Scholarships for international students in Spain

Terms used

• AECID — The AECID is Spain's international development cooperation agency, which funds scholarships for foreign students.
• Fundación Carolina — The Fundación Carolina is a Spanish foundation that funds postgraduate studies and research in Spain, mainly for Latin American graduates.
• Auxiliares de conversación — The auxiliares de conversación are language assistants who help teach their native language in Spanish schools.
• Becas generales — The becas generales are the Ministry of Education's general study grants, meant for students already in Spain.

Key rules

• Own deadlines: Every scheme sets its own deadline each year, so check the current date with each body.
• Erasmus Mundus: You apply to the programme's consortium, not to the European Commission or the Spanish government.
• Residence: Most Spanish government schemes expect you not to live in Spain when you apply.
• Home country: Ask the awarding body at home first, since many national schemes fund study in Spain.

Where to start

Funding for non-residents comes from four places: the Spanish government, the EU, your home country and the university itself. Each has its own application and its own deadline, set every year. Pick the schemes that fit your nationality and level of study, then note each deadline in your calendar.

Spanish government schemes

• AECID scholarships. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the AECID offer these to foreign nationals, mainly from Latin America, Africa and Asia. They cover master's and doctorate studies and research in Spain. Calls usually open in winter or spring for the following academic year.
• Fundación Carolina. It funds postgraduate and doctoral studies and research stays in Spain, mainly for Latin American graduates. Calls usually open in winter or early in the year for the next academic year.
• Language assistants. The auxiliares de conversación programmes place you in a Spanish school to help teach your language. They are a paid alternative to a study grant.
• Regional governments. Some regions fund international students. Check the region where you plan to study.

Most of these schemes expect you to have a degree, not to live in Spain, and to meet language and age limits. Eligible countries and fields change with each call, so read the current call before you prepare an application.

The general national grants (becas generales) are for students already in Spain, so they are not a route for you before you arrive.

Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters

These master's programmes are run by groups of universities, often including Spanish ones, and funded by the EU. You apply directly to the programme you choose, through its own application platform. You do not apply to the European Commission or to the Spanish government. The consortium decides the scholarship in the same selection process.

• You need a bachelor's degree, or be about to finish one, and you must meet the programme's language requirements.
• Students from EU and non-EU countries can apply, but there are limits on scholarships by country group.
• You can apply to up to three programmes in the same call.
• Deadlines are mostly between October and February for entry the following September. Each programme sets its own date.

The EU's Erasmus Mundus website lists all programmes.

Schemes from your home country

Many countries fund study in Spain. Examples are Fulbright for US citizens, DAAD from Germany, and Latin American programmes such as Mexico's CONAHCYT, Brazil's CAPES and Colombia's Colfuturo. Rules usually require citizenship, a degree and a place at a Spanish institution.

Fulbright applicants must be US citizens with at least a bachelor's degree. They apply through the US application system in the autumn for the following academic year.

Ask the awarding body in your home country first. Names and deadlines change, and only they can tell you what they fund.

University scholarships

Many Spanish universities offer their own discounts to international students. Private universities, such as Universidad de Navarra, IE University, Universidad Europea, Nebrija, CEU and Comillas, usually give more merit-based discounts. They judge your grades and sometimes an interview or test.

Public universities charge fees set by each region, so waivers are rarer. They are often limited to master's or doctoral programmes or to students from partner countries.

Apply with your admission application, or afterwards through the form on the university's scholarship page. Have your transcripts and a motivation letter ready. Some ask for references.

Deadlines

There is no single calendar. Typical patterns: AECID and Fundación Carolina open in winter or early in the year, Erasmus Mundus closes between October and February, and Fulbright closes in autumn. Check the exact dates with each body. The timeline and checklist below help you plan the order.

Timeline and deadlines

• Apply to Erasmus Mundus Joint Master programmes: mostly between October and February, for entry the following September; each programme sets its own date

• Check university and regional scholarships: dates vary widely, so look at each university's scholarship page when you apply for admission

Checklist

• Ask the scholarship body in your home country whether it funds study in Spain and what citizenship and degree it requires.

• Check that you meet each scheme's requirements, such as a degree, not living in Spain, and language and age limits.

• Look up the current deadline of every scheme you want and note it in your calendar.

• Read the scholarship page of each Spanish university you apply to, since private universities offer more merit discounts than public ones.

• Gather your transcripts and a motivation letter, and ask for references if the university wants them.

• Send the scholarship application with your admission application, or through the university's scholarship form after you are admitted.

Frequently asked questions

Do I apply to the European Commission for an Erasmus Mundus scholarship?

No, you apply directly to the university consortium that runs the master's programme you want. The consortium awards the scholarship in the same selection process.

Can I get a fee waiver at a public Spanish university?

Waivers at public universities are rare, because each region sets the fees.

Can US citizens get funding to study in Spain from their home country?

Yes, US citizens with at least a bachelor's degree can apply for a Fulbright grant for study, research or English teaching in Spain.