Universidad de Extremadura - ACCION II. Programa de formacion de personal investigador.

What you get

You get a paid predoctoral contract worth 26,132.51 EUR per year to do your doctorate (PhD) at the University of Extremadura (UEx) in Spain. This is a research job, not a classic stipend: the university hires you for 1 year to work on your thesis in a UEx research group or institute. An experienced doctorate holder supervises you. You can renew the contract each year up to the legal maximum of 4 years, but you must reapply every year. There are 12 positions.

Who can apply

• Degree: You hold a university qualification that gives access to a doctorate, such as a licenciatura, an engineering or architecture degree, a bachelor of at least 300 ECTS credits, or an official master's.
• When you graduated: You earned that qualification on or after 1 January 2020. It counts from 1 January 2019 if you had or adopted a child between 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2020.
• Grades: You have an average of at least 7.0 out of 10 in your bachelor or licenciatura. Master marks do not count.
• No PhD yet: You do not already hold a doctorate from any university.
• University: You are enrolled in or admitted to an official UEx doctorate programme for 2025/2026, and you do your thesis at the University of Extremadura.
• Nationality: You are a Spanish or EU citizen, or a non-EU national living in Spain with a residence permit that covers the full length of the contract.
• Supervisor: A UEx teacher or researcher directs your thesis and stays under contract with the university for the whole funding period.

How to apply

You apply online through the Santander Open Academy platform. You submit the application form, your CV and your supervisor's acceptance. For the 2025/2026 round the window ran from 17 to 27 February 2026 (until 23:59, GMT+2), and candidates were selected by 13 March 2026.

How realistic are your chances?

This award is cut narrowly. It is limited to graduates doing a PhD at one specific university, with a minimum 7.0 average and, for several positions, particular fields such as biosciences, chemistry or environmental science. With only 12 places, competition is real, but the tight requirements keep the eligible pool small. If you clearly fit the field, have the grades and already have a committed UEx supervisor, your prospects are solid.