Opportunities in Spain

Spain's opportunities run through universities, Spanish cooperation scholarships and EU mobility schemes. The Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) publishes MAEC-AECID scholarship calls for citizens of specified regions, with separate calls for Latin America, Africa and Asia. One recent call funded in-person official master's degrees for citizens of Latin American countries and the Philippines. Calls are published in Spanish and applications are submitted electronically.

Windows are short: one recent call ran for about two weeks in February and March. Non-EU students staying more than three months must obtain a student visa from the Spanish embassy or consulate in their home country. Typical documents are an admission letter, application form and fee, a criminal record certificate, proof of funds, health insurance and proof of accommodation; the process can take around three months, and requirements vary by consulate. Working after studies is a separate immigration procedure that should be checked with the authorities.

Common mistakes include missing the short scholarship window, trying to apply for a visa without an admission letter, assuming every embassy asks for the same documents, and starting too late. Short study stays under six months use a different visa that cannot be extended from inside Spain.