All Disciplines (Postdoctoral Research)
Spain
Number of recipients
In addition to being a prestigious academic exchange program, the Fulbright Program is designed to expand and strengthen relationships between the people of the United States and citizens of other nations and to promote international understanding and cooperation. To support this mission, Fulbright Scholars may be asked to give public talks, mentor students, and otherwise engage with the host community, in addition to their primary activities.
Conduct research and/or collaborate with colleagues at Spanish academic and research institutions. Activities may include presenting lectures, seminars and workshops as arranged by host institutions or the U.S.-Spain Fulbright Commission.
Research centers and universities in Spain can be found at the following links:
These lists are not exhaustive. Other institutions which are not listed may also be considered as potential hosts.
Spanish universities, institutions of higher education, and research centers.
Four to nine months
Grants may begin any time after August 2025, and they should conclude by the end of July 2026. Justified requests for different grant dates will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
All applicants must meet the Program eligibility requirements (click to review the requirements).
Applicants must arrange affiliation in Spain and submit letters of invitation indicating the name and position of the research adviser with whom the scholar will collaborate and the availability of research resources. The letter is required to be signed by the research adviser.
The U.S.-Spain Fulbright Commission provides wide support to selected candidates regarding administrative issues such as the visa process, and ample pre-departure and arrival information. However, it cannot assist in establishing contacts at prospective host institutions.
Spanish language proficiency (or proficiency in one of the other three co-official languages: Catalan, Euskera, or Galician) is not required unless necessary to complete the research or teaching project. Applicants must discuss this point with their host institution beforehand. Applicants for whose project language proficiency is necessary must address this in the project statement.
Researchers and faculty are usually fluent in English, although there are wide differences in the students' English proficiency. For day-to-day life, some knowledge of Spanish and/or the other co-official languages is useful, especially in smaller cities and towns.
Intended for scholars who have received their Ph.D. or terminal degree within the last seven years or who have comparable professional qualifications. Ph.D. candidates must receive the terminal degree no later than June 30, 2025 and should include a letter from their thesis adviser confirming their status.
Please note that candidates with dual U.S./Spanish citizenship, or candidates who are residing in Spain at the time of application or anytime thereafter, are not eligible for the Fulbright program in Spain.
You may be asked to participate in an interview as part of the in-country selection process.
€3,200 per month. This amount covers the monthly stipend, housing and living allowances.
The allowances will be paid by the Spanish Commission as a lump sum once the Grant is formalized (in Euros or in Dollars, at a conversion rate to be determined on April 15, 2025. View conversion rates).
Travel and relocation allowance for scholars: €1,300.
The allowances will be paid by the Spanish Commission as a lump sum once the Grant is formalized (in Euros or in Dollars, at a conversion rate to be determined on April 15, 2025. View conversion rates).
Scholars accompanied by dependents for at least 80 percent of the grant period will receive a monthly dependent allowance of €150 for one dependent or €300 for two or more dependents.
Authorized dependents' travel allowance: €750 per person, for up to two dependents.
Dependents must accompany the grantee for at least 80% of the period abroad and a minimum of one semester in order to qualify for additional dependent benefits. Dependent benefits are not provided to Flex grantees.
Living costs vary considerably according to the geographical region. For more information about the estimated cost of living in each region of Spain, see this link.
Depending on their grant dates, scholars in Spain will have the opportunity to benefit from a variety of additional opportunities provided by the Commission, such as a three-day Fulbright Orientation program that takes place in Madrid in mid-September; as well as three-day research seminars held in November and April. For reference, please check out the research seminar celebrated in November 2023.
Scholars are provided with a small travel allowance and accommodation to attend these events. Fulbright Scholars can join the Spanish Fulbright Alumni Network, the Spanish Fulbright Association, and the Fulbrighter networking platform, which enable grantees to connect, network, engage, and collaborate with Fulbright alumni and grantees around the world.
During their grant period, Fulbright Scholars in Europe have the opportunity to apply for a travel grant to support short-term (up to one week) travel to other countries in the EUR region for activities such as lectures, workshops, graduate or faculty seminars, master classes or recitals, curricular advising or panel presentations. Scholars may pursue invitations for short-term activities in other European countries once notified that they have been selected for a Fulbright grant. However, Scholars may only apply for the European inter-country travel grant funds when in Spain and during their Fulbright grant period.
If you wish to hear from previous US Fulbright Scholars and Researchers about their experiences in Spain, check our Fulbright Spain- Alumni Voices reel here.
