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Scholarships in Spain for International Students in 2026: What Is Actually Open to Non-EU Applicants

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Spain's best-known scholarships are narrower than most guides suggest. The MAEC-AECID programmes for 2026/27 target public servants from Latin America, Africa, Asia and Ukraine, and Fundación Carolina accepts only nationals of Latin American countries. The Ministry of Education's general grants (becas generales) are open to foreigners only if they hold resident status, which a student stay permit is not. For most non-EU applicants — including those from Russia and Central Asia — the realistic money is elsewhere: Erasmus Mundus joint master's with a stipend of about $1,598 (€1,400) a month, "la Caixa" INPhINIT doctoral contracts open to any nationality, university grants and discounts, and Andalusia's 99% rebate on credits passed at the first attempt. Each award is decided by its owner — a consortium, foundation or university — so plan two or three lines at once.

Below: a comparison table, each funding line in detail, how a scholarship affects the student visa, a calendar for 2027/28 intake and common mistakes. Conditions were checked with AECID, Fundación Carolina, the European Commission, the "la Caixa" Foundation, universities and Spanish law on 24 September 2026. Dollar figures use the ECB rate of 23 September 2026 (€1 = $1.1411), rounded. For an overview of the country see studying in Spain.

Two-tier stone arcade of an inner courtyard with a tiled roof and a monument in the centre, seen through an arch
Cloister of the historic building of the University of Oviedo with the monument to its founder, Archbishop Fernando de Valdés Salas, Oviedo, Spain. Photo: Sitomon / source, CC BY-SA 2.5.

Scholarship map: who funds whom

Programme Decided by Level Open to non-EU applicants generally? What it gives When to apply
Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters University consortium Master's Yes; organisations from Russia and Belarus are excluded from the action, students are not Participation costs, $1,598 (€1,400) a month for the whole programme, contribution to travel and visa Usually October–January, a year before start
Doctoral INPhINIT Incoming ("la Caixa") Foundation and host centre PhD Yes, any nationality Employment contract up to 4 years, research costs, doctoral fees Usually autumn to January; confirm on the foundation's site
University grants and discounts University Bachelor's, master's Usually yes From a percentage discount to a tailored amount Per university, often with admission
Andalusian 99% rebate Region and university Bachelor's, master's Decree has no nationality limit; ask how your university treats non-residents 99% off next year's credits passed first time Applied at re-enrolment
MAEC-AECID Spanish Foreign Ministry via AECID Master's, specific programmes Only nationals of listed countries in Latin America, Africa, Asia and Ukraine, mostly public servants Monthly allowance and insurance 2026: May–June
Fundación Carolina Foundation Master's, PhD Only Latin American nationals Depends on programme 2026: 12 January–2 March (PhD until 9 April)
Beca general (national grant) Ministry of Education Bachelor's, master's Residents only Tuition and means-tested payments Spring

Why national grants are almost closed to students without residence

Spain's Aliens Act (Organic Law 4/2000, art. 9) gives foreigners over 18 access to the public grant system "on the same terms as Spaniards" only if they are residents, and Royal Decree 1721/2007 refers non-EU nationals back to that law. A student visa gives estancia (stay), not residencia. Universities say so explicitly: Complutense's fees page states that a student stay authorisation is not equivalent to residence. So the Ministry's beca general, regional grants and most municipal schemes are not available to a first-year international student. The 2026/27 income thresholds and amounts for the beca general were set by Royal Decree 179/2026, but they apply to residents.

The barrier is not permanent. A student who later obtains residence on another basis becomes eligible on the general terms.

MAEC-AECID: who the 2026/27 programmes are for

AECID scholarships are a development-cooperation tool, not an open international competition. In 2026 the agency's "Becas y Lectorados" page lists:

  • MASTER programme — an on-campus master's in Spain for public-sector employees from Latin America and the Philippines.
  • ESCUELA DIPLOMÁTICA — an inter-university master's in diplomacy and international relations for permanent public servants of listed countries in Latin America, Africa, Asia and Ukraine. Applications ran from 21 May to 3 June 2026; the award includes a monthly allowance, health insurance in Spain and accident insurance.
  • MÚSICA and ASALE — for Latin American and Spanish-speaking nationals.
  • The remaining lines are for young Spanish citizens.

