Becas de Doctorado

Benefits & funding

• €1,200 a month for housing and living costs while in Spain, before tax deductions.
• Standard split: Fundación Carolina pays €600 if the home institution is public or €480 if private; the home institution pays the remaining €600 or €720.
• At Spanish universities that also co-fund lodging or living costs, Fundación Carolina and the home institution each pay €400 a month.
• Tuition (academic supervision) is covered under the Spanish university’s agreement; administrative fees such as file opening or the student card are paid by the scholar.
• Four round-trip economy flights from the capital of the Latin American country of residence, one per academic year.
• Non-pharmaceutical medical insurance.
• If the thesis defense falls in a fifth academic year, Fundación Carolina pays the flight and insurance to defend in Spain; degree issuance fees are the scholar’s cost.
• Stays: up to 9 consecutive months in year one and up to 6 in each of years two to four, with a one-month minimum each year; unused months do not carry over.
• The PhD must be completed within five years of starting.
• Exclusive dedication: no other scholarship or paid income without Fundación Carolina’s express authorization.
• Each yearly renewal depends on AECID, Spain’s development cooperation agency, approving its annual grant to the foundation.

Eligibility

• Citizenship of a Latin American member country of the Ibero-American Community of Nations: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, or Venezuela.
• A bachelor’s degree (licenciatura or engineering) and a master’s degree that grants doctoral access in the issuing country; master’s degrees from the European Higher Education Area with doctoral access are also accepted.
• Career or permanent faculty, or administrative staff, at a Latin American university that has a cooperation agreement with Fundación Carolina and nominates the candidate with a certified commitment to return.
• An acceptance or pre-admission letter from a doctoral program at a Spanish university.
• A strong academic record and professional experience.
• Not resident in Spain, and no doctorate already started in Spain before applying.
• Partner agreements currently cover institutions in 18 countries plus FLACSO; check that your university is on the list.
• No age limit is published.

Application process

1. 1
   Check that your university appears on Fundación Carolina’s list of partner institutions for doctoral scholarships.
2. 2
   Secure an acceptance or pre-admission letter from a doctoral program at a participating Spanish university.
3. 3
   Your university registers your nomination on Fundación Carolina’s platform by the deadline, with a rector’s letter, proof of your employment, and a certificate that your master’s degree grants doctoral access.
4. 4
   Complete the online application once Fundación Carolina emails you instructions.
5. 5
   If approved, confirm acceptance and submit legalized degree copies, the admission letter, your passport, proof of address, and an employment certificate.
6. 6
   Request renewal each year with an online progress report and a letter from your doctoral program director or thesis supervisor.

Program timeline

1. 2026–2027 call opened.

   Jan 12, 2026

2. Nomination deadline for partner institutions.

   Apr 9, 2026

3. Deadline for admissions to be communicated.

   Jul 31, 2026

4. Year-one stay window (up to 9 months).

   Oct 1, 2026 to Jul 31, 2027

5. Stay windows for years two to four (up to 6 months each).

   Sep 1, 2027 to Jul 31, 2030

6. Fifth academic year

   Thesis defense in Spain, if not completed earlier.

7. The next call is not yet announced; the 2026–2027 call opened in January.