Carlos III University of Madrid - Excellence Scholarships for New Students

Excellence Scholarships for New Students (UC3M)

You will receive a one-off payment of 2,000 EUR to cover the costs of moving to Madrid and settling in during your first year of study at Carlos III University in Madrid (UC3M). The grant is aimed at first-year undergraduates with outstanding university entrance exam results who come from outside the Madrid region. In the last round of awards, 27 scholarships were available, of which 2 were reserved for students with a verified disability of 33% or higher. UC3M and Banco Santander jointly fund the scholarships.

Who can apply

• University: You are applying to UC3M and have listed one of the Bachelor’s degree programmes offered there as your first choice.
• First time at university: You have never enrolled at a university before.
• Where you are from: You live in Spain, in a region other than the Autonomous Community of Madrid, at least 100 km from the UC3M campus where you will be studying.
• Where you finished school: You have completed your Bachillerato (upper secondary education) or vocational training and passed the university entrance examinations outside Madrid.
• Grades: Your admission score for a UC3M degree programme is 12 or more out of a maximum of 14.
• Field of study: Every bachelor’s degree from UC3M is recognised.
• Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities are welcome to apply, provided they meet the above requirements regarding residence and the entrance examination.
• Income counts: Your family income is taken into account. A lower income will earn you extra points and may improve your position in the rankings.
• No double funding: This scholarship cannot be combined with the ‘UC3M Becas Alumni’ or ‘Becas Acceso’ scholarships in the same year.

How to apply

You apply through an online form on the UC3M website. The deadline is 4 July. Applicants who meet the conditions are ranked by their admission score plus points for family income. The highest-ranked students receive the award.

How realistic are your chances?

This scholarship is awarded on a highly selective basis. You need a very high entrance exam score of 12 out of 14 or more, must be from outside Madrid, and there are only a limited number of places available. If you clearly meet these criteria and your entrance exam score is good, your chances are good. A lower family income will earn you extra points and is another plus. Apply straight after you enrol, before the deadline in July.