Course and university fees in Spain can be expensive, but thankfully there several MEC scholarships and grants available to students who have fewer economic resources, in order to help them out.
What are MEC scholarships?
MEC scholarships are funding supplied by the Spanish Ministry of Education to students of all types and ages in Spain, as well as teachers and educational centres.
The idea is to provide financial aid so people's education does not depend on their economic circumstances and education is available to all.
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Who's eligible?
The scholarships are available to a wide range of students, whether Spanish or international, but they must have residency in Spain when they apply.
One of the key factors on if you're eligible or not is income. Your family's assets and income must not exceed certain thresholds, which can depend on where you live in the country, as well as personal circumstances.
You must also have earned certain academic grades before you apply. For example, you must have an average grade of 5 or higher and if you are studying vocational training, Baccalaureate or secondary school, you must have passed all subjects, except one. If your studies were abroad, your grades will be discussed to see if you meet the academic requirements.
It is not necessary to already be a student and enrolled on a course, but you will have to once you're accepted. It is not possible to apply for the grants from abroad, however. As mentioned above, you must already have legal residency in Spain.
They're not only for university studies, but also for vocational courses, studying for bachillerato in secondary school, languages courses, sports education or arts programmes, among many others.
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How much are they worth?
The amount you receive will depend on your financial circumstances, where you intend to study and on the level of course.
The fixed amount linked to the student’s income will be €1,700 for both university and non-university students.
The amount, also fixed, linked to the student’s residence during the academic year will be €2,700 for both university and non-university students.
Grants for academic excellence range from €50-€125 for both university and non-university students.
The basic grant for non-university students is €300, whilst the grant for vocational training students is €350.
How much you're eligible for depends on how old you are, where and what you're studying, and what the aid would be used for.
How do I apply?
You must apply using the form available online via the Ministry website, available here.
In order to do this, you will need to register first at the electronic headquarters of the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training. You can do this with your digital certificate or with your ID, if you're Spanish.
Applications are open from now until May 18 2026 at 3.00 pm.
In May or June, your application will be checked by the region you applied in.
Then in July, your financial circumstances will be checked and verified. You should receive a final answer by August.
Scholarships will be processed in September and October and the results of your previous studies will be taken into account, so you won't know exactly how much you'll receive beforehand.
Finally, from October to December, a final resolution with the amount will be sent out and the grant will be given, if successful.
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