Main funding principles

Adult education offers anyone over 18 the possibility to acquire or update skills for their personal and professional development. Exceptionally, students over the age of 16 may access it  when their work, sporting, or personal circumstances prevent them from pursuing regular education.

The General State Budget of 2023, extended in 2026, establishes the following priorities for Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports (MEFD):

• recognise the work of institutions and centres dedicated to adult learning;
• address the training needs of groups at greater risk of social exclusion or with greater difficulties accessing employment;
• promote lifelong learning and employability through flexible pathways;
• ensure the quality and monitoring of training programmes, 
• respond to the guidance and training needs of professionals in the sector;
• design an integrated and flexible programme that recognises skills adquired through work experience;
• promote the accreditation of professional skills among people without formal qualifications.
• carry out specific vocational training programmes tailored to adults' needs;
• continue implementing the Plan for vocational training, which included actions such as:
  • acknowledgement of basic and professional skills;
  • digital provision in modules within companies for employed people;
  • Aula Mentor actions;
  • teacher training in digitalisation;
  • innovation and knowledge transfer;
  • FP Conecta platform;
  • entrepreneurship spaces;
  • renewal of the catalogue of qualifications for strategic sectors;
  • resizing of vocational training: expansion by 200 000 places;
  • transformation of classrooms into applied technology spaces;
  • reskilling and upskilling initiatives for employed workers;
  • creation of a network of 50 excellence institutions in vocational training.

The funding comes from: 

• the General State Budget: revenues of the State (such as taxes, fees and public prices, current transfers or wealth income among others), autonomous bodies, entities dependent on ministries and social security (including vocational training contributions, European funds such as NextGenerationEU and European Social Fund (FSE), fees and wealth income);
• the autonomous communities' own funds.

Bodies responsible for public funding

Public funds for adult education and training are mainly provided by the MEFP, the Ministry of Employment and Social Economy (MTES) and the regional administrations (education and employment).

Education administrations fund:

• regulated courses for adults aimed at obtaining formal qualifications;
• part of occupational vocational training for the unemployed;
• training leading to certificates of professional experience.

In 2023, EUR 456.7 million were invested in adult education and EUR 1 456.6 million in acredited vocational training (Source: Public expenditure statistics on education. 2023. Total public expenditure on Education by type of educational activity and economic nature. General Subdirectorate of Statistics and Studies of the MEFD [las accessed 27/02/2026]).

The education authorities have management and control similar to those of other public schools. Since 2020 they are also responsible for vocational training for employment, with funding EUR 1 178.4 million in the General State Budget for 2023. 

Employment administrations finance vocational training for employed and unemployed people. In 2023, EUR 2 447.0 million were allocated to this training (state and regional level), distributed in:

• 1 285.6 million for the training of employed workers;
• 1 134.1 million for the training of unemployed workers;
• 27.3 million transferred to autonomous communities with assumed responsibilities;
• 14 500 euro in contributions to international organisations.
   

Training for employed people in employment is managed by the State Public Employment Service (SEPE), the autonomous communities, the National Institute for Public Administration (INAP) and the  State Foundation for Training in Employment (FUNDAE). Training for unemployed individuals is mainly managed by the State Public Employment Service and the regional authorities. In addition, regional governments and local corporations supplement the funbding with thier own resources.

Fees paid by learners

Basic education for adults is free, as it is at the compulsory levels.

Each autonomous community sets public fees for each post-compulsory services such as:

• test for access to vocational training cycles;
• free tests to obtain the Technician and Advanced Technician certificates;
• enrolment in language courses in Official Language Schools;
• student benefits and fee waivers. 

The following groups are usually exempt from the payment of fees, among others:

• large families in the special category;
• beneficiaries of grants and financial support;
• victims of terrorism;
• other groups depending on regional regulations (victims of gender violence, unemployed people, people with a disability equal to or greater than 33%, etc.).

Students under 28 must pay an annual fee for school insurance, which includes health care and certain benefits.

The Aula Mentor project (online non-formal MEFD training), has a monthly fee of EUR 24, with a initial tuition for two months (one in 30-hour courses).

Vocational training for employment is completely free of charge.

