• programme language
• accommodation

Spain is also involved in Erasmus Mundus programmes, which can provide substantial scholarships for international master’s students studying through multinational university consortia.

Fundación Carolina

Another important source of postgraduate funding is Fundación Carolina.

Its 2026/27 scholarship call offered 736 scholarships across 203 academic programmes. The programme included 228 postgraduate scholarships, doctoral and postdoctoral opportunities, academic mobility and institutional scholarships.

Fundación Carolina has a strong focus on the Ibero-American region.

This means eligibility often centres on applicants from Latin American countries and other groups specified in each programme.

Students should therefore not see “Spain scholarship” and automatically assume Fundación Carolina is open to every nationality.

Check the individual scholarship.

AECID scholarships

The Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation, known as AECID, also runs scholarship programmes.

These are usually targeted rather than worldwide general scholarships.

For example, the 2026/27 África-Med Máster programme was specifically created for citizens of eligible countries in Africa and the Middle East. Applications for that cycle ran from 2 July to 15 July 2026.

AECID also operated a separate 2026/27 Diplomatic School programme for applicants from Latin America, Africa and Asia.

This demonstrates why applicants should read each AECID call individually.

Different programmes can have completely different:

• eligible countries
• academic fields
• study levels
• deadlines
• financial benefits

Do not use one AECID programme’s requirements for another.

Applicants from Africa should monitor AECID

For African students, AECID is particularly worth monitoring because some annual programmes specifically include African countries.

However, the available countries and programmes can change with each call.

As of September 2026, the 2026/27 África-Med application period has already closed. Students planning for a later intake should wait for the next official announcement rather than assuming that the July 2026 dates will repeat.

This is the type of opportunity that The Scholarship Circle should update only when a new official call is released.

Bachelor’s funding can be harder to find

International students searching for bachelor’s scholarships in Spain may find fewer large government-funded schemes than master’s and research applicants.

Undergraduate students should pay particular attention to:

• university merit scholarships
• tuition reductions
• regional scholarships
• Erasmus mobility
• foundation awards

A public university with relatively modest tuition may sometimes be financially realistic even without a full scholarship.

The important number is not simply the scholarship amount.

It is:

total tuition + living costs - confirmed funding

Master’s applicants have more options

Master’s applicants generally have a wider range of scholarship opportunities.

Possible routes include:

• university scholarships
• Fundación Carolina
• AECID
• Erasmus Mundus
• regional programmes
• research-related funding

Before applying, check whether the scholarship covers any master’s programme or only a defined list of courses.

A scholarship provider may work with selected universities rather than allowing recipients to choose any institution in Spain.

PhD funding often looks different

Doctoral applicants should not search only for the word “scholarship.”

Spanish universities and research institutions may advertise funded opportunities as:

• predoctoral contracts
• research contracts
• doctoral fellowships
• project-funded PhD positions
• research grants

In these situations, the student may receive a salary or employment-style contract rather than a conventional scholarship stipend.

Research applicants should therefore search university job and research pages in addition to scholarship databases.

Living costs vary significantly by city

Spain’s cost of living depends heavily on location.

The European Commission currently estimates that students in Madrid and Barcelona may need roughly €1,000 to €1,200 per month, while students in smaller cities may manage on approximately €700 to €900 per month.

This difference can be significant over a full academic year.

Cities such as:

• Granada
• Salamanca
• Valladolid
• Murcia
• Jaén

may offer a very different financial experience from central Madrid or Barcelona.

When comparing two universities, include the city’s housing cost in your decision.

Accommodation will often be your largest expense

Students can live in:

• university residences
• shared apartments
• private rooms
• private studios
• host-family accommodation

Private accommodation in major cities can require a deposit and sometimes additional agency or setup costs.

Do not send money to someone simply because they claim to own an apartment near your university.

Verify the property, contract and landlord before making large transfers.

Language matters more than many students expect

Spain has many English-taught programmes, particularly at postgraduate level, but Spanish remains the main teaching language across much of the university system.

SEPIE lists more than 800 programmes taught fully or partially in English, which still means applicants need to inspect the programme carefully.

“Partially in English” does not necessarily mean every compulsory class will be in English.

Check:

• programme language
• thesis language
• internship language
• language certification
• whether Spanish is required later in the degree

Learning Spanish can also make everyday life, internships and social integration much easier.

Admission requirements vary

Applications are generally handled by individual universities or through regional admission systems.

Common requirements can include:

• passport
• previous academic certificate
• transcripts
• proof of language ability
• CV
• statement of purpose
• recommendation letters
• programme-specific documents

Students applying with foreign qualifications may also need additional recognition, equivalency or documentation procedures depending on the level of study.

Do not automatically pay an agency to handle qualification recognition before confirming what the university actually requires.

Scholarship admission and university admission can be separate

This is another area where students lose opportunities.

You may need to complete:

1. university admission
2. scholarship application
3. both at approximately the same time

Some scholarship providers require proof that you have already applied to or been admitted by the university.

Others nominate students first.

Keep separate records of each deadline.

Student visa for non-EU applicants

Students from outside the EU/EEA generally need a Spanish study visa for longer programmes.

Current Spanish consular guidance requires applicants to provide evidence of acceptance into an authorised educational institution. For higher education, proof relating to enrolment or tuition payment may also be required.

A scholarship award does not replace the immigration process.

You still need to meet the applicable visa requirements.

Proof of financial means

Spain uses the IPREM benchmark when determining the minimum financial resources required for a student visa.

For 2026, the minimum amount for a student applying alone is currently €600 per month of intended stay.

For accompanying family members, additional amounts are required:

• 75% of monthly IPREM for the first family member
• 50% for each additional family member

If accommodation has already been paid for the entire period, that can affect the financial calculation under the applicable consular rules.

This amount can change from year to year.

Anyone applying in 2027 should check the new figure rather than continuing to use €600 automatically.

Scholarships can support the financial requirement

A scholarship certificate may help demonstrate financial resources if it clearly shows the amount and duration of funding.

However, students should compare the scholarship with the visa requirement.

If an award covers only tuition and provides no living allowance, you may still need separate financial evidence.

Do not assume the word “scholarship” automatically satisfies the consulate.

Health insurance

Student visa applicants generally need qualifying health insurance covering their period of stay in Spain.

Spanish consular guidance requires public or private insurance providing coverage comparable to Spain’s public healthcare system for the relevant stay.

Travel insurance purchased for a short holiday may not necessarily satisfy the requirements for a long-term study visa.

Check the consulate’s current wording before purchasing a policy.

Documents may need legalisation and translation

Foreign documents may need to be:

• apostilled
• legalised
• officially translated into Spanish

depending on the document and issuing country.

Spanish consular guidance explicitly notes that foreign documents may require legalisation or apostille and, where applicable, an official Spanish translation.

Check these requirements early.

Official translations and authentication procedures can take time.

Working during study

Current European Commission guidance states that eligible non-EU international students in Spain can generally work alongside their studies for up to 30 hours per week, subject to the applicable immigration conditions.

Students should still treat employment as supplementary income.

Do not choose a programme you cannot afford on the assumption that you will immediately find a job after arriving.

Scholarship and financial planning should be realistic before travel.

Do not judge Spain only by Madrid and Barcelona

Madrid and Barcelona receive most of the international attention, but Spain has universities throughout the country.

Strong institutions are also located in cities such as:

• Valencia
• Granada
• Salamanca
• Seville
• Zaragoza
• Bilbao
• Alicante
• Santiago de Compostela

A smaller city may provide:

• lower accommodation costs
• easier commuting
• a different student environment

The most famous city is not automatically the best choice.

Compare public and private universities carefully

Private universities can sometimes offer substantial scholarships, but their original tuition can be much higher.

For example:

Private university tuition: €18,000
Scholarship: €6,000
Remaining tuition: €12,000

Meanwhile:

Public university tuition: €2,500
No scholarship
Remaining tuition: €2,500

The larger scholarship does not necessarily produce the cheaper education.

Always compare the final amount.

What applicants should check before applying

Before applying for a scholarship in Spain, confirm:

• eligible nationality
• degree level
• university
• programme language
• public or private tuition
• non-EU tuition rate
• scholarship value
• whether tuition is fully covered
• living allowance
• accommodation support
• university admission requirement
• scholarship deadline
• visa financial requirement
• health insurance
• document legalisation requirements

For AECID and Fundación Carolina opportunities, check the current annual call, since country lists and deadlines can change.

Avoid scholarship scams

Be cautious if anyone promises:

• guaranteed admission
• guaranteed Spanish Government scholarship
• guaranteed AECID funding
• guaranteed student visa
• a scholarship place in exchange for an unofficial fee

Legitimate programmes publish formal eligibility and selection procedures.

SEPIE provides official information about studying in Spain and tools for identifying recognised universities and programmes.

AECID publishes its scholarship calls and application procedures through its official electronic system.

Use scholarship websites to discover opportunities, then verify the application through the official provider.

Final advice

Spain can be an attractive option for international students because public university tuition can be moderate compared with many other destinations, while postgraduate applicants have access to university funding, Erasmus programmes, AECID and other scholarship routes.

The key is to research the specific university, region and scholarship rather than treating Spain as one uniform system.

Students from Africa should particularly monitor future AECID calls, while applicants from the Ibero-American region may find additional opportunities through Fundación Carolina.

Before accepting an offer, compare tuition after funding with the real cost of living in the city and make sure you understand the visa requirements.

The opportunities listed below can help students discover scholarships available in Spain, but current eligibility, deadlines and financial benefits should always be verified with the university or official scholarship provider.

Last reviewed: September 10, 2026