Studying abroad today can hardly surprise anyone. Foreign students are attracted by the variety of study programs, affordable prices and the opportunity to receive funding from various types of organizations and even universities themselves. Scholarships and grants in Spain are issued in large numbers for both Spaniards and young people who have arrived from abroad. When choosing an educational institution, it is necessary to carefully study the information regarding its cooperation with international funds and the conditions for obtaining financial support, since it is very difficult to find full coverage of costs here.
Education in Spain
Spanish universities are popular with students from the CIS countries due to their good quality-price ratio. Diplomas from local universities give you the opportunity to get a job in any European country or continue your education at a university of interest.
The cost of training at the highest level of education varies from 500 to 700 euros per semester, if we talk about public universities. In private, the cost can approach 15 thousand euros per year, but even this does not prevent foreigners from choosing Spain for mastering a profession and obtaining a diploma, since it is still cheaper than, for example, in Germany or Switzerland.
Studying in Spain is based on self-preparation of the curriculum. Students can choose which language they will study in. But it is worth remembering that Spanish programs are cheaper than English ones.
There are three ways to apply:
- right after school is the most difficult path, since first the applicant will have to go through 8 months of training and pass exams (Selectividad);
- transfer from the university of your country without entrance exams, but with one year of study behind you in the chosen specialty. Many universities offer exchange studies in Spain. About who your educational institution cooperates with in the kingdom, you need to find out even before admission.
- continue their studies after graduating from their university. Postgraduate education at a Spanish university opens up great prospects for employment.
What documents are needed to get a scholarship
To be able to receive the scholarship, you must submit your application on time. Most often, this should be done immediately after the notification of enrollment in the ranks of students arrives, since a competition for the provision of payments is held in almost all educational institutions.
The scholarship to study in Spain requires the submission of the following package of documents:
- Birth certificate.
- A copy of the diploma on hand.
- Autobiography.
- Motivation letter.
- Syllabus.
- Copy of the grade book.
All papers drawn up in a foreign language must be translated into Spanish and notarized.
If it is possible to provide recommendations from a previous place of study, they can significantly increase the chances. It is important that the letter not only describes the characteristics of the student, but also lists the successes achieved in the educational process.
University Scholarships
Many universities are interested in the influx of foreign students, and therefore actively offer all kinds of grant and scholarship programs, a list of which can be found on the website of the educational institution.
Very often, universities sign bilateral agreements with foundations, ministries, financial institutions and corporations that are ready to provide assistance to talented students.
Reimbursement of study expenses is provided not only in public, universities, but also in private ones. In the latter, by the way, it is much easier and faster to pass the competitive selection, since they do not need to coordinate their actions with higher state authorities.
The list contains popular universities in Spain that provide scholarships:
- The leader in many rankings is the Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona, which began its activities in 1990. Today the university is famous for the quality of teaching in such areas as law, business management, and economics. The University of Alicante and the University of Pontiffice Comillas are of great interest in the presented fields of knowledge.
- In the technical field, the leading position is most often occupied by the Valencian Polytechnic University. It is followed by the University of Navarra and the Polytechnic of Madrid.
- If you are planning to get an education in the field of IT and communications, then you should pay attention to the Catalan Polytechnic University.
- You can get medical education with the possibility of scholarship support at the University of Navarre, the University of Cadiz or at the Graduate School of San Antonio.
- The humanitarian direction is best mastered in Seville, the Complutense University or in the Autonomous Region of Barcelona.
Scholarship Opportunity at Pompeu Fabra University
Pompeu Fabra University is one of the youngest and fastest growing universities in the country. Located in the Catalan capital and has a reputation as an educational institution with great international ambitions. According to the Times Higher world ranking, it entered the seven fastest growing universities in the world.
Thanks to numerous international projects, the university received the title of International Campus of Excellence from the Spanish government. Training takes place in three areas of scientific knowledge:
- humanities and social sciences;
- biosciences and health;
- information Technology.
The scholarship is provided to those who study in master's programs in the following areas:
- business;
- marketing;
- human resources;
- finance;
- communications;
- journalism;
- right.
Applicants should provide a letter of recommendation and achieve a Grade Point Average (GPA) passing score of 3 out of 4.
Those who qualify will receive a 25-75% discount on covering expenses. The earlier the application is submitted, the greater the discount the university will provide.
Applications are accepted from April to January. Scholarship applicants must pay a quarter of the tuition fees, thereby booking a place.
