The Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sport has already opened the application period for the MEC scholarships for the 2026-2027 academic year, aimed at post-compulsory studiesFrom Tuesday, April 7th until May 18th at 15:00 PM, students can submit their application electronically through the Ministry's online portal.
With a budget that reaches 2.559 billion euros and a forecast of almost one million beneficiariesThis initiative has become a cornerstone of educational policy in Spain. The grants aim to reduce economic, social, and personal inequalities, with a particular focus on students with special educational needs and those who need to relocate to continue their studies.
Key dates and how to submit your application
The application period began on Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at 8:00 a.m. and will remain open until Monday, May 18, 2026 at 15:00 p.m. Applications will not be accepted outside of these dates, so it is recommended not to wait until the last minute to avoid unforeseen circumstances or the need to provide additional documentation at the last minute.
All the paperwork is done online through the Electronic headquarters of the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and SportIn the scholarships section, the student must identify themselves (using their own registration, Cl@ve, or electronic certificate), complete the form, and submit the application electronically.
The form is initially filled out with provisional data on studies, center and academic situationThis means that it is not yet necessary to know the final grade for the course or to have fully decided what studies will be pursued next year: this information can be changed later in the application process.
Once the application has been submitted, the case tracking This process is also carried out through the online portal, in the "My Files" section. Individual notifications regarding the granting or denial of the scholarship are sent electronically, in "My Notifications," so it is advisable to check this section regularly.
Those who have doubts during the process can consult the website itself.You can call 910 837 937 or go to the Scholarship Unit in your province, where they offer guidance on requirements, documentation and the status of your application.
What studies do the MEC Scholarships cover?
The call for applications maintains a very broad scope. The aid is aimed at students who will be undertaking post-compulsory education. in the Spanish education system, valid throughout the national territory, both in public centers and in private subsidized centers that meet the established requirements.
In the non-university sector, scholarships cover High school and Vocational training at its different levels: Intermediate Vocational Training cycles, Higher Vocational Training cycles and Basic Vocational Training cycles, including Vocational Training studies in authorized military educational centers.
The following are also considered: professional artistic trainingsports instruction and higher religious studiesLanguage studies at publicly owned Official Language Schools are also included, both in face-to-face and distance learning modalities.
The call also covers various access and preparation courses linked to vocational training: courses for the entrance exams to intermediate and higher level vocational training cycles, as well as specific training courses for access, provided that they are taught in public or subsidized centers that have authorized Vocational Training education.
In higher education and university settings, scholarships are aimed at higher artistic education and official university degree studies and MasterThis includes courses taught at university centers of the Ministry of Defense and the Civil Guard, as well as at the National Police University Training Center. It also covers the university entrance preparation course for students over 25 years of age taught by public universities and the supplementary credits required to obtain a Bachelor's or Master's degree.
The following are excluded from this call for applications: doctoral studies, specialization programs and university-specific degrees, which are governed by other specific lines of financing.
Record budget and number of expected beneficiaries
The Government has allocated a investment of 2.559 million eurosThe largest amount ever allocated to scholarships and study grants. According to data provided by the Ministry, this represents the ninth consecutive increase of this item since 2018, the year in which 1.399 billion was invested. In that period, the overall allocation has grown by around 83%.
With this budget, the Ministry estimates that Approximately 752.000 students will receive aid from the general call for applicationsThey will be joined by around 225.000 students with specific educational support needs, who will have access to help lines tailored to their situation.
The budget increase seeks to consolidate the scholarship as a tool to guarantee access to education and reduce socioeconomic gaps throughout the country. In regions like Andalusia, for example, recent calls for applications have seen more than 125.000 students receive scholarships in vocational training programs and other post-compulsory non-university education alone, with the Baccalaureate being one of the levels with the highest number of beneficiary students.
The regulatory framework for the call for proposals is set out in the Royal Decree 179 / 2026, of March 11, published in the Official State Gazette (BOE), which details the conditions, amounts, economic thresholds and procedures for managing the aid.
New features of the MEC Scholarships 2026-2027
The new call for applications incorporates changes that affect both the financial aspects and the academic requirements. Among the main changes, one of the most notable concerns... university students and students of higher artistic studies with part-time enrollment.
Starting this course, those enrolled in between 48 and 59 credits They may receive, provided they meet the other conditions, part of the income-related amount and part of the residency-related amount. Each of these components is set at 350 EurosThis will allow some 20.000 students with part-time enrollment to access aid that was previously almost exclusively associated with full-time enrollment.
Relevant adjustments are also introduced for the students with recognized disabilities between 25% and 64% who are pursuing university studies or higher artistic education. For this group, full enrollment, for scholarship purposes, will be considered to be registered in 45 credits instead of the usual 60, thus making the required teaching load more flexible.
In the territorial section, support is strengthened for the Students from Ceuta and Melilla who must travel to the Peninsula to continue their studies. The additional travel allowance is doubled in this call for applications, increasing from 444 to 888 Euros, matching the one that students in the islands were already receiving.
Another significant modification is the update of wealth thresholds by around 10% on averageThese limits had not been reviewed for 15 years, so the adjustment aims to adapt the economic criteria to the current reality of families and expand access to aid to those who were in critical situations due to the age of these limits.
In the area of ​​competences, a specific change occurs in Catalonia. Students whose family residence is in this autonomous community will process the general scholarship through the calls for applications issued by the Generalitat.This applies to both university and non-university studies, respecting the same application deadlines. Catalonia thus assumes the management of these state grants, following a model similar to that of the Basque Country.