Financial support for adult learners

General grants and financial support in post-compulsory education and non-university higher education

Adults can apply for grants and general financial support when they are studying bachillerato, intermediate and higher vocational training (VET), professional artistic education or sports education, or either in the ordinary modality or access and preparation courses for VET exams. This procedure is the same as that indicated for other students regarding secondary education funding.

This grant may include:

• fixed amount
  • basic grant: 300 euro;
  • amount linked to the student's income: 1 700 euro;
  • amount linked to the student's residence during the school year: 2 700 euro (not exceeding the actual cost);
  • amount linked to academic excellence: between 50 and 125 euro;
• variable amount: a minimum of 60 euro, calculated using a formula that takes into account family income and grade point average. 

Individuals from islands territories, Ceuta, or Melilla may receive an additional amount for sea or air transport.

The academic and economic requirements are set annually (for 2025-2026 have been established in Royal Decree 163/2025).

Grants may be awarded during the years provided for in the curriculum, which can be extended by one year for partial tuition or distance learning studies.

Grants for students attending language courses in Official Language Schools

Students at Official Language Schools can obtain a grant if they enrol for a full course. This includes the basic grant and the minimum variable amount, and can be used for years necessary to complete the programme of studies and for a maximum of two languages.

Grants for university education

The allocation of MEFD scholarships for university students varies according to the situation of each student, without a standard amount. These scholarships consist of the same fixed and variable amounts as those for post-compulsory and non-university higher education.

This procedure is the same as the one indicated for the rest of the students in higher education funding.

Adults can apply for general MEFD scholarships and grants for:

• official Bachelor's and Master's degrees, including Bachelor's and Master's studies in the university centres of both Defence Ministry and the Spanish Civil Guard (Guardia Civil);
• access courses for people over 25 at public universities;
• training complements for accessing or obtaining a Master's degree and complementary credits for obtaining a Bachelor's degree (this does not include scholarships for doctoral studies, specialisation, or university-specific qualifications). 

Vocational training for employment 

The education and employment administrations offer grants to students engaged in vocational training for employment, who are unemployed and meet the established requirements.

They cover the costs of transport, meals, accommodation and family reconciliation (children under 6 or dependent relatives).

The Ministry of Employment and Social Economy (MTES) also offers grants to people:

• with disabilities;
• with special needs;
• with difficulties entering the workforce or undergoing professional retraining;
• participating in specific programmes of the State Public Employment Service (SEPE)  or regional public employment services.

Subsidies for private providers

Private training programmes for adults, both in-class and distance provision, are offered in a variety of institutions, depending on wether they are educational, vocational, officially recognised, or non-official. These include:

• mainstream institutions;
• specific institutions for adult education;
• associations and foundations;
• companies;
• business organisations and trade unions, etc. 

Education leading to an official qualification in the education system must be provided in mainstream institutions or in specific institutions for adult education.

In the academic year 2023/2024 there were a total of 27 private adult education institutions as opposed to 1 409 public institutions. Source: Non-university education. Schools and education services. 2023-2024 school year. Adult education. Number of schools and actions by institution ownership, autonomous community/province and type of school. General Subdirectorate of Statistics and Studies of the MEFD [last accessed 27/02/2026) ). Private institutions can also be publicly funded or fully private.

Publicly funded private institutions:

Education authorities may establish agreements to finance privately owned school units with public funds for compulsory and post-compulsory non-university education. The agreement is granted to the school unit, that is, the group of students simultaneously taught by a single teacher. A single school may have both subsidised and non-subsidised units. 

Private schools with no public funding:

These centers, like other private centers that offer other educational programmes, have full autonomy to organise their operations and manage their resources. 

The MEFD provides grants to private non-profit organisations that work with adults with special educational needs, in accordance with article 73 of Organic Law 2/2006 on Education (LOE), amended by Organic Law 3/2020 (LOMLOE). The grants are aimed at adults who require special educational needs. The funding supports initiatives that promote:

• development of basic skills and competences;
• promotion of comprehensive development (quality of life, self-determination, cognitive stimulation, communication, personal and social skills, knowledge and exercise of the rights of people with disabilities, interdependence, autonomous and independent living);
• social participation and inclusion;
• ongoing  professional development according to expectations and interests;
• guidance and preparation for employmen;
• reinforcement in the use of information and communication technologies.

In addition, some autonomous communities also offer grants for private non-profit organisations that develop adult education programmes. Such is the case of Comunitat Valenciana or Extremadura.