EADA - Business School (Barcelona)
EADA is one of the first business schools in Spain to develop a training program for business managers. For several years now, it has been included in the top 25 best business schools in Europe according to various ratings every year. The educational institution was founded in 1957, education is conducted at 6 faculties.
EADA Business School offers two types of scholarship payments:
- for high academic performance;
- for students from Central Europe, including Russia.
The scholarship for academic achievement covers half of the tuition costs, the second type of assistance is only 2 5%. Application deadlines vary by program.
To receive financial support, the applicant must prepare a letter of motivation and recommendation. Excellent students will need to receive a certificate of passing the GMAT exam and show a result of 700 points.
Payment of scholarships is possible in the following specialties:
- management;
- finance and accounting;
- tourism;
- marketing.
The help is addressed to those who have already entered the school and contributed 25% of the cost of the course. If the applicant is refused, and he does not want to study on general terms, he has the opportunity to return these funds. Only € 300 is non-refundable and is collected as an administrative fee.
Zaragoza Logistics Center - Scholarship for Women
An educational institution is a research institute. It was created by the Spanish government together with the University of Zaragoza and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Zaragoza Logistics Center is involved in several international and research projects, actively cooperates with the industrial sector and government agencies, and is a member of the National Bureau of Excellence gained from research in the field of logistics and supply management.
At the Zaragoza Logistics Center, women who intend to continue their studies in master's programs in the specialty "Logistics Engineer" can receive a scholarship.
The payments cover 50% of the total cost of the training course. Requirements for candidates practically do not differ from the general conditions of how to get a scholarship in Spain:
- show high academic performance or work experience in this area;
- present a GMAT and IELTS / TOEFL certificate with high scores.
Acceptance of applications ends in May.
Scholarship Programs at ESADE Business School
The educational institution is a subdivision of a large educational institution that operates as part of Ramon Llull University. The main building is located in Barcelona. Branches of the school also operate in Buenos Aires and Madrid. He is engaged in the training of personnel in the field of business management.
ESADE Business School works closely with the business community and various universities - Boston, California and many others.
Students from Eastern Europe who are taking an MBA program can receive a scholarship. The condition for obtaining is high academic performance.
The grant covers half of the tuition fees. Contestants will have to write an essay, the topic of which is “Why should I get a scholarship”.
Graduate School of Economics Grant
The School of Economics is a private university founded in 2006; offers training in master's and doctoral programs in economics and finance. Every year, the educational institution distributes various scholarship payments, the recipients of which are almost a third of the students.
At the Graduate School of Economics, you can receive both partial coverage of tuition costs (25-75%) and full compensation. To do this, you need to enroll in a magistracy and show good academic performance.
There is no need to purposefully submit a petition. Each applicant is automatically included in the number of candidates who need to be provided:
- GPA results;
- motivation letter;
- advanced knowledge of English;
- recommendations.
Acceptance of documents usually ends in June.
Funding from Instituto de Empresa
An international university that trains entrepreneurs and leaders. The training is carried out in two branches located in Madrid and Segovia.
At the Instituto de Empresa, you can get an education in the following specialties:
- right;
- business;
- international relationships;
- design and architecture;
- humanities and social sciences.
It is possible to receive a grant for both master's programs and bachelor's programs. At the same time, you can submit an application immediately after admission or later, in the course of your studies.
Funding covers from 10 to 100% of training costs. Most of the students can apply only until April 15th.
To do this, you need to prepare an essay, the volume of which should be no more than 500 words. The essay needs to describe the financial situation and academic success.
Scholarship from IESE Business School at the University of Navarra
IESE Business School is one of the most famous and prestigious educational institutions in the country. Founded in 1958, it is located in the Catalan capital. The idea of creation belongs to the University of Navarre with the support of Harvard.
A distinctive feature is the absence of a requirement for knowledge of the Spanish language upon admission. All applicants take a four-week intensive course to master this skill.
IESE based at the University of Navarra provides scholarships that cover 25-50% of the total tuition fees. You can apply with an application only after the documents for admission have been submitted.
Applicants must pay an administrative fee of 200 euros and a deposit (non-refundable) of 5,000 euros. The deadline for accepting the application is April 26.
Grant from Spanish Studies Abroad
The Center for the Study of the Spanish Language, founded in 1969 in Seville, today offers a plunge into the world of Spanish culture, history and linguistics in Alicante, Barcelona, Cordoba, Puerto Rico and Cuba.
