Spain has three scholarship routes on our list, and they suit three quite different students. One is a fully funded doctoral fellowship in STEM subjects. One is a government cooperation scheme with several tracks. One is a business school's own financial aid for Master's, MBA and doctoral study. If you are a Pakistani student looking at Spain, the first job is to work out which of these matches your level and field, because they rarely compete for the same applicant.
The table below lists all three. Each name links to our full guide, and the sections after it explain who each option fits.
| Scholarship | Funding | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| "la Caixa" Foundation INPhINIT Doctoral Fellowships | Fully Funded | 28 January 2026 for the 2026 Incoming call; late January each year |
| AECID Scholarships (Spain) | Full / Partial | Varies by program track |
| IE Business School Scholarships | Full / Partial | Varies, confirm on official site |
The fully funded option for doctoral researchers
The "la Caixa" Foundation INPhINIT Doctoral Fellowships are the only listing here marked fully funded without qualification. The programme is funded by the "la Caixa" Foundation and is open to researchers of any nationality. That wording matters for Pakistani applicants, since many Spanish schemes limit who can apply. Here, nationality is not the barrier.
The fellowship is for a PhD in a STEM discipline at top research centres of excellence in Spain, and for some centres, Portugal. So it suits you only if you already hold, or are close to finishing, a degree in a science, technology, engineering or maths field and want a research career. If you are thinking of a taught Master's, look elsewhere on this page.
Timing is the practical catch. The deadline falls in late January each year, and the 2026 Incoming call closed on 28 January 2026 at 2:00 PM Peninsular Spain time. That is a Spanish clock, not a Pakistani one, so convert it carefully when you plan. Because that date has passed, the useful move now is to prepare for the next call. You can read the full details page for the current status.
Government cooperation funding with several tracks
The AECID Scholarships (Spain) come from Spanish Cooperation, through MAEC-AECID. They provide training and academic opportunities in Spain and abroad, for Spanish citizens and for nationals of partner countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia. Funding is listed as full or partial, which depends on the track you apply to.
There is no single deadline. It varies by program track, and calls typically open in the first quarter of the year. That makes AECID the option that rewards early checking: look at the official site in the opening months of the year, not after you have already planned your intake.
One point needs care. The data we hold says the scheme serves nationals of partner countries in Asia, but it does not say which ones. Before you spend time on an application, confirm on the official AECID pages that Pakistan is covered for the track you want. Our full details page and guide show what we have.
Business school aid for Master's, MBA and doctoral students
The IE Business School Scholarships are financial aid and scholarship programs run by IE Business School in Spain. They cover Master's, MBA and doctoral degrees, and funding is full or partial. The deadline varies, so confirm it on the official site.
The source material also warns that the specific details and direct financial aid pages are subject to updates on the institutional portal. In plain terms, amounts and rules can shift, and the school's own website is the authority. Use our full details page as a starting point, then check the portal before you commit to a programme.
For Pakistani students in business and management, this is the most direct fit of the three, since it is tied to a specific school and to degrees many applicants already want. It is also the least predictable on money, because "full / partial" covers a wide range.
Choosing between the Spanish options
Start with your degree level and field, since that settles most of the choice.
- STEM researcher aiming for a PhD: the INPhINIT fellowship is the strongest match, and it is the one with clear full funding.
- Business, MBA or Master's applicant: look at IE Business School first.
- Applicant whose country may be a partner of Spanish Cooperation: check AECID, then verify eligibility before anything else.
On a Pakistani student's odds, the INPhINIT fellowship is open to all nationalities, which is a clear advantage over AECID, where eligibility depends on partner-country status. IE is open by school policy rather than by nationality rules in our data, but its funding level is uncertain. If money is your main constraint, treat full funding as the goal and partial funding as something you must be able to cover the gap on.
Preparing documents for a Spanish application
Do not wait for the call to open. Gather transcripts, degree certificates, identity documents and references early, and check whether your Pakistani documents need attestation or translation for the scheme you choose. Our documents checklist for international scholarships walks through the usual list. For a wider view of how scholarships work for students from Pakistan, read the scholarships guide for Pakistani students.
The INPhINIT deadline is tied to a specific hour in Spain, so submit well ahead of it. Time-zone slips and last-minute upload problems sink more applications than weak profiles do.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a fully funded scholarship in Spain for Pakistani students?
The "la Caixa" Foundation INPhINIT Doctoral Fellowships are listed as fully funded and open to researchers of any nationality, for PhD study in a STEM discipline.
When is the INPhINIT deadline?
It falls in late January each year. The 2026 Incoming call deadline was 28 January 2026, 2:00 PM Peninsular Spain time.
Can I apply for AECID from Pakistan?
The scheme is for nationals of partner countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia. Confirm on the official AECID pages that Pakistan is included for your chosen track.
What is the AECID deadline?
It varies by program track, and calls typically open in the first quarter of the year.
Does IE Business School offer full scholarships?
Funding is listed as full or partial, for Master's, MBA and doctoral degrees. The deadline varies, so confirm it on the official site.
Where to go next
Open the individual guide for the scholarship that fits you, then check the official website of the funder or school for the latest dates and rules before you apply.