Scholarships in Spain for International Students: Types, Coverage & More

Overview

Studying in Spain can be more affordable than in many Western European destinations, with public university fees set by each region and generally remaining relatively low. Scholarships can reduce these costs further and, in some cases, cover them completely.

However, finding the right scholarship can be confusing. Many online lists combine awards with very different eligibility rules-some are open to international students. In contrast, others are limited to specific nationalities and may not be available to Indian applicants.

If you're planning to study in Spain, this guide breaks down the main scholarship options, what they cover, who can apply, and which opportunities are relevant for Indian students targeting the 2027 intake.

What Types of Scholarships Are Available in Spain for International Students?

Funding in Spain comes from four broad sources:

• EU-funded scholarships: mainly Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters, open to students from any country and including a monthly allowance.
• Foundation fellowships: mostly for doctoral research, such as the “la Caixa” Foundation INPhINIT programme.
• University and business school awards: partial tuition reductions from private institutions like IE University and ESADE, usually based on merit and, in some cases, financial need.
• Spanish government cooperation scholarships: the MAEC-AECID programmes, which are aimed at specific countries and professional profiles.

Are Spanish Government (MAEC-AECID) Scholarships Open to Indian Students?

This is the most common source of confusion. MAEC-AECID is the best-known Spanish government scholarship, and several “scholarships in Spain for Indian students” pages list it as available. The official AECID calls say otherwise.

• The MAEC-AECID Master programme is aimed at public employees from Latin American countries and the Philippines.
• The 2026/27 Africa-Med Master programme is for citizens of African and Middle Eastern countries.
• The Diplomatic School programme lists countries in Latin America, Africa and the Middle East, plus the Philippines and Ukraine.

India does not appear in any of these country lists. Since AECID publishes eligible countries in each annual call, always read the current call on the AECID website before planning around it. For most Indian applicants, the realistic options are the ones below.

Which Scholarships in Spain Can Indian Students Actually Apply For?

1. Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EMJM)

Erasmus Mundus is the most accessible fully funded route for Indian students. These are two-year joint master’s programmes run by consortia of European universities, and students from all countries can apply. The scholarship covers participation costs (including tuition and insurance), a monthly subsistence allowance of €1,400 for up to 24 months (a maximum of €33,600), and an optional contribution to travel and installation, which some programmes deduct from the monthly amount.

For 2027, the European Commission selected 37 new Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters in July 2026. They are expected to open for student applications in autumn 2026, for programmes starting in September 2027. Each consortium sets its own deadline, so check the individual programme page, and confirm which partner universities are in Spain before you shortlist.

2. “la Caixa” Foundation INPhINIT Doctoral Fellowships

For PhD aspirants, INPhINIT is one of the strongest options in Spain. The foundation grants 60 fellowships a year, split between an Incoming call (30 places) and a Retaining call (30 places), and applicants of any nationality can apply. The Incoming call is for candidates who have not lived or worked mainly in Spain or Portugal for more than twelve months in the previous three years, and the doctorate must be done at a Spanish research centre with Severo Ochoa or María de Maeztu accreditation, a Carlos III Health Institute centre, or an excellent Portuguese centre.

Coverage is generous: €35,800 a year in labour costs (with a minimum gross salary of €25,000), €3,500 a year for research costs, and doctoral tuition fees, for up to four years. The 2026 Incoming call closed on 28 January, so plan for a similar window in the next cycle and confirm the dates on the foundation’s website.

3. IE University Master’s Awards

IE University automatically considers all admissions applicants for merit-based awards that can cover 10% to 40% of master’s tuition, with no separate application. IE also lists application-based awards, and some scholarships offered through partner organisations and donors can cover up to 100% of tuition and living costs. These are partial waivers for most students, so budget for the remaining fees and living costs.

4. ESADE MSc Excellence Awards and Need-Based Scholarships

ESADE’s MSc Excellence Awards range from 10% to 50% of tuition, with an average award of 26% at the last intake. They are assessed alongside your admission file, including essays, transcripts, GMAT or GRE scores, recommendation letters and interview reports, so it pays to apply at the same time as your programme application. Separate need-based MSc scholarships cover 50% to 85% of tuition, but the number is limited, and you must be admitted first. At bachelor’s level, ESADE’s Talent Scholarships cover 60% to 100% of tuition based on academic results and financial need.

5. External and Non-Spain-Specific Options

Some foundations fund postgraduate study in several countries. The Aga Khan Foundation, for example, offers postgraduate scholarships to outstanding students from a list of countries that includes India, and the Rotary Foundation funds graduate study through its own programme. Both have their own eligibility rules, so verify current terms directly with the provider.

What Do Scholarships in Spain Usually Cover?

