Who can apply for MEC Scholarships?
MEC Scholarships are aimed at students pursuing official post-compulsory studies, both university (bachelor’s and master’s degrees) and non-university (intermediate and advanced vocational training.
Students with Spanish nationality, as well as citizens of other European Union member states, may apply, provided they can prove permanent residency in Spain or that they work in the country as an employee or on a self-employed basis.
Non-EU students may also apply, provided they comply with the regulations in force governing the rights and freedoms of foreign nationals in Spain and their social integration.
General, economic and academic requirements
To apply for an MEC Scholarship, it is essential to meet a series of general, financial and academic requirements applicable to both undergraduate and master’s degree programmes, as well as non-university studies (intermediate and advanced vocational training). These criteria determine eligibility for the scholarship and the amount that may be received based on personal, academic and family circumstances.
General requirements
The following are the basic conditions required to apply for the scholarship:
- Be a Spanish national or a national of another European Union country. In the case of EU citizens, to access the full scholarship amounts for university studies, the applicant or their family must prove permanent residence in Spain or employment in Spain, whether self-employed or employed by others. If this requirement is not met, aid is limited to tuition fees.
- For non-EU citizens, the provisions of the regulations on the rights and freedoms of foreign nationals in Spain and their social integration apply. Eligibility may be granted if the applicant is under 18 years of age, or if they held a residence permit as of 31 December of the year prior to the application; a stay permit alone is not sufficient.
- Not hold a qualification at the same level or higher than the studies for which the scholarship is sought.
General, economic and academic requirements
To apply for an MEC Scholarship, it is essential to meet a series of general, financial and academic requirements applicable to both undergraduate and master’s degree programmes, as well as non-university studies (intermediate and advanced vocational training). These criteria determine eligibility for the scholarship and the amount that may be received based on personal, academic and family circumstances.
Academic Requirements
In addition to the general and financial requirements, the MEC Scholarship requires applicants to meet certain academic criteria. These conditions vary depending on the type of studies being pursued – university (bachelor’s or master’s degree) or non-university (intermediate or advanced vocational training) – and take into account factors such as enrolment, academic performance and average mark.
Academic Requirements for University Studies
Bachelor’s Degree (First Year)
- Enrolment: Applicants must generally enrol for 60 credits, though a scholarship may be available (with specific conditions and limitations) for those enrolling for a minimum of 30 credits.
- Performance: A minimum mark of 5 is required in the entrance exam or qualification that granted access to university (for example, a higher-level vocational training programme).
Bachelor’s Degree (Second Year and Subsequent Years)
- Enrolment: To maintain the scholarship, applicants must generally be enrolled for 60 credits (exceptionally, a minimum of 30 is accepted, with specific conditions) and must also have enrolled for at least the same number of required credits in the previous academic year.
- Credits passed: The minimum percentage of credits that must have been passed in the previous year varies by field of study, as detailed below:
| Field of Study | Minimum Percentage of Credits Passed |
|---|---|
| Engineering and Architecture | 65% |
| Sciences | 65% |
| Health Sciences | 80% |
| Social Sciences and Law, Arts and Humanities | 90% |
Master’s (First year)
- Enrolment: The standard workload is 60 credits. However, applicants may also apply with a minimum of 30 credits, though in such cases aid may be conditional or limited to certain components, as specified in the call for applications.
- Average mark: A minimum average mark of 5 is required in the studies granting access to the master’s programme. For applicants entering with an Engineering or Architecture degree, the average mark must be calculated by multiplying by 1.17.
Master’s Degree (Second Year)
- Enrolment: Applicants must generally enrol for 60 credits for the application to be processed correctly, though a minimum of 30 credits is accepted in specific cases, subject to certain conditions and limitations.
- Academic performance: Applicants must have passed 100% of the credits enrolled in during the previous academic year.
- Average mark: A minimum average mark of 5 in the first year of the master’s programme is required.
Academic Requirements for Non-University Studies
- Not be repeating the current academic year.
- Enrol for the full course. A limited scholarship may also be available for those enrolling in at least half of the course modules. This requirement must be met both in the current academic year and in the previous or most recent year of study.
- Have passed at least 85% of total course hours. Where a course has been repeated, all hours must be passed.
Scholarship Components
UTAMED’s official programmes are delivered online (non-classroom-based). Applicants are therefore only eligible for the following scholarship components:
- Tuition Scholarship: Covers the cost of credits enrolled on for the first time, up to the official price per credit.
- Variable Amount: Distributed after fixed amounts are awarded, using a formula based on average mark and per capita family income. The minimum amount applies to enrolments of between 30 and 59 credits, or where only the bachelor’s or master’s Thesis is enrolled in.
- Academic Excellence: An award for students with an outstanding average mark in the previous academic year.
To be eligible for the grant, you must meet the family income and asset thresholds set out each year in the call for applications, depending on the number of members in the household. To assess this requirement, the household’s income, the number of eligible members and the family asset limits are taken into account. In addition, the income thresholds are published each academic year, organised into three bands, which determine the amount of grant you may be eligible for.
Basque Government Scholarships
University students with official residency in the Basque Country are not eligible for the general scholarship from the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports.
Instead, they must apply for the specific scholarship programme published by the Basque Government.
