IE Awards / Direct Awards (IE University Undergraduate)

What you get

IE University in Spain offers you a flat-rate reduction in your tuition fees by a fixed percentage for the entire duration of your Bachelor’s degree. This applies to all 4 or 5 years, provided you pass your exams each year. There are two options. Direct Awards are based solely on academic merit and generally cover 10% to 30% of the tuition fees. Every applicant is automatically considered for these as part of the admissions process; there is no need to complete a separate form. IE Awards scholarships combine academic merit with financial need and cover 10% to 60% of the tuition fees, but must be applied for separately. The discount applies only to tuition fees payable to IE University, not to living costs or fees at partner universities. For 2025/26, IE University has awarded more than 8 million euros to new undergraduate students from over 121 countries.

Who can apply

• Level: You are applying for a Bachelor’s degree programme at IE University (Segovia, Spain).
• Field of study: Open to all Bachelor’s degree programmes.
• Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities are welcome to apply; there are no restrictions on place of residence.
• Grades: You have an outstanding academic record. This is the main criterion for ‘Direct Awards’ and also plays an important role in the ‘IE Awards’.
• Financial need: To qualify for IE grants, you must provide evidence of your financial need by submitting your parents’ or guardians’ most recent payslips and their latest tax return. This is not required for direct grants.
• Timing: You can only apply before the start of your first year of study. Students who are already enrolled cannot apply, and the grant will lapse if you take a gap year or defer your studies.

How to apply

First, apply for admission to a Bachelor’s degree programme. For ‘Direct Awards’, no further steps are required, as your application will be considered automatically. For ‘IE Awards’, once you have been admitted or provisionally admitted, you should submit your application for financial support from the IE. This includes a short essay on your financial situation and your parents’ financial documents. The deadline is the start of your degree programme, and you will usually receive a response within one to three weeks. You may apply for up to three scholarships, but you will only receive the one with the highest value.

How realistic are your chances?

Direct scholarships are open to all eligible applicants, as every admitted student is automatically considered and there is no need to demonstrate financial need. IE scholarships are more competitive, as they take into account both academic performance and financial need; IE describes the process as extremely competitive. With a total annual funding pot of over 8 million euros, which is allocated across many countries, a well-suited applicant with strong academic results who applies early and demonstrates genuine financial need has a realistic chance of success.