Fully Funded Scholarships in Spain: 2026 Guide for International Students

Spain doesn’t get discussed as often as the UK or Germany when it comes to funded study abroad, but the opportunities here are genuinely strong, and in many cases IELTS isn’t even a requirement. In this blog, we will walk through a set of real, verifiable scholarships currently open or opening soon in Spain, what each one actually covers, and who typically qualifies.

A quick note before diving in: scholarship terms, deadlines, and coverage percentages shift year to year and sometimes region to region. Always cross-check the specific figures against the official university or government page before applying, since a detail that was accurate last cycle can change by the next one.

ESADE Talent Scholarship (Barcelona)

ESADE, one of Europe’s most recognized business schools, runs a talent scholarship program for undergraduate applicants covering between 60% and 100% of tuition fees, renewable across the full degree as long as academic standing is maintained. Eligibility requires admission to one of ESADE’s bachelor’s programs first, a strong academic record, and demonstrated financial need. There’s no blanket IELTS requirement; applicants educated in English, or able to pass ESADE’s internal English assessment, can typically substitute that instead.

Because the scholarship is tied directly to the admissions cycle, the process runs in sequence: apply for admission first, then complete the scholarship application once accepted. Competition is real, given ESADE’s reputation, but for a strong applicant, it can realistically fund an entire undergraduate degree in one of Europe’s most sought-after student cities.

Santander Equality Scholarships

Santander, one of Spain’s largest banks, funds an inclusion-focused scholarship program spanning bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD levels. Unlike merit-only programs, this one prioritizes students with financial need, students with disabilities, and those from underrepresented or rural backgrounds, with international applicants welcome as well.

Support varies by program and can include tuition coverage, housing stipends, transport assistance, and mentorship, depending on which specific Santander program a student applies through. Many participating programs are taught in Spanish, but a meaningful number of university partners offer English-taught options, so Spanish fluency isn’t automatically a barrier. Deadlines vary by program and typically fall in the September window, so checking the specific call early is worth doing.

Basque Government Scholarships

The Basque Government funds scholarships for international students enrolled at universities within the Basque Country, most notably the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU). Coverage spans bachelor’s through PhD level and typically includes tuition support alongside a modest living allowance, with additional grants sometimes available for materials, transport, or housing depending on the specific call.

Admission to a Basque Country university has to be secured first. Family income thresholds apply and vary depending on the specific program, generally favoring lower-income applicants, and a A Spanish national ID isn’t required to apply. Spanish isn’t always mandatory either, since some programs at Basque universities are taught partially or fully in English. Application windows generally open in late summer, with deadlines typically landing in September.

IMDEA Networks PhD Program (Madrid)

For research-focused applicants, IMDEA Networks in Madrid runs a fully funded PhD program covering tuition, a monthly salary, and funded travel for research trips and conferences, structured as a 3- to 5-year contract. It’s designed for candidates who already hold a relevant master’s degree and can demonstrate a strong research background.

IELTS generally isn’t required if prior education was conducted in English, though strong written and spoken communication skills matter for the interview and research presentation stages. Given how research-institute PhD funding tends to move quickly once positions open, checking IMDEA’s current call directly is worth doing rather than assuming a fixed annual cycle.

UIC Barcelona Excellence Scholarships

UIC Barcelona offers partial scholarships ranging from roughly a 20% to 80% tuition discount for bachelor’s and master’s applicants with strong academic records, renewable based on continued academic standing. An entrance scholarship test is part of the process, and IELTS isn’t required separately.

Application windows tend to open multiple times across the year, generally spanning November through June, which gives applicants more flexibility than a single fixed deadline. For students specifically looking for a partial scholarship while studying in one of Europe’s more student-friendly cities, this is worth checking each cycle.

University of Salamanca and University of Nebrija Scholarships

The University of Salamanca, one of Spain’s oldest and most established institutions, periodically runs talent-based scholarships aimed at high-performing applicants, generally requiring a strong GPA well above average. These calls tend to open toward the end of the year, so tracking the university’s official scholarship page ahead of that window matters.

Universidad Nebrija separately offers scholarships covering up to roughly 30% of tuition, and unlike some of the programs above, applications here tend to run on a rolling basis rather than a single fixed deadline. Because rolling scholarships can close early once funding is allocated, applying early in the window meaningfully improves the odds compared to waiting until close to the final date.

What Application Materials Actually Matter

Beyond grades, most of these scholarship applications weigh a motivational letter and letters of recommendation heavily, since these are what let a scholarship panel see an applicant as more than a transcript. IELTS is generally not required across Spanish-taught or bilingual programs, though English-medium programs, particularly those affiliated with UK institutions operating in Spain, are more likely to require it.