Government of Spain-Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports - "Arquímedes" University Contest for Introduction to Scientific Research

The Arquimedes Contest prizes

You will receive one-off cash prize of up to 8,000 EUR for a scientific or technical research project that you carried out as a student. This is a one-off award, not a monthly scholarship. The Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Higher Education (MICIU) organises the competition and awards 29 student prizes per round. The top special prize, the ‘Arquimedes’, is worth 8,000 EUR, the second special prize 6,000 EUR, four first prizes of 6,000 EUR each, four second prizes of 4,000 EUR, and smaller awards for the runners-up ranging from 2,000 to 3,000 EUR. Your supervising teacher may receive 2,000 EUR if you win. Up to three finalists will also win a research placement at a CSIC institute, a Spanish public research centre. More than half of previous winners go on to complete a PhD.

Who can apply

• Where you study: You were enrolled at a Spanish university – whether public or private – on an official Bachelor’s (Grado) or Master’s degree programme during the academic year 2022–2023 or 2023–2024.
• Grades: Your overall mark for your Bachelor’s degree is at least 7.00 out of 10.
• Field of study: All disciplines are eligible. Submissions are divided into the following categories: Biology and Biomedicine, Experimental and Environmental Sciences, Social Sciences and Humanities, and Engineering and Architecture.
• Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities are welcome to apply. The key requirement is that you are enrolled at a Spanish university.
• Team or solo: You can take part on your own or as part of a team of up to three people.
• Language: You must write the research article in Spanish (Castilian).
• Not eligible: You are not eligible to apply if you have already obtained a PhD or a second Master’s degree, or if you were a finalist in a previous edition.

How to apply

Submit your research article and supporting documents online via the Ministry’s portal (Sede Electronica). The latest call for submissions (the 21th edition) closed on 3 February. Experts will review the submitted entries, and a jury will assess them. Up to 25 finalists will then present and defend their work in a public final before the prizes are awarded.

How realistic are your chances?

The competition is fiercely contested. It is a national competition open to all disciplines; only 29 student prizes will be awarded, and each submission must be a complete, peer-reviewed research paper. Your chances depend on the quality and originality of your work, not just on your marks. To win, you must also reach the final and defend your work in person. A compelling, truly novel piece of research is what makes all the difference.