• Full-funding schemes (Erasmus Mundus, INPhINIT): tuition plus a monthly allowance or salary, so living costs are largely handled.
• Partial awards (IE, ESADE): a percentage of tuition only. Rent, food, insurance, and travel remain your responsibility.
• Application effort: full-funding schemes are far more competitive, so most students combine one or two long-shot applications with a realistic partial award.

How Much Does Studying in Spain Cost Without a Scholarship?

Public university tuition is set by each autonomous community, so costs vary by region. Reported ranges for a public master’s programme run from roughly €1,000 to €6,600 a year, depending on the region, the university, and whether a higher non-EU rate applies. Private universities and business schools are a different tier, generally from about €8,000 to €25,000 a year, and full MBAs at the top business schools cost considerably more.

For the student visa, you need to show at least €600 per month (100% of the 2026 IPREM) for your stay, and scholarship certificates can count as proof of funds. Student authorisation also allows up to 30 hours of work per week, provided it is compatible with your studies, under Royal Decree 1155/2024. Overall, a year at a public university, including living costs, is commonly estimated at €8,000 to €15,000 in an affordable city and €12,000 to €20,000 in Madrid or Barcelona.

What Do Scholarship Committees Actually Look At?

Scholarship selection rarely rests on grades alone. Programmes publish their own criteria, but the same elements keep appearing:

• Academic record and its relevance to the programme you are applying to.
• A focused motivation letter or Statement of Purpose. One Erasmus Mundus consortium, for example, weights academic merit at 45%, the personal statement at 30%, other experience at 15%, and references at 10%.
• Quality of recommendation letters.
• Research, work, or project experience, especially for doctoral fellowships.
• Proof of English proficiency for English-taught programmes.

Common Mistakes Indian Applicants Make

1. Planning around MAEC-AECID because it tops search results, without checking the eligible countries in the official call.
2. Assuming “fully funded” covers everything. Travel and installation contributions can reduce the monthly Erasmus Mundus amount, and IE or ESADE awards cover tuition only.
3. Waiting for an admission offer before thinking about funding. Erasmus Mundus scholarship applications go in with the programme application, and ESADE advises applying for awards at the initial application stage.
4. Ignoring the mobility rule for INPhINIT Incoming, or applying to a research centre that does not hold the required accreditation.
5. Copying one Statement of Purpose across every application instead of tailoring it to each programme’s stated goals.
6. Leaving deadlines to the last month. Many funding calls close months before the programme starts.

Final Takeaway

Scholarships in Spain are real, but the country-restricted ones dominate the search results. For Indian students, the strongest routes are Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters and, for research careers, la Caixa INPhINIT, supported by partial awards from universities like IE and ESADE. Start with the schemes you are actually eligible for, apply early, and treat partial awards as a way to reduce cost rather than a guarantee of free study.

How Can We Help You?

My Study Offers, a global education platform for students, helps Indian students build a realistic funding plan to study in Spain. We verify scholarship eligibility against official calls, shortlist universities and programmes that match your profile and budget, and support you with documents, application timelines, and student visa requirements.

We don't promise guaranteed scholarships. We help you identify the opportunities you genuinely qualify for and prepare stronger applications for them.

FAQs

Q1. Can Indian students get a fully funded scholarship in Spain?

Yes, through routes that are open to all nationalities, mainly Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters for master’s students and la Caixa INPhINIT for PhD students. The Spanish government’s MAEC-AECID programmes are aimed at specific countries and do not list India.

Q2. When should I apply for scholarships for the 2027 intake?

The new Erasmus Mundus programmes for September 2027 are expected to open for applications in autumn 2026, and most deadlines fall between October and January, though each programme sets its own. IE awards are considered automatically during admission, and the INPhINIT Incoming call has closed in late January in recent cycles.

Q3. Are there scholarships for bachelor’s students in Spain?

Fewer, and mostly from universities. ESADE, for example, offers bachelor’s Talent Scholarships covering 60% to 100% of tuition based on academic results and financial need. Most fully funded international schemes focus on master’s and doctoral study.

Q4. Can I work while studying in Spain?

Yes. Under Royal Decree 1155/2024, higher education students can work up to 30 hours per week without a separate permit, as long as the work is compatible with their studies.

Q5. How much money do I need to show for the Spain student visa?

The requirement is 100% of the monthly IPREM, which is €600 per month in 2026, for the length of your stay. Savings, sponsor letters, and scholarship certificates can all be used as evidence.

Q6. Is English enough, or do I need Spanish?

For English-taught programmes, you need proof of English proficiency, and the exact score depends on the programme. Check each programme’s language of instruction, since some scholarships and degrees run in Spanish.