Funding

Non-university higher education

Higher education institutions provide advanced vocational training cycles (VET), advanced artistic education and advanced vocational education in sports. Its funding share the same characteristics as the funding of early childhood, primary and secondary education in terms of financing, autonomy and control, fees and financial support to families and students.

There are specific features in advanced vocational training programmes offered in publicly-funded private schools:

• The State annually sets the minimum funding per school unit according to the gropup and the course load. For 2024, the amounts for the first year ranged between 82 775.69 and 94 985.877 euro (Annex II of Law 4/2023 of the General State Budget for the year 2024). These budgets have been extended into 2026. 
• Education authorities determine the total amount allocated to publicly-funded private schools.
• Supplementary fees at these schools depend on each autonomous community and are usually adjusted to the limits established in the State Budget, except in special cases recognised by legislation. In 2024 (Fifth additional provision), the amount ranges from EUR 18 to 36 per student per month, ten months per year, and is maintained in 2026.

University higher education

Its funding is set in the state general budgets, in a programme focused on university education (programme 322C, Annex I). This programme guarantees the development of university functions established in article 2 of Organic Law 2/2023 on the University System (LOSU), ), including training, research, innovation, knowledge transfer, the promotion of equality and sustainability, and the contribution to social and territorial progress.

The Strategic Grants Plan 2024 of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (MCNU) includes 3 general objectives to ensure equity in access and retention at the university, to promote the re-qualification of teaching and research staff, and to encourage the internationalisation of the university system. The equitable redistribution of resources and equal treatment between women and men is also a priority.

Bodies responsible for public funding

Sources of income of public universities

Public universities are funded through tuition fees and contributions from the State and the autonomous communities. The State funds the National University of Distance Education (UNED) and the Menéndez Pelayo International Universitiy (UIMP); the autonomous communities fund the universities located in their territories with their own resources and government transfers. 

Funding model of public universities

Chapter III of the LOSU lays down common economic framework, developed by each autonomous community. The public administrations must guarantee the financial sufficiency of the system and progress towards the shared objective  of allocating at least 1 % of the Gross Domestic Product to public university spending by 2030, as stipulated in article 155.2 of Organic Law 2/2006 on Education (LOE). 

The autonomous communities must draw up multiannual programmes for the approval of programming and funding instrument. These multi-annual programmes must cover three areas:

• basic structural funding, aimed at ensuring a quality public service and covering personnel, operating, and investment expenses;
• structural funding for special needs, linked to factors such as insularity, territorial dispersion, specialisation of qualifications or linguistic plurality;
• funding based on objectives, linked to the achievement of strategic goals in teaching, research, transfer, innovation, internationalisation, employment and quality.

Evaluation of the achievement of these objectives determines subsequent programming. The model also includes structural research funding and project-specific calls.

Other sources of income of public universities

In addition to public funds, universities obtain income from their own teaching, continuing training, transfers from public and private entities, wealth, credit operations and research and transfer activities.

Financial autonomy and control

Public universities have economic and financial autonomy to draw up their statutes, manage their budgets, and administer their goods. Their budgets must be public, unified, balanced, and approved by the university’s Social Council, and must include gender and environmental impact reports.

Revenues must reflect regional and national transfers, public fees, and other internally generated income. Expenditures must include the list of staff positions and comply with public employment regulations. Universities must allocate at least 5% of their budget to their own research programs. Accountability is provided to the regional external audit bodies and, where applicable, to the Court of Auditors. Universities must have an internal audit function and a cost accounting system.

Analytical accounting model for public universities

The Analytical Accounting Model for Public Universities (MCAU) approved by the Council of Universities and the General Conference on University Policy, allows tor the identification of the real costs of university activities and improve efficiency and accountability. Revised in 2019 (MCAU19), it is currently being updated to align with the LOSU, the Law on Science and the Royal Decree 822/2021 on university education.

Fees within public higher education

Bachelor and Master studies

Official university studies

The fees students pay depend on the public prices fixed by the relevant autonomous community, within the limits established by the General Assembly for University Policy, the number of credits enrolled, the degree of experimental nature of studies, and the extra charges for second or subsequent enrolments.

