Scholarships to study abroad in Spain and Portugal: new options in Southern Europe

🔄 Last updated: October 8, 2026

Scholarships to study abroad in Spain and Portugal are gaining interest from many young Vietnamese people thanks to the pleasant climate, moderate living costs compared to Western Europe, and more and more programs taught in English. However, it should be made clear from the beginning: scholarships from the two countries' governments specifically for Vietnamese citizens are quite limited. This article shows the most practical ways to receive financial support when studying in Southern Europe.

Reality about Spanish and Portuguese government scholarships

Scholarships of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation (MAEC-AECID) are mainly aimed at citizens of Latin America, some African countries, the Middle East and the Philippines; AECID's official page currently does not list Vietnam in its programs. Fundación Carolina scholarships are also open to Latin American citizens. Similarly, Portuguese cooperative scholarships often prioritize Portuguese-speaking countries.

Therefore, Vietnamese applicants should focus on four groups: European joint programs (Erasmus Mundus), Erasmus+ exchanges through partner schools, research student scholarships, and scholarships or exemptions from the schools themselves.

Erasmus Mundus and Erasmus+ exchange

Spain and Portugal are members of many Erasmus Mundus alliances, so you can study one or more semesters in Barcelona, Madrid, Granada, Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra... with full scholarship. Details of the mechanism and records are in the article Erasmus Mundus scholarship.

In addition, the Erasmus+ (International Credit Mobility) credit exchange program allows Vietnamese schools to sign agreements with European schools to exchange students and lecturers. If your school has partners in Spain or Portugal, check with the international cooperation department. Here's a low-cost way to experience Southern Europe; see Short-term student exchange scholarships.

Doctoral scholarship: la Caixa INPhINIT

The “la Caixa” Foundation has an INPhINIT Incoming doctoral scholarship program open to candidates of all nationalities, studying at research centers of excellence in Spain (Severo Ochoa, María de Maeztu, Carlos III institute) and units rated excellent by the FCT in Portugal. According to the 2026 announcement:

• STEM fields: technology, engineering, physics, chemistry, math, health and life sciences.
• Maximum duration of 4 years, funding for labor costs (contract), research costs and doctoral tuition fees, with skills training program.
• Travel rules: do not live or operate mainly in Spain or Portugal for more than 12 months in the 3 years before the deadline.
• The number of places is very limited (about 30 places per batch), the deadline is usually at the end of January.

In addition, many research groups in the two countries recruit paid PhD students through European projects. See more How to prepare for a PhD scholarship.

Scholarship to study abroad in Spain and Portugal from the school

Public universities in Spain have tuition fees set by the regional government and are usually moderate compared to the UK and US, although non-EU students may have to pay higher in some regions. In Portugal, international students from outside the EU often pay higher private tuition fees than domestic students. Many schools (public and private, business schools) have merit-based tuition reduction scholarships for international students, especially at the master's level. Tuition and scholarships vary from year to year, so check the school page.

Note: many public university bachelor's degree programs are taught in Spanish or Portuguese. If you have a DELE or Portuguese certificate, the choice is wider and the cost is lower than the English program.

Financial planning and records

1. Determine the path: short-term exchange, Erasmus Mundus, PhD or self-financing with school scholarship.
2. Prepare financial proof for long-term student visas; see Proof of finances for studying abroad.
3. Calculate the cost of living: Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Lisbon are more expensive than cities like Valencia, Granada, Porto, Coimbra.
4. Compare with other countries Before deciding: Compare scholarships from other countries.

From Vietnam to Madrid, Barcelona or Lisbon usually transit once in the Middle East or Europe. VeDuHoc has more than 30 Bookers to hunt for multi-carrier tickets, check transit visa requirements, optimize checked baggage of 40–46kg, 24/7 support during the journey, and if a better price is found after you have paid, HVSC will refund the difference. See air tickets to study abroad and Pay attention to transit when flying to study abroad.

Frequently asked questions

Are there Spanish Government scholarships for Vietnamese people?

As of the time of this article update, MAEC-AECID programs are mainly for Latin America, some African countries, the Middle East and the Philippines. Vietnamese people should aim for Erasmus Mundus, school scholarships or research scholarships.

Is it possible to study in English in Spain or Portugal?

Yes, especially master's degree and business school. Public school bachelor's degrees are mainly taught in the local language.

Does the la Caixa Scholarship require citizenship?

INPhINIT Incoming is open to all nationalities but travel rules apply: do not live in Spain or Portugal for more than 12 months in the last 3 years.

Is studying abroad in Portugal expensive?

Living costs are reasonable in Western Europe, but tuition fees for non-EU students are higher than for domestic students. Check each school carefully.

Scholarships to study abroad in Spain and Portugal are not many in number, but if you choose the right path, you can absolutely study in Southern Europe at a reasonable cost. Once you have a plan, contact VeDuHoc via hotline/Zalo 090.1800.918 for flight itinerary support.

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