Ministry of Education scholarships: How are the scholarships calculated and who is eligible?

BarcelonaThis March, students will be able to apply for aid from the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training, and Sports, which this year has reached a record allocation of €2.544 billion. Although the exact date for applications is still unknown, the investment amount and the areas of support are known. Specifically, the Spanish government intends to provide aid to up to 101,000 young people, make educational entry requirements more flexible, and meet the needs of new student profiles, such as those pursuing university degrees in the arts.

Who is eligible for MEC scholarships?

The so-called MEC scholarships cover a wide range of student situations and backgrounds. On the one hand, they consolidate the public aid already offered in recent years to university students with a disability of between 25% and 65%, a measure that complements the measure already applied to students with disabilities of 65% or more. Furthermore, young people from areas affected by the DANA (National Disaster Risk Reduction Act) will be taken into consideration, as the subsidies received for this reason will not be included in their capital gains. Another new feature is that all victims of sexual violence will be eligible for aid, just as minors in the same situation or women victims of gender-based violence were already eligible.

Those who will not be eligible for MEC aid are postgraduate, doctoral, and specialized students, as well as students pursuing their own degrees. Furthermore, it should be noted that the scholarship cannot be obtained if the applicant has already obtained a degree of the same or higher level before applying for the grant.

Non-university grants

At the same time, there are also non-university scholarships, aimed at students enrolled in high school, courses for access to and preparation for vocational training, and intermediate and advanced vocational training, taught in both public and private schools. These include so-called "educational support grants" for students enrolled in professional artistic courses—expected to serve 7,000 students in this field—as well as those training in official language schools (EOI), both in person and online. This same grant also provides financial support for sports education, higher religious studies, and basic vocational training.

How is the grant amount calculated?

The amount received depends on several factors. On the one hand, a fixed amount of 300 euros is established, which has increased in recent calls. However, if the student already receives the income-related grant, they will not be eligible for the fixed grant. Other specific factors are also taken into account, such as the family's financial availability, whether the student has changed residence during the academic year, and academic excellence.

On the other hand, once the fixed grants have been awarded to all accepted applicants, the remaining amount will be distributed from the total budget, again taking into account family per capita income and academic record grades.