Source: Drawn up by Eurydice España-rediE (INEE, MEFD) on the basis of Statistics on University Public Prices (Academic year 2024-2025) published by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (MCNU). Average public prices of credit (first time registration) in university degrees (last accessed 27/02/2026). 

Non-official university studies

Registration fees are determined by the Social Council of each university.

PhD programmes

In the academic year 2024-2025, public prices for the academic supervision of the thesis range from €60.3 per year (Andalusia) to €401.1 per year (Catalonia), depending on the services offered.

Fees only new students have to pay

Tuition fees are subject to additional charges that are only payable the first time: school insurance (for students under 28), file opening fess and university ID card.

Fees for other services

Other services subjects to fees include the issuing of the relevant certificate or the European Diploma Supplement, as well as the doctoral thesis examination, ranging from 117.1 euro (Galicia) to 260.0 euro (Castilla-La Mancha).

Financial support for learners’ families

University students' families do not receive direct financial support; it is directly awarded to students, although their family situation (income, number of family members in the household, etc) is taken into account.

Full or partial fee waivers

Full or partial fee waivers are established in accordance with national and regional regulations, and is aimed at students in situations such as:

• members of a large family;
• dependency and disability;
• victims of terrorism or gender-based violence;
• orphans of civil servants who have died in the line of duty;
• be awarded a “matrícula de honor” distinction.

Tax deductions

The autonomous communities apply tax deductions on PIT related to educational expenses as a complementary form of support for families.

Financial support for learners

The MEFD and the autonomous communities coordinate the general system of scholarships and study grants to ensure access to higher education on an equal basis,  regardless of the economic, social or territorial situation of the students.

Grants and financial support 

The academic requirements applicants have to meet are the following:

Advanced training cycles

• first year:
  • a minimum grade of 5 points in the 2nd year of Bachillerato, test or entrance course. If accessing from an intermediate level training cycle, the final grade of the cycle is taken;
  • enrolment in the full course or  at least half of the modules (with limited scholarship);
  • not be repeating the current level;
• second and subsequent years:
  • not be repeating the current level;
  • enrolment in the full course or  at least half of the modules (with limited scholarship);
  • passing 85% of the hours of the previous year (oral modules if repeated.
     

Bachelor

• first year:
  • enrolment in 60 credits (or a minimum of 30 with special conditions);
  • a minimum access grade of 5 points in the university entrance exam, calculated using the formula: 0.6 NMB (average baccalaureate mark) + 0.4 EBAU (University Access Assessment);
• second and subsequent years:
  • enrolment in 60 credits (or a minimum of 30 with special conditions);
  • maintaining the number of credits enrolled in the previous;
  • passing 100% of credits (Arts and Humanities, Social and Legal Sciences, Sciences and Health Sciences), or 85% (Engineering and Architecture). If this percentage is not exceeded, see the alternative in the First transitional provision of Royal Decree 1721/2007.  
     

In order to obtain the enrolment grant as a single component, the following percentages of credits must be completed:

Master's

• first year:
  • enrolment in 60 credits (minimum 30 with limitations);
  • a minimum average grade of 5.00 points in previous studies (multiplied by 1.17 if entering from Engineering or Architecture);
• second year:
  • enrolment in 60 credits (minimum 30);
  • passing 100% of the credits of the previous year;
  • a minimum average grade of 5 points in the first year of the master's degree.

Amounts and types of aid

The MEFD establishes income and family wealth thresholds that determine access to scholarships and grants, grouped into three general thresholds and one specific for students with specific educational support needs (SESN):

From the eighth member onwards, between €3 536 and €3 725 for threshold 1, €3 340 for threshold 2 and between €3 561 and €3 740 for threshold 3 will be added for each new eligible family member. In the case of SESN students, €3 856 will be added for threshold 1.

All students with a family income within threshold 3 are entitled to a grant, at least to the exemption of tuition fees or the basic grant.

Additional deductions apply based on the income of other family members, large family status, disability, residence away from home for university studies, orphanhood (children under 25 years of age), or single-parent family status. 