Applicants from Central Asia should read the full call text for the relevant year: the country list is specific and changes, and the public-servant requirement narrows it further.

Fundación Carolina: Latin American nationals only

Fundación Carolina's FAQ is clear: its scholarships are for nationals of Latin American countries in the Ibero-American Community. Dual nationals may apply under that nationality. The 2026/27 call offered 736 awards (228 postgraduate, 120 doctoral and short postdoctoral stays, 114 doctoral renewals, 24 faculty mobility and 250 institutional). Postgraduate applications ran from 12 January to 2 March 2026; doctoral and mobility calls closed on 9 April.

Erasmus Mundus: the most realistic full master's scholarship

Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters are EU-funded programmes run by consortia of universities; many include Spanish partners.

  • Stipend: $1,598 (€1,400) a month for the whole programme, covering travel, visa, installation and living costs. Full scholarships also cover participation (tuition).
  • Length: one to two years, 60, 90 or 120 ECTS.
  • Mobility: at least two study periods in two countries, both different from the student's country of residence at enrolment. If you already live in Spain, a Spanish semester will not count towards that minimum.
  • Eligibility: a bachelor's degree, or final-year students graduating before the start. Apply directly to the consortium, usually October–January.
  • Russia: the Erasmus+ Programme Guide excludes organisations from Russia and Belarus from this action. It sets no nationality restriction for students; check each programme's own requirements.

Use the EACEA catalogue to shortlist consortia with Spanish partners. For single-university options see our guide to master's degrees in Spain.

Erasmus+ exchange semesters (international credit mobility) are arranged by your home university. Participation of organisations from Russia and Belarus is restricted; students at universities in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and other partner countries should ask their international office about agreements with Spanish universities.

PhD: "la Caixa" INPhINIT and research contracts

In Spain doctoral funding is usually an employment contract. The best-known programme for internationals is Doctoral INPhINIT Incoming:

  • Nationality: any.
  • Mobility rule: candidates must not have lived or carried out their main activity in Spain or Portugal for more than 12 months in the three years before the deadline.
  • Level: by recruitment, qualifications giving access to an official Spanish PhD programme; doctoral studies not yet started.
  • English: one of the certificates listed in the rules.
  • Support: up to 4 years covering labour costs, research costs and doctoral fees.
  • Timing: one call a year; applications usually close in January and results come in spring. Check the number of fellowships and exact dates in the rules of the 2027 call.

Universities and research centres also hire PhD candidates on project contracts. Immigration status changed in August 2026 as well: the Spanish consulate in Moscow announced that doctoral candidates are no longer treated as students. They need a researcher authorisation under art. 72 of Law 14/2013 and a national researcher visa (code RIN) instead of a study visa; the candidate or the university can apply for the authorisation, so agree the process with the host centre's HR or international office before filing. The 30-hour work cap for students does not apply to researchers.

University grants and discounts

For bachelor's and taught master's, the main money comes from universities themselves. Conditions vary, so read the becas y ayudas page of each university. The University of Navarra's published 2026/27 options illustrate the range:

  • Becas Alumni — for applicants with excellent school results and financial need; the university assesses family income and sets a tailored amount considering tuition, housing and other grants.
  • Programa de Ayudas Universidad de Navarra — personalised aid for good grades plus demonstrated need.
  • 16% off for a matrícula de honor — for international applicants if the school certifies a top-5% average.
  • 5% early-payment discount — for paying the full first year in advance (for 2026/27 the cut-off was 10 February 2026).

Business schools usually offer partial scholarships at admission; see our profiles of EU Business School Barcelona, GBSB Global Business School and Les Roches Marbella. At public universities the biggest saving often comes from choosing the region: a non-EU non-resident pays about $864 (€757) a year for a bachelor's in Andalusia at the base rate, and $7,785–9,342 (€6,823–8,186) in Madrid. See cost of studying in Spain.

