University of La Rioja - Grants for Students Undergoing Unforeseen Economic Circumstances

Grants for students in economic difficulty at the University of La Rioja

At the University of La Rioja in Logroño, Spain, you will receive a one-off grant that covers part or all of your tuition fees. The amount is calculated on an individual basis and corresponds to the fees you have actually paid for the credits you have taken, so it will never exceed the cost of your studies. This is a one-off grant linked to your tuition fee invoice, rather than a monthly payment. The university runs the programme with financial support from Banco Santander to help students who would otherwise have to drop out of their studies for financial reasons if no other funding were available to them.

Who can apply

• University: You are enrolled on a Bachelor’s (Grado) or Master’s degree programme at the University of La Rioja during the current academic year.
• Field of study: Open to all disciplines. For Master’s students, priority will be given to degree programmes leading to a regulated profession; however, other degree programmes may also be funded, provided that funds are still available.
• Nationality: All nationalities can apply.
• Financial need: Your family income and assets must remain below the thresholds for the Spanish state grant (the ‘umbral 3’ income bracket set by the Ministry).
• No other grant: You have applied for the general state grant (from the Ministry of Education or the Basque Government) for the same year and are not currently receiving it.
• No repeat funding: You have not yet received any funding for the same degree programme and do not yet hold a qualification at the same level.
• Grades: If you have already completed your first year of study, you must have passed a specified proportion of the credit points you have taken: 50% in engineering and natural sciences, 55% in health sciences, 60% in all other subject areas. First-year students are assessed on the basis of their university entrance examination results.

How to apply

You apply online using the university’s form and the Banco Santander funding portal, and attach the proof of income and assets required there. The application deadline is 30 April. There will be no interview. A panel will assess each application on the basis of your grades and your financial situation.

How realistic are your chances?

This funding is very narrowly defined: you must be studying at a specific university and demonstrate a genuine financial need whilst complying with set income limits, meaning that the number of people eligible for funding is small. In the 2023–24 round, students received funding from a total budget of around 73,000 euros under the 22 tuition fee programme. If you clearly meet the income limits and the academic requirements, your chances are good. It is essential that you submit your application by the deadline, with all the necessary documents.