Key data
| Regulation | Resolution of 14 July 2026, from the General Secretariat of Universities — Agreement of the General Conference on University Policy of 10 July 2026 |
|---|---|
| Publication | 24 July 2026 |
| Entry into force | 24 July 2026 |
| Affected parties | Students in their final year of undergraduate degree or 1st year of Master's degree interested in starting research |
| Category | Education |
| Academic year | 2026/27 |
| Total budget | €4,862,000 |
| Total scholarships | 2,431 scholarships of €2,000 each |
| Legal source | BOE-A-2026-16163 |
For the 2026/27 academic year, 2,431 university students will be able to receive a €2,000 scholarship to begin research within university departments. The territorial distribution was approved by the General Conference on University Policy on 10 July 2026 and published in the Official State Gazette on 24 July through the Resolution of the General Secretariat of Universities.
The most relevant novelty compared to previous calls is the decentralization towards Catalonia, which this year manages its own call for the first time following the transfer of powers carried out by Royal Decree 261/2025.
What does this regulation establish?
The General Conference on University Policy approves the territorial distribution of credits allocated to student collaboration scholarships in university departments for 2026/27. The distribution scheme is as follows:
| Territorial scope | Scholarships | Total amount | Management |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catalonia | 320 | €640,000 | Generalitat de Catalunya (Royal Decree 261/2025) |
| Rest of national territory | 2,111 | €4,222,000 | Ministry of Education (centralized call) |
| Basque Country | Not specified | Not specified | Own call (Economic Agreement) |
| Total | 2,431 | €4,862,000 | — |
The conditions of the scholarships are uniform across all territories managed by the Ministry:
- Amount: €2,000 per scholarship
- Duration: 7.5 months
- Minimum dedication: 3 hours daily on-site
- Selection criteria: exclusively academic — quality of the collaboration project and average grade of the academic record
The transfer of powers to Catalonia, articulated through Royal Decree 261/2025, is the most relevant structural change: for the first time, the Generalitat calls and independently manages its 320 scholarships, without Ministry intervention in that territory.
Economic and operational impact
For students, the impact is direct: €2,000 gross during 7.5 months of collaboration in a university department. This is not a tuition or transportation scholarship, but rather compensation for research initiation work.
For universities and departments, the call involves managing collaboration projects that must meet the required quality criteria. Selection is based exclusively on academic merit, which eliminates socioeconomic criteria from the process.
From a territorial perspective, the distribution reflects the new competency map in university matters:
- Catalonia assumes 13.2% of the total budget (€640,000 of €4,862,000) and 13.2% of the places (320 of 2,431).
- The rest of the territory concentrates 86.8% of the scholarships and the corresponding budget under Ministry management.
- The Basque Country operates outside the state system due to the Economic Agreement, with its own call.
Who does it affect?
- University students enrolled in the final year of an official undergraduate degree.
- University students enrolled in the first year of an official Master's degree.
- University departments that want to incorporate scholarship holders for collaboration in research projects.
- Public universities throughout the national territory, with differentiated processing depending on the regional government.
- Scholarship managers and technicians at Catalan universities, who now process applications with the Generalitat instead of the Ministry.
- Universities in the Basque Country, which follow the procedure established by the Economic Agreement.
Practical example
A fourth-year student in the Biochemistry degree at Universitat de Barcelona wants to apply for a collaboration scholarship for the 2026/27 academic year. Since Catalonia manages its own call (320 scholarships, €640,000), she must apply to the Generalitat de Catalunya call, not the Ministry of Education.
Her application will be evaluated exclusively on two criteria: the quality of the collaboration project proposed by the department and her average academic record grade. If selected, she will receive €2,000 and must be present in the department a minimum of 3 hours daily for 7.5 months.
A first-year Master's student in Industrial Engineering at the Polytechnic University of Madrid, on the other hand, will have access to the Ministry of Education's centralized call, which manages 2,111 scholarships for the rest of the national territory, with identical amount and conditions.
What should universities and students do now?
- Identify which call applies to you: if you study in Catalonia, the call is managed by the Generalitat; if you study in the Basque Country, the call is their own; in the rest of the territory, the Ministry of Education will publish the centralized call.
- Verify that you meet the access requirements: you must be enrolled in the final year of an undergraduate degree or in the first year of an official Master's degree.
- Prepare your academic record: average grade is one of the only two selection criteria. Request an updated official academic certificate.
- Contact the university department: the quality of the collaboration project is the other determining criterion. The project is proposed by the department, not by the student alone.
- Managers at Catalan universities: update internal procedures to process applications with the Generalitat de Catalunya instead of the Ministry, in accordance with Royal Decree 261/2025.
- Plan your availability: the scholarship requires a minimum presence of 3 hours daily for 7.5 months. Check compatibility with the academic calendar.
Frequently asked questions
How much money does the 2026/27 university collaboration scholarship provide?
The scholarship has a fixed amount of €2,000 per student, regardless of the territory where it is pursued. This amount is uniform both in the Ministry of Education's call (2,111 scholarships, €4,222,000) and in Catalonia's call (320 scholarships, €640,000).
How many collaboration scholarships are available in 2026/27?
The total is 2,431 scholarships: 2,111 managed by the Ministry of Education for the common regime territory, and 320 managed by the Generalitat de Catalunya. The Basque Country calls its own scholarships outside this distribution due to the Economic Agreement.
Who can apply for the collaboration scholarship in university departments?
Students enrolled in the final year of an official undergraduate degree or in the first year of an official Master's degree can apply. Selection is based exclusively on academic criteria: average grade of the academic record and quality of the proposed collaboration project.
Why does Catalonia manage its own university collaboration scholarships?
Because Royal Decree 261/2025 formalized the transfer of powers in this matter to the Generalitat de Catalunya. As a result, for the 2026/27 academic year, Catalonia independently manages 320 scholarships for an amount of €640,000, without Ministry of Education intervention in that territory.
How many hours must be worked with the university collaboration scholarship?
The scholarship requires a minimum on-site dedication of 3 hours daily for a period of 7.5 months. It is a requirement for presence in the university department, not a remote activity.
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-2026-16163