Luisa de Medrano Program 2026: SICUE grants to study at another Spanish university

Key data

Undergraduate university students participating in the SICUE program during the 2026 academic year have access to a specific line of economic grants: the "Luisa de Medrano" program, whose regulatory bases are approved through Order CNU/880/2026, of August 17, published and in force since August 21, 2026.

The objective is to finance temporary academic stays at Spanish universities different from the home institution, within the already consolidated SICUE framework. The novelty is that these grants formalize and regulate the conditions of access, the obligations of beneficiaries and the repayment regime in case of non-compliance.

What does this regulation establish?

Order CNU/880/2026 approves the regulatory bases of the "Luisa de Medrano" grants program, which finances temporary academic stays of Undergraduate students at Spanish universities different from their own. These are the main conditions and obligations:

Access requirements

• Have SICUE placement granted in the corresponding call.
• Have passed a minimum of 60 credits at the home university.
• Be enrolled in a minimum of 30 credits at the destination university.
• Have a minimum average grade of 5 out of 10.

Stay conditions

• The stay must be in-person: distance or hybrid modalities are not admitted.
• The destination university must be in a different province from the home university.
• The maximum duration is 9 months.

Beneficiary obligations

• Arrive within the deadline established in the grant resolution.
• Effectively reside in the destination province during the stay.
• Comply with the academic performance required in the bases.
• In case of non-compliance with any of these obligations: repayment of the grant received.

Management and processing

The procedure is entirely electronic and is integrated into the existing SICUE program procedures, which minimizes the administrative burden for both students and universities. No parallel procedure is created: the grant is managed within the same channel as the SICUE placement.

Economic and operational impact

For students, the "Luisa de Medrano" program represents direct economic aid to cover the costs associated with living and studying in another Spanish city for a maximum of 9 months. Although the Order does not set specific amounts in the regulatory bases (these will be determined in each annual call), it does establish the framework of conditions that will determine who can receive it and under what commitments.

The most relevant economic risk for the beneficiary is repayment: if the obligation to arrive on time, to reside at the destination or to achieve the required academic performance is not met, the grant must be repaid in full. This makes the acceptance commitment a decision that must be taken seriously.

For universities, integration into the SICUE system means they do not need to develop additional procedures: the electronic management already provided absorbs the processing of these grants, reducing operational burden.

Who does it affect?

• Undergraduate students enrolled in any Spanish university who have obtained or are going to apply for a SICUE placement.
• Spanish universities participating in the SICUE program, both as home and destination centers.
• International relations and mobility services of universities, responsible for managing applications and monitoring beneficiaries.
• Families and students planning national mobility for the next academic year and needing economic support to cover travel and accommodation costs.

Practical example

A third-year student of the Law Degree at the University of Salamanca has passed 90 credits (meets the minimum of 60) and has an average grade of 7.2 (exceeds the minimum of 5). She applies for and obtains a SICUE placement to study the second semester at the University of Granada, in a different province from Salamanca.

Having SICUE placement granted and meeting all requirements, she can apply for the "Luisa de Medrano" program grant. She enrolls in 36 credits at Granada (exceeds the minimum of 30). The stay lasts 5 months, within the 9-month limit.

To maintain the grant, she must: arrive on the date indicated in the resolution, effectively reside in Granada during those 5 months and achieve the required academic performance. If she abandons the stay without justified cause or does not reside at the destination, she must repay the grant received.

What should students do now?

1. Verify if you have SICUE placement granted or in process for the next academic year: it is the prerequisite and essential requirement to access the "Luisa de Medrano" grant.
2. Check that you meet the academic requirements: minimum of 60 credits passed at your home university, enrollment of at least 30 credits at destination and average grade equal to or higher than 5.
3. Confirm that the stay is in-person and in a different province from your home university: stays in the same province or in non-in-person modality are not eligible.
4. Plan the stay with margin: the obligation to arrive within the deadline set in the resolution is binding. An unjustified delay may result in loss and repayment of the grant.
5. Consult with your university's mobility service the deadlines of the specific call, as the regulatory bases approved by this Order will be developed in annual calls with specific dates.
6. Keep all documentation that proves effective residence at destination and academic performance, in case it is required during or after the stay.

Official source

Consult complete regulation at official source

Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-18012