Andalusia's 99% rebate

Andalusian Decree 98/2023 gives students at the region's public universities a 99% discount on credits passed at the first attempt in the previous year. Pass all 60 first-year credits and you pay 1% of the price for 60 credits in year two. For a first master's enrolment, the rebate uses credits from the last two years at an Andalusian university. The decree does not restrict it by nationality but lets universities vary prices for non-EEA non-residents, so ask your faculty office before enrolling. There is no rebate in the first year.

Regional and home-country programmes

Regions run their own grants (Catalonia through AGAUR, for example), usually for students at local public universities and often requiring residence, local registration (empadronamiento) or a national grant application. Check the call for the relevant year. Also check your own country's schemes — for example Kazakhstan's Bolashak — whose operator, not the Spanish university, sets partner lists and return obligations.

Scholarships and the student visa

You must prove living funds of $685 (€600) per month of stay (100% of IPREM in 2026). Article 35 of the Immigration Regulation expressly counts scholarships, grants and subsidies — and, for university students, a valid employment contract or firm job offer.

  • Bring an official award letter stating amount, duration and what is covered.
  • If the stipend is below $685 (€600) a month, top up with bank statements.
  • A tuition discount does not replace living funds.
  • If the award includes health insurance, attach the insurer's documents; cover must meet visa rules (insurer authorised in Spain, benefits comparable to the national health system's basic package, valid for the whole stay).

One caveat: students funded by development-cooperation or humanitarian programmes (Spanish or from their own country) cannot switch after graduation from student status to a work residence permit without a new visa (art. 190 of the Regulation). See our Spanish student visa guide.

Calendar for 2027/28 intake

When What to do
September–October 2026 Shortlist 5–8 Erasmus Mundus programmes with Spanish partners; PhD applicants find a supervisor and watch for the INPhINIT call
October 2026–January 2027 Apply to Erasmus Mundus consortia; sit a language test if needed
January 2027 Expected INPhINIT deadline; confirm the date in the 2027 call rules on the foundation's site
January–March 2027 Apply to universities and their grants; check private universities' early-payment deadlines
March–May 2027 Erasmus Mundus and INPhINIT results; university grant decisions
June–July 2027 Add the award letter to the visa file and apply

Building a scholarship plan

  1. Match the level. Bachelor's: university discounts and regional pricing. Master's: add Erasmus Mundus. PhD: contracts.
  2. Filter by nationality first, then read about amounts.
  3. Apply in parallel. You choose when the money arrives, not when you apply; disclose other support where required.
  4. Compare totals over the whole degree, including living costs.
  5. Keep a fallback the family can fund, such as a public university in a low-cost region.

Common mistakes

  • Counting on Fundación Carolina or MAEC-AECID without eligible nationality.
  • Assuming a student visa gives access to the national beca general.
  • Treating a tuition discount as living funds in the visa file.
  • Looking for Erasmus Mundus in March, when most calls have closed.
  • Applying to INPhINIT after more than 12 months in Spain in the last three years.
  • Not asking whether the Andalusian rebate applies to non-residents.

FAQ

Yes, mainly through Erasmus Mundus master's, doctoral contracts such as INPhINIT, and university grants. AECID and Fundación Carolina are restricted to specific nationalities, and national grants require residence.

Not from the state for non-residents. Private universities award need- and merit-based aid, such as Navarra's Becas Alumni. The most reliable saving is a public university in a low-price region plus Andalusia's rebate from year two if your university applies it.

$1,598 (€1,400) a month for the whole programme, covering travel, visa, installation and living; full scholarships also cover participation costs.

The Programme Guide excludes organisations from Russia and Belarus from this action but sets no nationality restriction for students, so they apply to consortia on general terms.

Nationals of Latin American countries in the Ibero-American Community, including dual nationals applying under that nationality.

Yes. Provide an official document with the amount and duration, and cover any shortfall below $685 (€600) a month with bank statements.

University students may work up to 30 hours a week, but a scholarship's own rules may limit this. See working while studying in Spain.

Sources

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