University of Jaén - Special Grants for Students Undergoing Social Hardship

What you get

You will receive a one-off grant of up to 1,200 EUR to cover the costs of one academic year at University of Jaen in Spain. The amount of the grant depends on your circumstances:

• 1,200 euros if you are studying full-time (60 credits or more) and do not live at home
• 800 EUR if you’re studying full-time but live at home
• 600 EUR or 400 EUR if you take 30 to 59 credits (away from home / at home)

First-year Bachelor’s students who have been admitted in exceptional circumstances may, instead, receive a refund of their tuition fees up to the cost of 60 credits. The University of Jaén and the Andalusian Regional Government fund this grant with an initial budget of 130,000 EUR per year. You may only receive this grant once during your studies.

Who can apply

• University: You are enrolled at the University of Jaen this academic year, in a Bachelor's degree (from 2nd year on) or the 1st year of an official Master's. Doctoral students cannot apply.
• National scholarship refused: You applied for the Spanish Ministry’s general scholarship (Beca de Carácter General), and your application was rejected because your grades did not meet the requirements due to a proven exceptional circumstance.
• Financial need: Your family income is below the minimum threshold set by the Ministry (for example, 22,107 EUR for a four-person household). The university will have this verified by the Spanish tax authorities.
• First time only: You have never received this grant before.
• Field of study: All subjects are permitted. You must have achieved a minimum proportion of the credit points earned in the last year: 50% for science and engineering subjects, 60% for health sciences, 70% for arts, humanities, social sciences and law.
• Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities are welcome to apply. Non-EU students whose national scholarship application has been rejected must also provide official documentation proving that they are in a situation of hardship or are socially excluded.
• Exceptional hardship helps: Events since 1 January 2025 such as the death or job loss of a main earner, serious illness, disability, divorce, domestic violence, orphanhood or a natural disaster give you priority and can relax the income and grade rules.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted online via the University of Jaén’s electronic register using a digital certificate. Please complete the form and attach your supporting documents. The application deadline for the 2025/26 academic year is 30 January 2026 at 23:59. A university committee will review the applications, rank them as necessary and subsequently publish the list of scholarship recipients.

How realistic are your chances?

This grant is very restrictive: you must be studying at the University of Jaén, have already been refused the national grant, and provide evidence of a low income; consequently, the number of people eligible for the grant is small. Places are not allocated on a competitive basis but – subject to the budget – are allocated in order of need. A suitable applicant who can demonstrate genuine hardship – particularly an exceptional circumstance such as a bereavement or the loss of a family member’s job – has a good chance of success. Apply early, as the allocated budget may run out.