Free enrolment in official master's degrees for the unemployed

Les persones desocupades podran matricular-se gratuïtament als màsters oficials

The Spanish Ministry for Education has announced that currently unemployed graduates aged 25 to 40 and receiving unemployment benefits can apply for enrolment aids for official master's degrees in any of the State's public universities.

01/09/2009

The aids cover 100% of the enrolment fees and will only be offered during the 2009/10 academic year. In the case of two-year master's degrees, the aid will also cover the fees of the second year given that the student passes a minimum of 80% of the credits in which they are enrolled.

The aim of this enrolment aid is to further the academic training of the unemployed and increase their possibilities of finding a new job. The Spanish Ministry will assign 70 million euros to this measure which has been adopted in view of the current economic crisis. Spain's unemployment rate has risen to almost 18% and has left nearly three million people over the age of 25 without a job. The enrolment aids only apply to official master's degrees, which offer graduates professional specialisation as well as the option of continuing on to a doctoral programme.

In order to apply for this aid, graduates must download the application form found at the Ministry's website. They will then need to present the form together with documents verifying their work status at the time of their enrolment. If a student abandons the course they will have to pay the full amount of the enrolment fees unless the reason for leaving the master's degree is that they have found a new job.

More information: Spanish Ministry for Education