Autonomous Community of Aragon - Predoctoral Fellowships

What you get

You will be offered a paid four-year research contract to undertake your PhD at a university or research centre in Aragón, Spain. Your salary is set at approximately 1,880 EUR per month in accordance with Spanish law. The contract runs for one year at a time and is renewed annually, up to a total of four years. If you have a recognised disability of 33% or more, it may be extended to up to six years. Following the defence of your thesis, a short postdoctoral period may be added. Funding is provided by the Regional Government of Aragón (Gobierno de Aragón), which is investing 6.9 million euros in 65 contracts for the period from 2026 to 2030.

Who can apply

• Degree: You hold a higher education qualification worth at least 300 ECTS credits. This means either a long-cycle degree programme or a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree which, together, total 300 ECTS credits. For a degree from a country outside Europe, an official certificate of recognition is required.
• Master: You must have completed a Master’s degree programme by 31 July 2026, or at least have earned 60 ECTS credits from such a programme.
• When you finished: You completed the degree programme leading to a PhD on or after 1 January 2022.
• PhD enrolment: You are enrolled on a PhD programme at a university in Aragón, or have been admitted for the period 2026–2027 and were enrolled prior to signing the contract.
• Grades: Your weighted average mark is at least 6.0 on a scale of 0 to 10.
• No doctorate yet: You have not yet obtained a doctoral degree and have never previously received a scholarship or a contract for doctoral students.
• Residence: You are legally resident in Spain.
• Field of study: Any field of research is fine.
• Nationality: Any nationality can apply.
• Disability: One of the 65 contracts is reserved for applicants with a recognised disability of 33% or more.

How to apply

Your university or research centre in Aragón will submit the application on your behalf – not you personally – via the Government of Aragón’s online portal. You will therefore need to have a supervisor with a PhD and a host institution before you begin. The application deadline is 14 July. In a separate step, you will then upload your own documents, such as your CV, your academic transcripts, proof of your enrolment in a PhD programme and a research proposal. A decision will be made within three months of the deadline.

How realistic are your chances?

This funding scheme is quite restrictive: you must be undertaking your PhD in Aragón, already have a supervisor and a host institution, and meet the requirements regarding grades and timetable. This limits the pool of applicants to those who are already involved in research in the region. As 65 contracts are on offer, your prospects are good if you fit the profile well, can provide a convincing academic record and have a committed supervisor. The biggest hurdle is securing this host institution at an early stage, as it is the institution that submits the application on your behalf.