Spanish student grant (beca MEC) calculator 2026-2027
Work out the family income that counts for the Spanish Ministry of Education grant, which income threshold you fall into and which amounts you would get in the 2026-2027 academic year, using the official figures in Royal Decree 179/2026.
Results
Your family income is above threshold 3 for your number of members, so you wouldn't qualify for the Ministry's general grant. Check whether you've missed a deduction.
You are over the family asset limit: even with income under the thresholds, the grant would be refused.
You would get at least
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Your income threshold
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Countable family income
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Deductions applied
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Limit of your threshold
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Tuition grant
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Fixed income-based amount
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Fixed residence amount
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Basic grant
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Academic excellence amount
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Variable amount (minimum)
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This is an estimate using the Ministry's thresholds. The variable amount comes from a formula based on your grade and income and is usually more than €60. Academic requirements (credits passed, full enrolment) and the €172,000 turnover limit for family businesses aren't checked.
Countable income = parents' income + other members' income − 50 % of that income − deductions (€525 or €800 per sibling in a large family, €1,811 or €2,881 per disability, €1,176 per university student living away if there are two or more, €500 single-parent, 20 % for orphans). Threshold 1: income + residence + excellence + variable. Threshold 2: residence + excellence + variable (plus basic grant outside university). Threshold 3: excellence (plus basic grant outside university). University tuition is free in all three thresholds.
When should you use this calculator?
Use it before starting the application to see whether it's worth applying and roughly how much you could get. It works for university, bachillerato and vocational training students who want to know their threshold, and for families unsure whether their income rules them out. It's most useful near a limit: a large-family deduction or having two children studying away can move you to a better threshold.
How it is calculated
First the 2025 family income is calculated: for each member with income, the general and savings taxable bases from their tax return are added and the resulting tax is subtracted. Half of what non-parent members earn is then removed, along with any deductions that apply. The result is compared with three thresholds that depend on the number of members: the lower your income, the more amounts you unlock. Family assets must also stay under certain limits, even when income is low.
Beca MEC 2026-2027 income thresholds
| Members | Threshold 1 | Threshold 2 | Threshold 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | €8,843 | €13,898 | €14,818 |
| 2 | €13,264 | €23,724 | €25,293 |
| 3 | €17,685 | €32,201 | €34,332 |
| 4 | €22,107 | €38,242 | €40,773 |
| 5 | €25,644 | €42,743 | €45,572 |
| 6 | €29,181 | €46,142 | €49,196 |
| 7 | €32,718 | €49,503 | €52,780 |
| 8 | €36,255 | €52,850 | €56,348 |
Source: Royal Decree 179/2026, article 8 (BOE, 12 March 2026). Thresholds 1 and 3 at the lower end of their range, as applied in the Ministry's call. Each member from the ninth adds €3,536, €3,340 and €3,561.
Grant amounts and who gets them
| Amount | Value | Who gets it |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed income-based amount | €1,700 | Threshold 1 |
| Fixed residence amount | €2,700 | Thresholds 1 and 2, if you must live away from home during the year |
| Basic grant | €300 / €350 | Non-university studies in thresholds 2 and 3 (€350 in basic vocational training) |
| Academic excellence amount | €50 – €125 | Thresholds 1, 2 and 3, with an average grade of 8 or more |
| Variable amount (minimum) | ≥ €60 | Thresholds 1 and 2; the amount depends on your grade and income |
| Tuition grant | Fees for first-time enrolled credits | University students in thresholds 1, 2 and 3 |
Practical example
A family of four (two parents, two children) with €21,000 of countable income and a daughter moving to another city for a degree with an 8.6 average. She falls in threshold 1 (limit €22,107): €1,700 fixed income amount, €2,700 residence, €75 excellence and at least €60 variable, €4,535 in total, plus free tuition. With €30,000 of income she would drop to threshold 2: losing the €1,700 and getting €2,835 plus tuition. Living at home, she would only get €135 and tuition.
Legal and tax context
General grants are governed by Royal Decree 1721/2007. Each year a new royal decree sets the thresholds and amounts; for 2026-2027 it is Royal Decree 179/2026 of 11 March, based on 2025 income. The call was published on 25 March 2026 and applications ran from 7 April to 18 May 2026 on the Ministry of Education's online portal. The Basque Country runs its own grants and doesn't use these thresholds.
Common mistakes
Common mistakes: entering gross income or net salary instead of taxable base minus tax due; forgetting that everyone living at home counts, including you if you work; not ticking large family or disability, which lower your income; thinking the family home counts as an asset (it doesn't); and enrolling in fewer than 60 credits without knowing that part-time enrolment only gets you free tuition and €60.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the beca MEC 2026-2027 income threshold?
It depends on household size. For a family of four it is €22,107 for threshold 1, €38,242 for threshold 2 and €40,773 for threshold 3. For one person, €8,843, €13,898 and €14,818. It is compared with 2025 family income after deductions, not gross income.
How much money does the beca MEC give?
Depending on your threshold and situation: €1,700 fixed income amount, €2,700 if you must live away from home, €300 basic grant for non-university studies, €50 to €125 for an average grade of 8 or more, and a variable amount of at least €60. At university, first-time enrolled credits are also free.
Which income counts for the grant?
2025 income of all countable family members: general plus savings taxable base from the tax return, minus the resulting tax. Income of members other than the parents (for example, yours if you work) counts at 50 %. The Ministry checks it directly with the Tax Agency.
What grades do I need for the beca MEC at university?
In the first year of a degree, a 5 in the university entrance grade, excluding the optional part. If you're already studying, you must have passed a share of last year's credits by field: 65 % in Engineering, Architecture and Sciences, 80 % in Health Sciences and 90 % in Social Sciences, Law, Arts and Humanities.
When do you apply for the beca MEC?
The call opens in spring. For 2026-2027 applications ran from 7 April to 18 May 2026 on the Ministry of Education's online portal. You can apply before enrolling and usually don't need to attach documents, as income data is checked with the Tax Agency.
Do I have to repay the grant if I fail?
If you don't pass at least 50 % of your enrolled credits (40 % in Sciences and technical fields), you must repay the grant except for the tuition part. You also have to repay it if you cancel your enrolment or drop out.
Can assets rule me out even if income is low?
Yes. The grant is refused if, for example, the family's interest, dividends and gains exceed €1,900 or the cadastral value of property other than the family home, adjusted by a coefficient, exceeds €47,200. With several assets, the percentages of each limit are added up and can't pass 100 %.