Scholarships in Spain for International Students (2027/28 Guide)

Yes, there are scholarships in Spain for international students, but they are fewer and more targeted than many websites suggest. Spain has no general government scholarship open to all non-EU students. Your realistic options are Erasmus Mundus master's scholarships, program-specific university and regional awards, and merit scholarships at private universities.

This guide lists the funding we could verify on official pages, who can apply, and when. If you read about a fully funded Spanish government scholarship for everyone, be careful: we did not find one.

Spanish government scholarships: what really exists

The Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) publishes the MAEC-AECID scholarship calls on its Becas y Lectorados page. Recent programs target Latin America, the Philippines, specific public-sector groups or Spanish nationals. There is no general MAEC-AECID bachelor's or master's scholarship open to all international students.

One example: the 2026/27 MAEC-AECID Escuela Diplomática program funds the Interuniversity Master in Diplomacy and International Relations. It covers a monthly allowance plus health and accident insurance, but it is only for permanent civil servants or public employees from countries listed in the call (in Latin America, Africa, Asia and Ukraine). Applications ran from 21 May to 3 June 2026. We could not verify whether Afghanistan was on the list.

Erasmus Mundus: the best chance of full funding

Erasmus Mundus joint master's are run by consortia of European universities, many including Spanish ones. According to the official Erasmus Mundus catalogue, students from anywhere in the world can apply, many (not all) programs offer scholarships, and most applications are due between October and January for the following academic year. You apply through each program's own website, not through the catalogue.

Spanish universities taking part in Erasmus Mundus master's in our database include UPC, the Autonomous University of Barcelona, the Autonomous University of Madrid, the University of the Basque Country, the University of Oviedo, the University of Córdoba, Universitat Jaume I and the University of Girona, among others.

University and regional awards you can apply for

Lower tuition through regional rules

Some regional rules work like a discount. In Andalusia, a 99% bonus applies from the second year to credits passed the year before at universities such as Seville and Jaén (check eligibility for non-residents). In Asturias, master's tuition is free for 2026/27 for low-income households, but the University of Oviedo notes that for non-EU students from most countries only the regional part is free and its foreigner surcharge still applies.

Private university merit scholarships

Private universities are expensive, but many publish their own merit and need-based aid:

• Esade (Ramon Llull University): MSc Excellence Awards, typically 10–50% of tuition (average 26%).
• IE University: IE Foundation scholarships and need- or merit-based aid. For 2027/28 bachelor's, Round 2 (closing 15 January 2027) is the latest round to qualify for IE Foundation scholarships, with the financial-aid application due by 28 February.
• Loyola University: Academic Excellence awards of up to 100% of master's or PhD cost (up to 15 per master's).
• Universitat Internacional de Catalunya: International Excellence (BEI) scholarships tied to a specific entrance-exam date.
• University of Deusto: Fundación Vizcaína Aguirre scholarships of up to 100% of tuition and accommodation for its BMA undergraduate program.
• Nebrija University: excellence grants of up to 40% for outstanding bachelor's applicants.

Read the conditions carefully: some awards are tied to early application rounds, specific exam dates or minimum grades. Francisco de Vitoria University, for example, states it has no financial aid for students without legal residence in Spain.

Funding by study level

Bachelor's

Funding for international bachelor's students comes mainly from private universities' own merit and need-based aid, as listed above. Public universities rarely have bachelor's scholarships for new non-EU students, and the Ministry's general grants require residence. UNIE University, for example, lists ten €1,000 grants for on-campus bachelor's students alongside its academic-achievement scholarships.

Master's

This is where most options are: Erasmus Mundus, program-specific awards at public universities, regional programs such as NAEX Talento, and private business-school awards. Many are attached to one specific program, so choose the program first and then look at its funding page.

PhD

Doctoral funding usually comes as research contracts rather than scholarships. CUNEF University, for example, offered four pre-doctoral contracts of up to 4 years for 2026/27. Remember that doctoral candidates apply for a researcher visa, not a study visa.

Applicants from Afghanistan, Pakistan and similar countries

We did not find any Spanish university scholarship reserved for Afghan or Pakistani applicants. Several universities state this directly: Universitat Politècnica de València offers grants for talented Ibero-American students only, and Alfonso X el Sabio University lists partner scholarships for specific countries with none for Afghanistan. Your best routes are open-nationality awards such as Erasmus Mundus and university talent scholarships.

How to apply: a practical plan

1. 1

   Start a year early

   Erasmus Mundus deadlines fall mostly between October and January, and many university awards require that you have already applied for admission.

2. 2

   Convert your grade

   Use the ministry's free average grade equivalence. It is used in competitive procedures such as scholarships.

3. 3

   Apply in the first admission round

   Early rounds give you the best chance at limited awards and leave time for the visa.

4. 4

   Check eligibility line by line

   Look for nationality, residence, field of study and minimum grade conditions.

5. 5

   Use home-country funding too

   UAM says its early admission is meant to let international students apply for home-country scholarships and the visa in time.

6. 6

   Keep proof for the visa

   A scholarship letter can count as proof of funds for the visa and for renewals.

Other ways to fund your studies

• Part-time work: higher-education students in Spain may work up to 30 hours, compatible with studies, without a separate work permit. It helps with living costs but cannot replace the funds you must prove for the visa.
• Lower-cost regions: choosing a public university with no non-EU surcharge, such as in Andalusia, can save more than many partial scholarships.
• Payment plans: several private universities, including Loyola and ESIC, publish financing plans or instalments.
• Home-country and employer funding: government, foundation or employer sponsorships from your own country can also be used as proof of funds.

Honest expectations

Full scholarships covering tuition and living costs are rare in Spain outside Erasmus Mundus and a few targeted programs. Most awards are partial and competitive. Build your budget assuming you pay full fees, then treat any award as a bonus. Our cost of studying in Spain guide shows where tuition is lowest.

You can track deadlines for free on FindUniPath, including admission rounds that scholarships depend on. For the full journey, see the complete guide to studying in Spain.