Mutua Madrileña Foundation - International Cooperation Grants for Graduates in Medicine and Nursing Studies

What you get

You will receive a one-off payment of 3,000 EUR to take part in a voluntary health project abroad lasting at least 3 months. Five of these grants are awarded in each round by the Fundación Mutua Madrilena, a Spanish foundation. The project must begin in the year of the respective round. The money will be transferred to your bank account following an awards ceremony in Madrid.

Who can apply

• Your degree: You hold a Spanish higher education qualification (Licenciado or Grado) in Medicine or a Grado in Nursing, obtained from any Spanish higher education institution.
• Nationality: You are a Spanish citizen.
• Where you go: You are taking part in a health project run by a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in a developing country, where you will be working as an unpaid volunteer for at least 3 months.
• Your role: You are a volunteer project worker, not a board member or managing director of the NGO.
• First time: You have not yet received any funding from this foundation in the field of international cooperation.
• No double funding: You will not receive any further funding for the same trip. If this is nevertheless the case, you must declare it.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted online via the Foundation’s website using the official form. You will be asked to specify your destination country, the NGO, the project and your planned dates. The application window runs from early February to 5 March. An academic committee reviews the applications, and the Foundation’s board makes the final decision.

How realistic are your chances?

Only five scholarships are awarded per round, so competition for them is extremely fierce. However, the target group is narrowly defined: you must hold a Spanish degree in medicine or nursing and have already been involved in a specific NGO project abroad. If you have a clearly defined placement location, relevant experience in voluntary service and can describe exactly what you will be doing, you will stand out from more vague applications. A letter of confirmation from the NGO and a well-planned project are the most important factors.