Campus Rural 2026: opportunities for businesses in depopulated areas

Key data

Rural businesses now have an official channel to take on university students for internships. The agreement signed between the Dirección General de Políticas contra la Despoblación and the Universitat de Barcelona, published in the BOE on 3 April 2026, launches the Campus Rural program: an initiative that connects university talent with businesses, local councils and organisations in municipalities affected by depopulation.

If your business or entity is located in a rural area, this program may be a way to bring in qualified profiles without the usual recruitment costs, while contributing to retaining population in the territory.

What does this regulation establish?

The Resolución de 25 de marzo de 2026 publishes the cooperation agreement between two institutions with complementary objectives: the Dirección General de Políticas contra la Despoblación, which leads the national strategy against the demographic challenge, and the Universitat de Barcelona, which provides the university human capital.

The agreement structures the Campus Rural program around two declared objectives:

• To offer university students real professional experience in rural settings.
• To contribute to the economic and social revitalisation of municipalities affected by depopulation.

Internships will take place in businesses, local entities and organisations located in rural areas. The agreement regulates three key aspects:

This measure forms part of the national strategy against the demographic challenge, which seeks to halt the emptying of rural municipalities by attracting talent and driving economic activity in the territory.

Economic and operational impact

For rural businesses and entities, the Campus Rural program represents an opportunity to access university talent under conditions that are usually out of reach for businesses in depopulated areas. The main operational effects are:

• Access to qualified profiles: University students with specific training who can meet real business needs during the internship period.
• Local economic revitalisation: The presence of students in the municipality generates local consumption and activity in the surrounding area.
• Territorial visibility: Students who complete internships in rural areas may become future residents or entrepreneurs in the territory.
• No recruitment cost: The Universitat de Barcelona manages the sourcing channel, eliminating the search effort for the host business.

No funding amounts or minimum remuneration for students have been published in the BOE text. To find out the specific economic conditions, it is necessary to contact the Universitat de Barcelona or the Dirección General de Políticas contra la Despoblación directly.

Who is affected?

• Businesses in depopulated rural areas: Any business located in a municipality affected by depopulation that can offer an internship position with real educational content.
• Local entities and rural councils: Municipalities that want to attract university talent and revitalise their economic and social activity.
• Third-sector organisations in rural settings: Associations, cooperatives and non-profit entities based in rural areas.
• Students at the Universitat de Barcelona: University students seeking professional experience in rural environments as part of their study programme.
• Public managers of depopulation policies: Technicians and officials from administrations working on the strategy against the demographic challenge.

Practical example

A family agri-food business located in a municipality of fewer than 2,000 inhabitants in Catalonia, affected by depopulation, can apply to join the Campus Rural program as a host entity for internships.

Through the agreement between the Dirección General de Políticas contra la Despoblación and the Universitat de Barcelona, the business could receive a university student — for example, from a degree in Business Administration, Agri-food Engineering or Communications — to complete their curricular or extracurricular internship over a set period.

The student brings up-to-date knowledge and working capacity in areas where the business struggles to recruit locally. The business, in turn, contributes to the institutional objective of retaining talent in the rural territory. The Universitat de Barcelona coordinates the management channel, reducing the administrative burden for the host business.

What should businesses do now?

1. Assess whether your business is in a rural area affected by depopulation: The program is specifically aimed at entities in municipalities with demographic challenges. Check whether your locality falls into this category by consulting the criteria of the Dirección General de Políticas contra la Despoblación.
2. Identify which university profiles can add value to your business: Before contacting the Universitat de Barcelona, define what tasks or projects a student intern could carry out at your business.
3. Contact the Universitat de Barcelona to find out the participation requirements: The agreement establishes that the UB manages the program. Request information about the registration process as a host entity, the internship conditions and the commitments the business takes on.
4. Consult the Dirección General de Políticas contra la Despoblación: If you are a local council or public entity, this directorate general is your main point of contact for finding out how to join the program.
5. Prepare the host environment: Designate an internal supervisor, a work plan for the student and the basic conditions for the placement, especially if the student needs to travel from a university city.

Official source

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, please consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-7624