Ayudas para contratos predoctorales 'Concepcion Arenal'

Concepción Arenal predoctoral contracts (University of Cantabria)

You get a full-time employment contract to write your doctoral thesis at the University of Cantabria in Spain. This is a paid job, not just a grant. The salary rises over the years, starting around 16,128 EUR gross per year in the first two years, about 17,280 EUR in the third year and about 21,600 EUR in the fourth year. (These figures come from an earlier round; the current round sets its own rates.) The university also pays your employer social-security contributions. On top of that, you can claim up to 5,000 EUR for a short research stay elsewhere. The contract runs at least 1 year and up to 4 years full time, and ends when you finish your doctorate. It is the University of Cantabria's own programme, co-funded by the regional government, with 16 contracts in the 2025 round.

Who can apply

• Degree: You hold a university degree that lets you enrol in a doctoral programme.
• Where you study: You are enrolled, or plan to enrol, in a doctoral programme at the University of Cantabria.
• Commitment: You can work full time on your thesis.
• Field of study: Most contracts are open to all subjects. One is reserved for research on women's and gender studies, and one (a joint line with the IDIVAL institute) is only for biomedicine, biotechnology or health-science projects.
• Nationality: All nationalities can apply.

How to apply

You apply online through the University of Cantabria's electronic office, using a digital certificate or electronic ID, and submit an outline of your thesis project. The application window ran from 15 December 2025 to 15 January 2026. The next round is expected to open around November or December 2026, with a January 2027 deadline. Applications are judged in open competition, with an external review.

How realistic are your chances?

With 16 contracts split into general, gender-studies and biomedical lines, and external review deciding, this is competitive but not huge in scale. Your prospects depend on how well your thesis project and supervisor fit the university. The gender-studies and IDIVAL lines have a much smaller applicant pool if your topic matches them exactly. A strong, well-defined project proposal is what carries you.