Spain PhD Scholarships (2026) Full Guide to Funding and Research Grants

Spain hosts 82 universities that offer diverse Spain PhD Scholarships programs for international researchers. The Spanish government invests over €1.2 billion annually into science, technology, and innovation. This funding supports thousands of PhD candidates through structured contracts rather than simple student stipends. You receive social security benefits, a monthly salary, and workplace protections as a doctoral trainee in Spain.

Spanish research centers consistently rank among the top 10% globally for scientific output in fields like biotechnology, renewable energy, and astrophysics. There are three primary sources of funding: national government grants, regional government programs, and private foundation fellowships. Most scholarships provide 4 years of full funding, covering both tuition fees and living expenses. These awards aim to attract global talent to strengthen the Spanish Research Area.

International students choose Spain because it offers a high quality of research at a lower cost of living than the UK or USA. You can live comfortably in most Spanish cities on a budget of €1,100 to €1,400 per month. The Spanish PhD system follows the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) standards, ensuring your degree is recognized worldwide. Securing a scholarship in Spain requires early planning, a strong academic record, and a confirmed thesis supervisor.

Eight Major PhD Scholarships in Spain

• FPU (Formación de Profesorado Universitario) Grants
• FPI (Formación de Personal Investigador) Contracts
• “la Caixa” Foundation INPhINIT Fellowships
• Industrial Doctorates (Doctorados Industriales)
• MAEC-AECID Scholarships
• Fundación Carolina Fellowships
• Regional Grants (FI-AGAUR, Juan de la Cierva predoctoral)
• Erasmus+ Mundus Joint Doctorates

1. FPU (Formación de Profesorado Universitario)

The Ministry of Universities (Ministerio de Universidades) awards the FPU grant to students pursuing a career in university teaching. This is a highly competitive merit-based award that evaluates your previous grades and the prestige of your research group.

• Financial Coverage: The FPU grant provides a monthly salary of approximately €1,240 to €1,650, depending on your year of study.
• Duration: The contract lasts for 4 years, with an optional 1-year extension for thesis completion.
• Eligibility: You must have a Master’s degree and a minimum GPA (usually above 7.5 on a 10-point scale).
• Teaching Component: Recipients must complete 60 to 180 hours of teaching practice during the third and fourth years.

You must secure a commitment from a Spanish university department, if you apply for the FPU grant. The selection process involves two phases: an initial screen of your academic transcripts and a detailed evaluation of your research project.

2. FPI (Formación de Personal Investigador)

The Ministry of Science and Innovation funds FPI contracts to support specific research projects. Unlike the FPU, where you bring the funding to a department, FPI funding belongs to a specific professor’s project.

• Application Method: You must apply directly to a research project that has already secured FPI funding from the government.
• Benefits: The FPI contract covers tuition fees, health insurance, and research stay allowances.
• Subject Focus: These grants usually focus on STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).

You should contact potential supervisors in October or November, if you want to find available FPI slots. The Ministry publishes a list of funded projects on its official portal every year.

3. “la Caixa” Foundation INPhINIT Fellowships

The “la Caixa” Foundation offers 35 “Incoming” and 30 “Retaining” fellowships for top-tier doctoral candidates. These are among the highest-paid PhD positions in Europe.

• Salary: The fellowship provides a total amount of €122,592 over three years.
• Additional Funds: You receive €3,564 annually for research costs, such as conference travel, laboratory supplies, and books.
• Training: Fellows attend mandatory workshops on leadership, communication, and ethics.

The INPhINIT “Incoming” program requires you to have resided in Spain for less than 12 months in the last 3 years. These fellowships are only available at centers with the “Severo Ochoa” or “María de Maeztu” excellence awards.

4. Industrial Doctorates

The Industrial Doctorate program promotes collaboration between universities and the private sector. You conduct your research within a company while remaining enrolled in a doctoral school.

• Salary: The company pays your salary, which is often higher than standard government grants.
• Employment: You sign a work contract with the company for at least 3 years.
• Goal: This program aims to solve real-world industrial problems (optimization of supply chains, development of new drugs, software engineering).

You will spend at least 50% of your time working at the company headquarters. This path is ideal for students who want to transition into the private sector after graduation.

5. MAEC-AECID Scholarships

The Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) manages these grants. They fund citizens from developing countries in Latin America, Africa, and Asia.

• Subject Focus: These grants prioritize research in sustainable development, gender equality, and public health.
• Financial Package: Recipients receive a monthly stipend of €1,200 to €2,200 depending on the specific program.
• Travel Benefits: The scholarship includes a one-time travel grant ranging from €200 to €1,500 based on the distance of your home country.
• Duration: Most MAEC-AECID PhD grants fund 9 to 12 months per academic year, with the possibility of annual renewal.

You must be a citizen of a partner country in the Spanish Cooperation system, if you apply for MAEC-AECID. The application window usually opens in February and closes in March.

6. Fundación Carolina Fellowships

The Fundación Carolina is the primary body for promoting academic relations between Spain and the Ibero-American Community of Nations. These fellowships target university teaching staff who wish to earn a doctorate.

• Award Numbers: The 2026/2027 call offers 40 new doctoral scholarships and 114 renewals.
• Shared Funding: The scholarship operates as a co-funding model between Fundación Carolina and your home university in Latin America.
• Monthly Pocket Money: You receive €550 to €600 per month as pocket money during your stay in Spain.
• Additional Coverage: The foundation covers five round-trip economy flights and non-pharmaceutical medical insurance.

You must be a national of an Ibero-American country (excluding Spain) and be nominated by your home university. The 2026 application period runs from January 12 to April 9.

