Fully Funded Scholarships in Spain 2026 for International Students

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Fully Funded Scholarships in Spain 2026 for International Students

What if your dream of studying in Spain could come true—without draining your bank account? Imagine walking through centuries-old campuses in Barcelona, Madrid, or Granada, with your tuition, research costs, and even living expenses covered.

This is not just a fantasy. Spain is once again opening its doors to international students with fully funded scholarships and fellowships for the 2026–2027 academic year.

In this guide, we’ll break down:

✅ The best fully funded scholarships in Spain for 2026
✅ Application timelines you can’t afford to miss
✅ Major foundations, EU programs, and top universities offering financial aid

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🌟 Why Study in Spain in 2026?

Spain has become one of Europe’s most popular education hubs, offering the perfect mix of academic excellence and affordability.

Here’s why 2026 is the perfect year to apply:

Globally recognized universities: University of Barcelona, Autonomous University of Madrid, and Pompeu Fabra are ranked among Europe’s best.
Fully funded opportunities: Programs like La Caixa and Fundación Carolina provide tuition waivers, monthly stipends, and even travel grants.
Affordable living: Cities like Valencia and Granada are cheaper than London or Paris, but just as lively.
English-friendly programs: Many master’s and PhD programs are offered in English.

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🇪🇸 National & EU-Backed Scholarships for 2026 Intake

1️⃣ MAEC-AECID Scholarships

Spain’s official cooperation agency funds master’s and postgraduate studies for students from Latin America, Africa, and the Philippines.

Benefits:
✅ Tuition coverage
✅ Monthly stipend
✅ Health insurance
✅ Travel costs

📅 Next Call: June 2026

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2️⃣ Fundación Carolina Scholarships

A major opportunity for Ibero-American students, with hundreds of fully or partially funded awards every year.

Covers: tuition fees, living costs, and travel support.

📅 Application Window: January – March/April 2026

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3️⃣ FPU / FPI Predoctoral Contracts

Four-year paid PhD contracts offering a salary (~€24,000/year) and mobility allowances.

📅 Timeline: Mid-January to mid-February 2026

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4️⃣ MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships

Two-year fully funded fellowships for postdocs in Spain.

Benefits: salary, mobility allowance, and research costs.

📅 2025 Call Deadline: September 10, 2025 (results early 2026)

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5️⃣ Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s

The most popular EU program, offering full scholarships for master’s students worldwide.

Covers: tuition fees, travel support, installation allowance, and €1,000–€1,200/month stipend.

📅 Applications Open: October 2025 – January 2026

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🏛 Major Foundations & Corporate Scholarships

🔹 “la Caixa” Foundation

Junior Leader Postdoc Fellowships – Deadline: September 2025, results March 2026
INPhINIT PhD Fellowships – Focused on STEM fields, applications open in autumn

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🔹 Iberdrola International Master’s Scholarships

Perfect for students in energy, engineering, and digital economy fields.

📅 Expected Opening: March/April 2026

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🔹 Santander Open Academy

Offers thousands of mobility scholarships every year for study stays in Spain.

📅 Call Opens: Spring 2026

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University / Program

What It Offers

Who Can Apply

Application Timeline

Why It Stands Out

Zaragoza Logistics Center (ZLOG)

Tuition reductions + competitive scholarships for the MIT–Zaragoza Master

Master’s in logistics, engineering, supply chain

Multiple rounds (late 2025 – mid-2026)

Backed by MIT, globally recognized

Barcelona School of Economics (BSE)

Partial to full scholarships

Master’s in econ, finance, data science

Priority deadline: Jan 2026

Ranked among Europe’s best in economics

ICFO – Institute of Photonic Sciences

Fully funded PhD contracts

PhD candidates in physics, optics, engineering

Rolling applications

Access to world-class labs

University of Navarra

10–50% tuition scholarships

International master’s applicants

Calls open late 2025

Global research-driven Catholic university

Universitat de València (UV) with AUIP

Master’s scholarships for Latin American students

AUIP-affiliated university graduates

Spring 2026

Strong Latin American collaboration

UIC Barcelona

20% tuition waiver (International Excellence Scholarships)

Undergraduate & master’s

Opens late 2025

English-friendly, innovative programs

UNEATLANTICO

Merit & collaboration scholarships

Undergraduates in multiple programs

Late 2025 – start of academic year

Flexible aid packages

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📅 Scholarship Timeline – Plan Your 2026 Applications

September 2025: Focus on la Caixa Postdoc + MSCA applications
October 2025 – January 2026: Erasmus Mundus, BSE, and INPhINIT
January – April 2026: Fundación Carolina, FPU/FPI, Iberdrola, Santander
April – June 2026: UV-AUIP & MAEC-AECID
Rolling: ZLOG, ICFO, Navarra, UIC, UNEATLANTICO

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🎯 Final Thoughts

Studying in Spain on a fully funded scholarship is more than just free tuition — it’s about gaining global exposure, cutting-edge knowledge, and a world-class network. Whether you’re a master’s applicant, PhD researcher, or postdoc scholar, 2026 is packed with opportunities to make your Spain study dream a reality.

Don’t wait until the last minute — start preparing your documents, CV, and motivation letter now.

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