Spanish Studies Abroad teaches students in various language courses that operate on the basis of renowned universities. Regardless of the study program, the amount of the scholarship is 1,500 euros. To get it, you must fulfill the following requirements:
- show GPA results from 3 to 3.5 points (depending on the category of the grant);
- write an essay (400-500 words);
- submit an application.
Any student can become a candidate.
State aid
Not only a university can sponsor education in Spain, but also the state, administrative authorities, and international organizations. So, where else can applicants go:
- Regional grants - designed for students studying in a particular autonomous region. You need to search for information on the website of the regional administration in the category "Ministry of Education". Consideration of applications is carried out once a year.
- The scholarship from the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade is available for students from Russia, China and India. Within the framework of projects, candidates can not only receive a grant, but also undergo an internship in Spanish companies in their specialty. Separate support is provided for the "Tourism" program, designed for students receiving postgraduate education.
- Financial assistance from the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture - you can apply at www.mecd.gob.es. The department finances only scholarship and cultural exchange projects, and also provides grants for education in Spanish universities. All categories of students can be candidates, including bachelor's, master's, doctoral (our graduate school) and even research assistants. Applications are accepted from August 1 to September 30.
- Help from the Carolina Foundation - For grant information, visit www.fundacioncarolina.es. All possible financing options are presented here, both from the fund itself and from the organizations with which it cooperates. Financial support can be obtained for students enrolled in doctoral programs and those who intend to engage in research work.
- Joint grant from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAEC) and the Agency for International Cooperation (AECI). All current programs can be found at www.becasmae.es. The information appears on the portal every year in October. At the same time, the acceptance of applications begins, which ends on December 31.
To become a candidate for a scholarship, you must first select a university and receive confirmation of enrollment from it. Grants for studying in Spain in 2021 from this alliance can be obtained by going through a serious competitive selection, during which academic performance, academic experience, reputation, level of Spanish language proficiency (for foreign students) are taken into account.
Grants from consulates and embassies
To learn about grant programs, it is not necessary to order a visa and go to Spain. Information on possible scholarships can be obtained from the consular departments and embassies of the kingdom in your country of residence.
It is best to make an appointment with a service representative who oversees education in Spanish universities. This will allow you to get detailed information about your particular case and ask all your questions.
If there is no opportunity to come to the consulate, you can find the necessary information on the Internet on the mission's website.
Consular offices also provide the opportunity to enroll in language courses or take part in one of the student exchange programs.
Student mobility training
For those who find the cost of studying in Spain too high, you can participate in numerous exchange programs. Usually they are developed on the initiative of the educational institutions themselves or international funds.
Within the framework of such programs, students can spend part of their educational process abroad, which allows them to learn the language, broaden their horizons and gain a unique experience of living in a European state. Upon graduation, participants receive diplomas from two universities at once.
Let's name just a few of the most popular projects:
- ERASMUS - covers all states in Europe. The main goal is to strengthen the relationship between universities, the development of students in the cultural, educational and linguistic terms.
- Tempus is aimed at modernizing and innovative development of the higher education system. Works with the countries of Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Western Balkans, Middle East, North Africa.
- ERASMUS MUNDUS - designed for students who are not EU citizens. The program covers some African countries, Turkey, Russia and many others.
- DAAD - German Academic Exchange Project. Works with students of all specialties and directions from different countries.
Grants from international foundations, banks and other organizations
You can also get financial support from any other sponsor interested in the development of education and the search for young talents in science. Most often, all kinds of funds and organizations that are ready to invest in gifted applicants are taken for this. Some of them fully or partially cover the costs of studies, others are ready to cooperate on credit terms.
The second option is possible subject to contacting banking institutions. Do not be lazy to submit your request to the largest banks in the country: Santander, Caixa Catalunya, la Caixa. These organizations usually provide loans on special terms and do not ask for proof of income.
The search for funds should be based on the specialty and industry in which great success has been achieved. For example, the Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation provides financial support to young and talented artists.
It is worth remembering that all sponsors conduct a competitive selection of candidates. Therefore, you will have to prove that you are really worth investing in your studies abroad. To do this, you need to prepare a project of scientific work or portfolio (if we are talking about creative specialties), as well as write a motivation letter and provide recommendations.
Outcomes
Education in Spain is cheaper than in Western Europe. However, for some students, the cost of tuition may seem high. Grants and scholarships can partially or completely cover the cost of studying. Candidates can apply directly to an educational institution, the administration of the Autonomous Okrug, the Ministry of Education and other departments that are interested in the development of the educational industry.
Another option is exchange programs and international foundations sponsoring talented youth.