Final grant amounts will be determined prior to the start of the academic year and are subject to the availability of funds. The United States Department of State and the Fulbright Commission in the host country reserve the right to alter, without notice, participating countries, number of awards and allowances.
Spain
To learn more about Fulbright U.S. Scholar awards in Spain for 2024-25, please view our archived webinar and slides to hear directly from the Fulbright Commission, IIE staff, and U.S. Scholar alums regarding award details, the scholar experience, and application guidance.
Summary
Contingent upon the availability of funds, up to 11 All Discipline awards for Postdoctoral Researchers and a variety of co-sponsored awards for Senior Research, Teaching, or Teaching/Research are available. The co-sponsored awards have unique scopes and features, and detailed information can be found in each individual award description.
The U.S.-Spain Fulbright Commission provides extensive support to selected candidates regarding administrative issues, such as the visa and documentation processes, and ample pre-departure and arrival information. However, assistance in establishing contacts at prospective host institutions cannot be provided.
Please note that candidates with dual U.S./Spanish citizenship or candidates who are residing in Spain at the time of application or anytime thereafter are not eligible for the Fulbright Program in Spain.
What is life like for Fulbrighters in Spain?
Although Spain may be known for its nice weather and beautiful beaches, there are many other reasons why Spain has long been held as one of the most desirable destinations for Fulbright grantees. Spain’s higher education and research institutions, technological advancement, cultural opportunities, and modern infrastructure add to the country’s appeal as one of the most popular tourist destinations. Additionally, Spain’s relatively low cost of living makes it very affordable when compared to most other countries in the EU.
According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Spain has the highest life expectancy out of all European Union member states, at just above 80 years, and it is the 8th safest country in which to live out of all OECD member states. In fact, 82% of Spanish citizens report that they feel safe walking alone at night (World Gallup Poll).
Spain is comprised of excellent public transportation networks throughout the country. With its metropolitan public transport systems, including metro networks, buses, and trains, it is very easy to get around cities, smaller towns, or even across the country.
If you plan to come to Spain with your family, you will love the child-friendly environment. Although the Commission cannot provide assistance with school placements, rest assured that there are many options for high-quality and bilingual education. In Spain, there are public schools, private schools (religious and international), and semi-private (concertados).
For more detailed information about Spain, please see the OECD's Spain profile.
General Information about Spanish Universities and Research in Spain
There are 76 universities in Spain, 20 of which are private. Spain's universities are increasingly focused on internationalization. By offering degree programs taught partially or entirely in English, they are attracting students from a wide variety of countries, providing viewpoints in studies and discussions that are often unique and enriching for U.S. Scholars. Depending on the award, Scholars will be afforded the opportunity to teach both undergraduate and/or graduate students and/or carry out research, and they are often invited to work with faculty on curriculum development. Research groups are usually multicultural, and English is the language predominantly used in lab settings.
The academic year in Spain broadly runs from September to June, with breaks during the Winter and Spring holidays (approximately December 22-January 6 and coinciding with the weeks surrounding and including Easter). Research activity continues in July, whereas August is a very quiet month, and many academic and research institutions are closed for all or part of the month.
Additionally, there are various national and public research institutions that, together with universities, form the basic core of the Spanish public system of scientific research and technological development in Spain. These include:
The Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)
The Research Centre for Energy, Environment and Technology (CIEMAT)
The Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII)
The Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands (IAC)
The National Institute of Aerospace Technology (INTA).
Researchers are usually fluent in English, although there may be wide variation in students’ English proficiency. For day-to-day life, a working knowledge of Spanish is useful, especially in smaller cities and towns. Language proficiency should be commensurate with the project's scope. Please discuss this point with your host institution in advance.
The friendly and open nature of most Spaniards will help make it easy for you to engage in multidisciplinary research groups and collaborate with your host institution. Many former Fulbright Scholars to Spain maintain and nurture the mutual engagement and joint research they initiated with their Spanish hosts while they enjoyed their Fulbright grant.
Prospective applicants may contact the Spanish Fulbright Commission for further information at: informacion@fulbright.es or by visiting www.fulbright.es
If you wish to hear from previous US Fulbright Scholars and Researchers about their experiences in Spain, check our Fulbright Spain- Alumni Voices reel here.
Enrichment activities: Depending on the grant dates, Scholars and Researchers are welcome to participate in enrichment activities. Research seminars are organized during the Fall and Spring semesters. For reference, please take a look at an overview of the 2023 Mediterranean Research Seminar organized in Alicante and watch the video testimonials from participants.
Visit our Scholar Directory to view and search all Fulbright alumni. You can also learn more about Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors.