Grants and scholarships

It is for anyone considering, planning or carrying out a move to Spain to study. Residents and non-residents face different rules, so the first step is to find out where you stand.

Start with "Can a foreign student get Spain's national study grant (beca general)?". It checks your eligibility by residence, income and academic record. From there, read "Applying for the national grant and keeping it" for how to apply, when payment arrives and the academic minimums you must meet.

If the national grant is not enough, or you do not qualify, the next pages cover regional and university scholarships, scholarships for international students, and student loans.

Fee discounts at enrolment, tax on scholarships and household budgeting are covered elsewhere in the guide.

Key rules

• Entry mark: First-year university students need an access mark of at least 5 points for the basic grant components.
• Credits to pass: To keep the grant at university you must pass 90% of credits in arts and humanities, 65% in sciences, 80% in health sciences, 65% in engineering and architecture, and 90% in social and legal sciences.
• Appeal deadline: If the national grant is denied, you can ask the same body to reconsider within one month of notification, or appeal to the courts within two months.
• Fixing your application: If your application is missing data or documents, you have 10 working days to correct it, or it is treated as withdrawn.
• Repayment response: If repayment is demanded, you have 15 working days to submit comments, and the claim lapses after four years.
• Residence: Non-EU nationals must have legal residence in Spain; EU nationals are treated like Spaniards.

Grants and scholarships: the whole process, step by step

• Check if you can get the national grant (beca general): residence, income and study level. Read "Can a foreign student get Spain's national study grant (beca general)?": Before the summer call is published

• If you live outside Spain, look at international schemes first, such as Spanish government awards for foreign students, Fundación Carolina and home-country schemes. Read "Scholarships for international students in Spain": Usually open in winter or early in the year for the following academic year

• Apply to Erasmus Mundus joint master's programmes directly to the programme: Between October and January for entry the following September; each programme sets its own date

• Watch for the national grant call, then gather your documents. Read "Applying for the national grant and keeping it": The call is published in summer, usually July to August

• Submit the national grant application: University students: by around the end of September or start of October. See Applying for the national grant and keeping it.

• Check regional and university aid, including fee waivers and merit awards. Read "Regional and university scholarships worth checking": Generally between spring and autumn, often around enrolment from July to October; some universities run calls all year

• Correct your application if data or documents are missing: Within 10 working days of the request

• If the grant is denied, ask the same body to reconsider or appeal to the courts: Within one month of notification to ask for reconsideration, or within two months to appeal to the courts

• If aid is not enough, look at loans and other financing. Read "Student loans and other ways to finance your studies": After you know your grant results

Documents you may need

Identity and residence

• Your identity document — Applying for the national grant and keeping it
• Proof of legal residence in Spain — Applying for the national grant and keeping it
• Proof of enrolment in your studies — Applying for the national grant and keeping it

Income and work

• Official tax or income certificate from the foreign tax authority — Can a foreign student get Spain's national study grant (beca general)?
• Family income evidence — Applying for the national grant and keeping it

Translations and legal papers

• Legalisation or apostille on the foreign certificates — Can a foreign student get Spain's national study grant (beca general)?

Other documents

• Academic records for your previous years — Applying for the national grant and keeping it
• Proof of family composition — Applying for the national grant and keeping it

Grants and scholarships: questions that cross several articles

Can I get the beca general if I am not an EU citizen?

Yes, a non-EU citizen can get the beca general if you hold legal residence in Spain, such as a residence permit or student-stay status. EU nationals are treated like Spaniards, and the exact residence duration is set each year. Read "Can a foreign student get Spain's national study grant (beca general)?" first, then "Scholarships for international students in Spain" if you live abroad.

Which studies does the beca general cover?

The beca general covers official, degree-leading studies, from bachillerato and vocational training to university grado and official máster. Own-title courses are not covered. See "Can a foreign student get Spain's national study grant (beca general)?" and, for other funding, "Regional and university scholarships worth checking".

How is family income counted if my family earns money abroad?

Income earned or taxed abroad is shown with official tax certificates from the foreign tax authority, translated into Spanish and legalised or apostilled where required. The amounts are converted into euros and the same income thresholds apply.

Do I have to apply for all aid at the same time?

No, each scheme has its own calendar, so you apply to each one separately. The national grant closes around the end of September or start of October for university students, while regional, university and international schemes open at other times. Use the whole-process timeline here, then read "Regional and university scholarships worth checking" and "Scholarships for international students in Spain".

What if my national grant application is refused or incomplete?

If it is incomplete, you have 10 working days to correct it, and if it is refused you can ask for reconsideration within one month or appeal to the courts within two months. Regional calls have their own appeal rules.