Scholarships to Study in Spain 2026: Complete Guide for International Students

Spain offers some of the most accessible government scholarships in Europe for international postgraduate students. The MAECAECID program awards full coverage (tuition + stipend + insurance + travel) to around 250 students per year from developing countries. Fundación Carolina targets Latin American students specifically with 400–500 awards annually. For PhD researchers, La Caixa INPhINIT pays €26,000–29,000/year for three years. This guide covers eligibility, application timelines, and how each scholarship interacts with the student visa process.

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Why Spain Scholarship Programs Are Underutilized

Spanish scholarship programs are significantly less oversubscribed than their UK, USA, or German equivalents — partly because they are less well-known internationally, and partly because Spanish programs are primarily taught in Spanish (limiting the applicant pool to Spanish-proficient candidates).

The key implication: acceptance rates are higher than comparable programs in English-speaking countries. A student who would struggle to win a Chevening or Fulbright scholarship may have a strong chance at MAECAECID or Fundación Carolina with the same academic profile.

The catch: most programs require B2 Spanish for Spanish-taught programs. English-taught programs at Spanish universities accept English proficiency instead.

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Program 1: MAECAECID (Spanish Government Scholarship)

The MAECAECID scholarship is the flagship Spanish government program for international students. It targets students from developing countries for master’s degrees and doctoral programs at Spanish public universities.

Who can apply

• Nationals of eligible developing countries (list updated annually by the Ministry)
• Postgraduate (master’s or PhD) level — undergraduate applications are not accepted
• Strong academic record (usually: top 20% of undergraduate cohort)
• Spanish proficiency: B2 minimum for Spanish-taught programs; English programs accept IELTS/TOEFL

Coverage

• Full tuition at the enrolled Spanish university
• Monthly stipend: approximately €1,000–1,100/month
• Health insurance (covers the visa requirement)
• Return airfare (one trip at start and end of program)
• Enrollment fee and initial settlement grant

Application process

1. Find an eligible master’s or doctoral program at a Spanish university (the scholarship is linked to a specific program)
2. Get admission confirmation from the university (or apply simultaneously)
3. Submit the MAECAECID application via the official Ministry portal (CONVOCATORIAS BECAS MAECAECID)
4. Applications typically open January–March for September intake
5. Selection involves academic record review, motivation letter, and sometimes an interview

Key facts

• ~250 scholarships awarded per year
• Duration: academic year (master’s) or up to 4 years (PhD)
• Cannot be held simultaneously with other Spanish government grants

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Program 2: Fundación Carolina

Fundación Carolina is a foundation created by the Spanish government specifically to strengthen ties with Latin America, Africa, and Asia through education. It awards scholarships for postgraduate study at Spanish universities, with strong Latin American representation.

Who can apply

• Nationals of Latin American countries (primary focus), plus Africa and Asia
• Postgraduate level (master’s, PhD, specialist courses)
• Some programs also cover professors and researchers visiting Spanish institutions
• Minimum: university degree with strong academic record
• Spanish proficiency required (B2 for most programs)

Coverage

Varies by award category:

• Full scholarships: tuition + €1,100/month stipend + insurance + travel
• Complementary scholarships: supplement funding for students with partial university funding

Application process

1. Check the Fundación Carolina website for current convocatoria (call for applications)
2. Applications typically open March–May for September intake
3. Submit academic records, motivation letter, CV, language certification
4. Selection is competitive — early application and a strong motivation letter are critical

Key facts

• 400–500 scholarships per year (one of the most generous counts in Europe)
• Strong alumni network in Latin American public sector and international organizations
• Some awards are bilateral (negotiated between Spain and a specific country)

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Program 3: La Caixa INPhINIT (PhD Research)

La Caixa INPhINIT is one of the most competitive and best-funded PhD scholarship programs in Spain, targeting research in health, science, technology, and social sciences. Funded by the Fundació la Caixa (Spain’s largest savings bank foundation).

