Complutense University of Madrid - Grants for predoctoral contracts

What you get

You will be offered a paid employment contract for approximately 1,370 EUR per month to write your doctoral thesis (PhD) at the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM). This is a genuine job, not just a scholarship: You will receive a salary, be covered by the Spanish social security system and be paid in 14 instalments per year. The contract is for one year and can be renewed annually for up to a total of four years years. During the term of the contract, you will not be required to pay any enrolment fees for your doctoral studies. In addition, you may spend up to three months per year on research placements at other institutions in Spain or abroad. The UCM and Banco Santander jointly fund the programme.

Who can apply

• Level: You are either just starting a PhD programme at UCM or are already enrolled on one and have not yet been awarded a doctoral degree.
• Enrolment: You are enrolled on a PhD programme at UCM or have received provisional admission and will be enrolled by the time your contract begins.
• Field of study: Open to all subjects.
• Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities are welcome to apply. If you are from a country outside the EU and are selected, you will need a valid Spanish work permit in order to sign the contract.
• Grades: Your average mark is at least 2.0 on a scale from 0 to 4, where a ‘satisfactory’ is rated as 1 and the top mark as 4. Foreign qualifications are converted to this Spanish scale.
• Supervisor: A full-time professor at UCM with a PhD has agreed to supervise your dissertation. Each supervisor may only supervise one candidate.
• Not funded before: You have not yet had a similar research contract as a PhD student.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted online via the UCM portal for research staff. The application deadline is 23 March. A selection committee will then draw up a ranking list of applicants, based primarily on academic achievements and the research CV, and the Vice-Chancellor will confirm the award of the scholarships.

How realistic are your chances?

The programme is tied to a specific university and requires the prior approval of a UCM supervisor, which limits the choice of candidates. Nevertheless, a large number of places were awarded in the most recent selection rounds (76 in 2025), meaning that the pool of places is considerable. As the ranking is based primarily on grades and the research CV, a strong academic track record and a supervisor with an active research project are crucial. Make sure you secure a supervisor early on, as you cannot apply without one.