08 - Spain - Financial support for students

In order to guarantee equal opportunities concerning the right to education so that all students, regardless of their place of residence, have the same opportunities to gain access to higher education, the State has established a general scholarship and assistance system charged to its general budget in order to minimise the socio-economic obstacles nation-wide, which may prevent or hinder access or continuation in higher education for those students who can follow these studies successfully.

As regards post-compulsory secondary studies, university and postgraduate studies, the State annually announces scholarships and assistance directed at students in difficult financial circumstances and for those with good academic records. This assistance is organised on a national level. There are two types of scholarships and assistance:

General scholarships and assistance:

The Ministry of Education and Science ( MEC) annually organises different types of study grants and assistance for higher education students. This assistance aims to guarantee the principle of equal opportunities as regards access to education.

These grants include the following: compensatory assistance, assistance with expenses resulting from the distance between the family residence and the educational institution, assistance with expenses derived from living away from the family residence, assistance towards the cost of educational materials and/or assistance for enrolment fees in publicly funded institutions.

Eligibility for this assistance is subject to meeting specific requirements concerning family income, distance between the family residence and the educational institution, and academic results. The amount of financial assistance varies according to the specific circumstances of each student. Besides this state assistance organised by the MEC, the Autonomous Communities may also offer other types of assistance with similar general guidelines to those described above and which aim to complement the assistance organised by the MEC.

Special scholarships and assistance:

This category includes, among other things, awards and assistance granted to higher education students for extraordinary academic performance.

Even though requirements for obtaining scholarships and general financial assistance are common to university and non-university education, the special scholarships and assistance are specific to each type of higher education provision.

University Education

The Government regulates the basic aspects of study grants and assistance: the types, amounts and the academic and economic conditions candidates must meet, as well as the cases of incompatibility, revocation and reinstatement and the necessary requirements, socio-economic conditions and any other factor to guarantee equal access throughout the State. However, the development, execution and control of the general system of study grants and assistance is the responsibility of the Autonomous Communities in their respective areas of authority in cooperation with the universities, with the aim of facilitating a decentralised management and compliance with the regional idiosyncrasy envisaged by the relevant legislation. There are also coordination mechanisms between the Government and the different Autonomous Communities within the General Assembly for University Policy.

In addition, public universities may similarly establish types of partial or total exemption from registration fees.

As regards the type of study grants and assistance for higher education students, there are general grants, which are organised by the Ministry of Education and Science ( MEC). In addition, and closely related to the above, there are university grants organised by the Autonomous Communities which aim to assist a larger number of students (normally by lowering the required threshold in order to be awarded the grant). Besides, there are special study grants. Within this category of special assistance, there are many types of grant both from public and private institutions, which include the following:

• Mobility grants for higher education students studying in a different Autonomous Community from that of their origin. These grants allow students to apply for universities of their choice regardless of the university where they passed the university entrance examination. Mobility grants are subject to academic and financial requirements.
• Collaboration grants. These are organised annually by the MEC in order to facilitate the collaboration of students in their final year of studies in different departments, compatible with their studies. This type of grant allows students to take the first steps in research or practical activities connected to their studies. The requirements to be met for applying for these grants are purely academic.
• National end-of-degree awards. These awards organised annually are aimed at those students who have finished higher education in Spanish university institutions. A national award is granted to the student who has the best student record in each of the different official university qualifications, excluding the different specialisations.

As regards third cycle studies, the MEC annually organises nationwide public grants for doctoral students, in which the maximum amount of money to be awarded is specified. Both the Autonomous Communities and the universities offer similar grants. The aim of research grants and assistance is to train future lecturers and researchers. The MEC and the Autonomous Communities also offer different types of scholarships for Master’s studies.

Besides these research grants of a predoctoral nature, the MEC, the Autonomous Communities and other private institutions also offer postdoctoral assistance and grants once the student has obtained the Doctor degree which aim to train doctors in academic and scientific research work. There is another type of special assistance in order to encourage excellent academic performance in third cycle studies. This assistance includes grants to cover doctoral enrolment fees, doctoral thesis awards, assistance to attend presentations and conferences or scholarships to facilitate exchanges, such as mobility grants for students carrying out doctoral studies which have obtained quality status.

Finally, in 2007, the MEC established the University Loan Programme (Préstamos Renta Universidad) with the aim of helping university graduates to finance their Master’s studies, provided they have obtained their first university degree from 2003 onwards and they have registered or have been accepted in a Master’s programme (officially recognised in Spain or in any of the countries of the European Higher Education Area) of at least 60 ECTS credits.

Non-University Education

The information regarding the characteristics of financial assistance and grants for non-university higher education is available in the following subsections.

Advanced Specific Vocational Training

The Ministry of Education and Science and the Autonomous Communities organise a series of general grants for advanced vocational training.

In addition, there are the Special Vocational Training Awards, at regional level and for each of the different types of professional families regulated in Spain, and the National Vocational Training Awards, for those students who have already obtained an award at regional level. These awards are meant to officially recognise the effort, dedication and work of those students who finish their vocational training with an excellent academic record.

Specialised Education

The information regarding the characteristics of financial assistance and grants for each of the enseñanzas de régimen especial is available in the following subsections.

Artistic studies

There are two types of financial assistance for the students of Advanced Artistic studies, either the students of the ciclos formativos of advanced Plastic Arts and Design or those who study advanced Artistic studies: general grants and special assistance. Within the latter, the Autonomous Communities offer assistance aimed at covering enrolment fees, travel, board or meal expenses.

Some Autonomous Communities also provide special assistance for those who begin their Artistic studies in institutions in other Autonomous Communities. This assistance falls into two types: assistance covering living expenses and assistance for regular travel expenses. These grants are incompatible with the general grants of the Ministry of Education and Science.

Similarly, in some Autonomous Communities there are awards offered by either public or private institutions which aim to encourage professional competence at the highest level among students in Artistic education institutions.

Institutions:

 

CONSEJO DE COORDINACIÓN UNIVERSITARIA
c/ Juan del Rosal, 14 Ciudad Universitaria 28040 Madrid
Tel.:+34.91.453.98.00
Fax:+34.91.453.98.86/91.453.98.86
Website:  http://wwwn.mec.es/educa/ccuniv/

 

MINISTERIO DE EDUCACIÓN Y CIENCIA
c/ Alcalá, 36 28014 Madrid
Tel.:902.21.85.00/ 902.21.86.00/+34.91.589.66.08
Fax:+34.91.701.86.48/ +34.91.589.66.14
E-mail: infoedu@mec.es
Website:  http://www.mec.es

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