Academic and financial requirements to access scholarships
To be eligible for MEC Scholarships, it is essential simultaneously meet three sets of requirements: general, academic, and economic.The criteria are adapted to the type of studies and the educational stage the applicant is pursuing.
In non-university education, for 1st year of Baccalaureate It is required to have obtained at least 5,00 points in fourth year of ESO (Compulsory Secondary Education). In 1st year of Intermediate Vocational Training and Basic Vocational Training cyclesSimply being enrolled in the corresponding course is sufficient. 1st year of Higher Level Vocational TrainingA minimum grade of 5,00 is required, either in the second year of Baccalaureate, in the final grade of a Middle Level cycle or in the entrance exam.
In the second and subsequent years of Vocational Training and BaccalaureateIt is required to have passed all subjects except one, or the equivalent of 85% of the total hours in which one was enrolled in the case of Vocational Training, thus maintaining a certain level of achievement from the previous course.
In the university setting, to access the scholarship in first year of Bachelor's Degree A minimum grade of 5,00 points is required in the university access qualification (Baccalaureate plus general subjects of the core phase of the EBAU) or in the test or teaching that allows access for those who do not come from Baccalaureate.
En second and subsequent years of DegreeThe minimum percentages of credits passed vary depending on the field of study: at least 65% of enrolled credits in engineering and science degrees, 80% in health sciences, and 90% in social sciences, law, arts, and humanities. The aim is to link the scholarship to actual academic progress.
For official Master's degree programsA minimum grade of 5,00 points is required in the previous studies that give access to the program for the first year, and the same grade in the previous year for the second and subsequent years, following a logic similar to that of degrees.
In economic terms, both the income as certain elements of the family unit's assetsThese include income from employment, returns on capital, capital gains, and real estate, among others. Each year, the specific amounts are established by Royal Decree. income thresholdsThese factors determine the type and amount of scholarship one can apply for. There are three main thresholds: the lower the family income and assets, the higher the amount of aid usually is.
If family income exceeds the figures established for the threshold 3The student is not entitled to a general scholarship. However, falling below the lowest income thresholds may open the door to fixed amounts linked to income and other additional components, provided the academic requirements set by the call for applications are met.
Structure of the aid: fixed amounts and variable amounts
The general scholarship consists of different components that can accumulate when all the required conditions are met. The total amount each student receives is the sum of a fixed portion and a variable portion, in addition to possible coverage of university tuition fees.
Among the fixed amountsThe following main concepts are included:
- Fixed amount linked to income of the applicant: 1.700 euros per year.
- Fixed amount linked to residence During the course: 2.700 euros, provided there is a change of address for study purposes and without exceeding the actual cost of the stay.
- Basic scholarship: 300 euros for non-university studies, which rises to 350 euros in the case of Basic Level training cycles.
- Tuition Scholarship For university studies: it covers the official public price of the credits in which the student enrolls for the first time in the course.
- Fixed amount linked to academic excellence: between 50 and 125 euros, depending on the average grade obtained.
The main amount is divided into the following tiers: 50 euros for averages between 8,00 and 8,49 points75 euros for scores between 8,50 and 8,99; 100 euros for scores between 9,00 and 9,49; and 125 euros for scores of 9,50 or higher. This supplement applies to both university and non-university students who meet the requirements.
Along with the fixed amounts, there is a variable amount with a minimum amount of 60 eurosThis part is calculated once the fixed amounts have been assigned to all eligible individuals, and is distributed based on the combination of family income and the student's academic performance, adjusting to the remaining budget.
The sum of these components determines the final scholarship amount each applicant will receive. In university studies, the tuition fee waiver is applied directly to the cost of credits, while the remaining amounts (income allowance, accommodation allowance, merit-based allowance, and variable component) are paid to the beneficiary in installments throughout the academic year.
Compatibility, Medrano Scholarships and Student Obligations
The current call for proposals also addresses the compatibility between the Ministry's general grant and other aidIn the case of university studies, the general scholarship (with the exception of the specific accommodation allowance) will be compatible with the new Medrano Scholarshipsdesigned to promote mobility between Spanish universities.
The Medrano Scholarships are aimed at undergraduate students who have passed at least 60 credits and wish to spend an academic year at another university in the country. These grants offer an amount of 900 euros per month for a maximum of nine monthsThat is, for a full academic year at the destination school. This aims to allow students from lower-income families to consider a temporary transfer without cost being an insurmountable barrier.
The idea is that a student with a general tuition scholarship and income-related components can also access the Medrano Scholarship to finance their stay at another universityprovided they do not simultaneously receive the MEC scholarship's residence allowance. This scheme expands internal mobility options without sacrificing basic financial support.
On the other hand, the Ministry points out that Receiving the scholarship involves a series of obligationsThe student must use the aid entirely for study purposes and comply with the attendance and academic performance requirements. In certain cases, the administration may require the full repayment of the amounts received.
A refund can be claimed if the student withdraws from the center during the course, if he/she does not attend at least 80% of the class hours without a justified reason, or if does not exceed at least 50% of the subjectscredits or hours in which he was enrolled. These criteria aim to ensure that public funds are actually used for educational progress.
Overall, the opening of the application period for the 2026-2027 MEC Scholarships once again positions study grants as a central element of the Spanish education system, with a historically high budget, clearly defined requirements, and several new features designed to reach a wider range of studentsFrom those studying vocational training or high school to university students, master's students or students with disabilities, as well as those who need to move from their community to continue their education.
