University of Navarra - Friends of the University of Navarra Research Training Scholarships

Friends of the University of Navarra research scholarship

You will be offered a paid post as a PhD student to complete a PhD at University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain. The gross salary increases each year. It starts at around 1,515 EUR per month (18,181 EUR gross per year) in the first and second years, rises to 19,480 EUR gross in the third year, and reaches 24,350 EUR gross in the fourth year. You will be offered a standard employment contract, with social security contributions paid by the university, as well as a discount of 80% on the annual PhD fee. The funding is for one year and can be extended up to three times, making a total of up to four years. You must defend your thesis within this period. The scholarship is funded by the Friends of University of Navarra Association, a group of donors that has been supporting research at the university since 1960.

Who can apply

• Degree: You hold a bachelor’s degree or an equivalent first university degree, which you obtained after 1 January 2021.
• No doctorate yet: You do not yet hold a doctoral degree.
• Where you study: You wish to undertake a PhD at the University of Navarra, but at a centre other than CIMA, CEIT, CIN, ICS or DATAI (these centres have their own funding).
• Field of study: Open to all disciplines.
• Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities are welcome to apply, including non-EU citizens. The association can issue certificates that may be helpful when applying for a visa.
• Full time: You are studying full-time on campus and are not in any other paid employment. This scholarship cannot be combined with any other income.
• Supervisor backing: A supervisor at the university must accept and support your application.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted online via the University’s miUNAV portal. First, apply for admission to the doctoral programme; the option to apply for the scholarship will then be activated. The application deadline for the 2025/26 round is 9. May, and the decision will be announced in the first week of July. Selection is based on your supporting documents (academic transcript, CV and a reference from your institution). There will be no interview.

How realistic are your chances?

This funding is tied to a specific university and requires a supervisor who is willing to support you. Each supervisor may only support one new applicant per round, so the pool of applicants is naturally limited. If you have good grades, a recently obtained degree and a supervisor at the University of Navarra who is committed to your project, your prospects are good. Securing the support of this supervisor at an early stage is the crucial step.