The amounts that can be received are the following:

• fixed amounts: tuition, income; residence; academic excellence, and basic grant;
• variable amount: calculated based on income and performance:
• other financial support: residence in non-peninsular territories, special educational needs (disability, behavioural disorders or autism spectrum disorders, giftedness), specific aid for victims of gender-based violence and/or their children under 23 years of age.

In the 2023-2024 academic year, a total of 584 588 bachelor's and master's degree students at public universities received some kind of grant or aid, namely 545 756 bachelor's degree students and 38 832 official master's degree students (Source: Number of grant holders, number of grants and amount of grants according to level of financing educational administration, university, grant holders, grants and amount and studies. MEFD Subdirectorate General for Statistics and Studies [last accessed 27/02/2026]).

Percentage of students with grants in bachelor's and master's degree courses. Classroom-based public universities. Academic Year 2022-2023

Source: Drawn up by Eurydice España-rediE (INEE, MEFD) based on the indicators of beneficiaries of general grants from the National Government and the Basque Country for bachelor's and master's degree studies in public universities. Integrated University Information System (SIIU). General Secretariat for Universities (last accessed 27/02/2026).

Grants and financial support for PhD students under the State Sub-programme for Training, Attraction and Retention of Talent

The State Sub-programme for Training, Attraction and Retention of Talent is part of the State Human Resources Programme which is integrated within the State Plan for Scientific and Technical Research and Innovation (PEICTI) 2024-2027. Its objective is to strengthen the Spanish Science, Technology and Innovation System (SECTI) by promoting the attraction and retention of talent, the quality of R&D, knowledge transfer, and innovative activity.

The specific objectives of this programme are:

• SO 1. Strengthen the SECTI's capacity to train, attract and retain talent, promoting stable employment and good working conditions.
• SO 2. Encourage and recognise the development of scientific, technical and technological careers. 
   

Three sub-programmes are structured around these objectives, the first two in response to SO 1 and the third in response to SO 2: 

1. Sub-programme for Training, Attraction and Retention of Talent in Research and Innovation

It includes actions at all stages of the research career:

• R1: Doctoral training.
• R2: Recognised researchers in their post-doctoral research training.

It encompasses predoctoral grants (FPI, FPU, PFIS, Río Hortega, industrial PhDs, CSIC JAE programmes, among others) and national and international mobility grants (Salvador de Madariaga, FPU mobility, ICEX-VIVES).

2. Sub-programme for Training and Incorporation of R&D&i Technical and Management Staff.

Focused on the development and incorporation of technical and management professionals for R&D&i activities.

3. Incentive and Recognition Sub-programme

Aimed at fostering scientific vocations STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) and recognising talent through prizes, including the National Research and Innovation Awards.  

Private education

Private universities draw up and pass their own organisational and operational rules, including:

• internal administrative and financial regulations;
• preparation, approval and management of their budgets;
• administration of their goods.

Their funding comes mainly from tuition fees. Academic fees established by each university and typically represents 80% of their funding. In some institutions, this proportion is lower due to subsidies received from public regional and local bodies.

Official grants and financial support for students enrolled in private universities is the same as the one offered to public university students.

In the case of registration fee waivers, the amount may not exceed the official public prices for the same degree in public institutions within the same autonomous community.

In the 2023-2024 academic year, a total of 45 487 bachelor's and master's degree students at private universities received some kind of grant or aid funded by education authorities, namely 37 493 bachelor's degree students and 7 994 official master's degree students (Source: Number of grant holders, number of grants and amount of grants according to level of financing educational administration, university, grant holders, grants and amount and studies. MEFD Subdirectorate General for Statistics and Studies [last accessed 27/02/2026]).

Percentage of students with grants in bachelor's and master's degree courses. Classroom-based public universities. Academic Year 2022-2023

Source: Drawn up by Eurydice España-rediE (INEE, MEFD) based on the indicators of beneficiaries of general grants from the National Government and the Basque Country for bachelor's and master's degree studies in public universities. Integrated University Information System (SIIU). General Secretariat for Universities (last accessed 27/02/2026).

In addition, private universities implement further measures using their own resources, such as:

• internal scholarships and grants funded by the institution itself;
• tuition reductions for students who meet certain academic requirements;
• discounts for students who are victims of terrorism or members of large families.