7. Regional Grants: FI-AGAUR and Joan Oró

Specific regions in Spain, such as Catalonia, have their own funding agencies to attract global research talent. AGAUR (Agency for Management of University and Research Grants) manages the most prominent regional programs.

• FI-AGAUR (Joan Oró Grants): This is the main predoctoral contract for universities in Catalonia like UPC, UB, and UPF.
• Contract Duration: The grants last for 4 years, with a salary of approximately €17,651 to €18,912 per year.
• Eligibility: You must have an average grade of at least 6.50 on a 10-point scale for your previous university studies.
• Application Phases: Candidates submit a provisional application in January, followed by a confirmation phase in February.

You must be enrolled in a doctoral program at a Catalan university for the current academic year, if you wish to sign the contract. These grants are open to all nationalities.

Juan de la Cierva (Clarification)

While the Juan de la Cierva is technically a postdoctoral program, it is a vital part of the Spanish research career ladder.

• Purpose: It funds researchers who have recently obtained their PhD (within the last 2 years).
• Funding: The program provides an annual grant of €32,300 for salary and €7,400 for research expenses.

8. Erasmus+ Mundus Joint Doctorates

The Erasmus+ program facilitates Joint Doctorates, which allow you to conduct research in at least two different European countries. These are prestigious awards with a strong focus on international mobility.

• The 12-Month Rule: You are not eligible for the scholarship if you have lived in Europe for more than 12 months in the last 5 years.
• Monthly Allowance: Selected candidates receive €1,400 per month for the entire 24 to 36 months of the program.
• Degrees: Upon completion, you receive a double, multiple, or joint degree from the participating universities.
• Subjects: Programs cover niche areas such as marine biological resources, chemical innovation, and renewable energies.

You must hold a Bachelor’s degree and demonstrate a high level of English proficiency (C1 or C2). You should check the official Erasmus Mundus Catalogue in October for the upcoming 2027 intake.

Eligibility and Requirements

To secure a PhD scholarship in Spain, you must meet three specific criteria: academic qualifications, legal documentation, and linguistic proficiency.

Academic Qualifications

You must hold a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree totaling at least 300 ECTS credits. If your degrees are from outside the European Union, you must obtain a “declaration of equivalence” (equivalencia) from the Spanish Ministry of Education. This process verifies that your foreign degree grants you the same rights as a Spanish Master’s degree.

Legal Documentation

Non-EU students require a Student Visa (Type D) and a Foreigner Identity Card (TIE). You must submit three documents for the visa:

1. Admission letter from a Spanish university.
2. Proof of financial means (the scholarship award letter).
3. Medical certificate showing you are free of infectious diseases.

Language Skills

Most Spanish PhD programs require proof of language level, such as DELE (Spanish), IELTS, or TOEFL (English). Many STEM programs allow you to write and defend your thesis entirely in English. You must check the specific requirements of your university’s “Doctoral School” (Escuela de Doctorado).

Step-by-Step Application Guide

How to Find a Supervisor

Finding a supervisor is the first step in the Spanish PhD process. A supervisor provides the research plan, laboratory space, and institutional support needed for your application.

1. Search for research groups on platforms like ResearchGate, LinkedIn, or university portals.
2. Review their recent publications to ensure their interests match your project.
3. Send a professional email including your CV, Master’s transcript, and a brief research proposal.

How to Write a Research Proposal

A strong research proposal defines your objectives, methodology, and expected impact. Use a clear structure to help evaluators understand your vision.

• Title: Concise and descriptive.
• Background: Explain the current gap in scientific knowledge.
• Objectives: List 3 to 5 specific goals.
• Methodology: Describe the tools (surveys, experiments, software) you will use.
• Timeline: Use a Gantt chart to show your progress over 48 months.

How to Validate Your Foreign Degree

The validation process can take 3 to 6 months, so you should start early. You must submit your degree certificate and academic transcripts to the Ministry of Education website. These documents must be officially translated into Spanish and carry the Apostille of the Hague or legalisation stamps.

Important Deadlines and Timeline for 2026

You must follow a strict calendar to ensure you do not miss funding opportunities.

Living as a PhD Student in Spain

Spain offers a high quality of life with 300 days of sunshine in many regions. PhD students enjoy the same rights as workers, including paid vacation, sick leave, and maternity/paternity leave.

Cost of Living by City

Living costs vary significantly depending on your location.

• Madrid & Barcelona: Expect to pay €500–€700 for a room in a shared apartment.
• Valencia & Seville: Budget €350–€500 for housing.
• Granada & Santiago de Compostela: These are the most affordable student cities, with rooms starting at €250.

Healthcare

Scholarship holders are integrated into the Spanish National Health System (Seguridad Social). This provides you with free access to doctors, hospitals, and emergency services. You will receive a “SIP card” once your contract is signed and you are registered with the social security office.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work while on a PhD scholarship?

Most full-time scholarships in Spain forbid outside employment to ensure you focus on your research. However, you can receive small payments for participation in conferences, royalties from books, or brief consultancy if it does not exceed 30% of your scholarship amount.

Is it possible to get a PhD scholarship without speaking Spanish?

Yes, you can secure funding without Spanish, especially in Life Sciences, Engineering, and Physics. Many international research institutes in Spain (like ICFO or IRB Barcelona) use English as their official working language.

What happens if I don’t finish my thesis in 4 years?

You can request a one-year extension from the University Doctoral Committee. Note that most scholarships stop paying after the fourth year, so you may need to find alternative funding or use personal savings for the final months.

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