Who can apply

• Any nationality — no geographic restriction
• Seeking PhD enrollment at a Spanish research center or university
• Research project in the categories: Life & Medical Sciences, Physics/Chemistry/Math, Technology/Engineering, or Social Sciences/Humanities (varies by cohort)
• Within 10 years of master’s degree completion at time of application
• No prior doctoral degree

Coverage

• €26,000–29,000/year (gross) salary as a research fellow
• 3-year duration (extendable under some circumstances)
• Full social security coverage and research budget
• Training, mentoring, and career development program included

Application process

1. Find a potential supervisor at an eligible Spanish research institution
2. Submit application through the La Caixa Foundation portal
3. Applications typically open October–December for the following year’s cohort
4. Competitive review: academic record, research proposal quality, supervisor endorsement

Key facts

• ~100 positions per cohort (highly competitive)
• Income level (€26–29k/year) significantly exceeds the NLV passive income threshold (€2,401/month) — meaning PhD fellows on INPhINIT may consider the Non-Lucrative Visa instead of a student visa if their status allows
• Barcelona and Madrid receive the majority of INPhINIT fellows due to research center concentration

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Program 4: Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility (ICM)

Erasmus+ ICM is the non-European student’s route into the Erasmus program. Unlike standard Erasmus (EU students only), ICM allows students from any country to spend a semester or year at a Spanish university — provided their home university has a bilateral agreement with a Spanish partner.

Who can apply

• Students enrolled at a university that has an Erasmus+ ICM agreement with a Spanish university
• Any level (bachelor’s, master’s, PhD)
• Applications go through your home university’s international office — not to Spain directly

Coverage

• Monthly stipend: €600–800/month (set by the EU program rules)
• Tuition waiver at the Spanish host university
• Travel support (one-off travel grant based on distance)
• Language support (Erasmus Online Linguistic Support — OLS)

Application process

1. Check if your home university has an ICM agreement with any Spanish university
2. Apply through your home university’s international office (not via Spanish universities)
3. Deadlines vary: most home universities have October–February application windows for the following academic year
4. Selection is done by your home institution; Spanish universities then confirm enrollment

Key facts

• The number of bilateral agreements has expanded significantly 2020–2026
• Spain’s top ICM host universities: University of Barcelona, UAB, UPF, Complutense Madrid, University of Granada (one of Europe’s top Erasmus destinations)
• Mobility can be 3 to 12 months

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Other Scholarship Sources

Home-country government programs

Many countries offer outbound scholarships for study abroad. Before applying to Spanish programs, check:

• USA: Fulbright (for research/postgraduate), Benjamin Gilman (for study abroad during bachelor’s, including language immersion)
• UK: Chevening (postgraduate, for future leaders)
• Brazil: CAPES (for postgraduate study abroad)
• Colombia: Colfuturo (for postgraduate, with return obligation)
• Mexico: CONACYT (for postgraduate research)
• India: ICCR (for study abroad including Spain)

Barcelona-specific programs

Program	Focus	Award
Barcelona School of Economics (BSE)	Economics master’s	Full tuition + stipend
IESE Business School	MBA	Partial merit-based scholarships
UPF ICREA (for researchers)	Research	Varies by position

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How Scholarships Affect the Student Visa

A scholarship award letter from a recognized institution serves as financial proof for your Spain student visa application. You do not need to show personal bank savings if the scholarship covers the required monthly amount (€600.53/month IPREM).

Required scholarship documentation for visa:

• Official award letter on institution letterhead
• Confirmation of monthly stipend amount and duration
• Confirmation that health insurance is included (or a separate policy certificate if not)

What the scholarship does NOT replace:

• Health insurance certificate (if the scholarship does not include it, you still need your own)
• Criminal record certificate (apostilled and translated)
• Medical certificate
• Accommodation proof
• Acceptance letter from the university

If your scholarship covers health insurance (MAECAECID and La Caixa INPhINIT both include it), submit the scholarship-provided insurance documentation instead of purchasing a separate policy.

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Interlink Can Help

We help international students navigate the scholarship + visa process in sequence — timing the scholarship acceptance, university enrollment, and visa application correctly so nothing creates a bottleneck.

Book a free consultation | WhatsApp: +34 635 994 844

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Related guides:

• Study in Spain University Guide 2026
• Spain Student Visa 2026: Complete Guide
• Spain Student Visa Financial Requirements 2026
• University vs Language School Visa Spain 2026
• Formación Profesional Spain: Free Vocational Training