For first-generation students and women in STEM.
Fundación Occident· Becas de Grado Jesús Serra – Fundación Occident
Amount by income and distance + materials and mentoring; whole degree; 14 awards
The exact date for the new cycle has not been announced yet. This is last year's deadline
Applications open: 8 April 2027
Whole degree
Cycle: 2027-2028
The Jesús Serra scholarship from Fundación Occident is meant for people with no family background of higher education. Of the 14 scholarships, 7 go to first-generation students and 7 to women who choose a STEM degree and are also first in their family; in each group one is reserved for people with a disability of 33% or more. The foundation pays an amount that depends on income and the distance to the university, helps with study materials and, for the whole degree, provides mentoring, an annual skills programme and wellbeing support.
Spanish citizens and residence-permit holders finishing Bachillerato can apply if their parents have no higher education, their average mark is at least 7 and family income is limited (the thresholds are in the terms). A committee of seven education specialists decides. The 2026 cycle ran from 8 April to 29 May and the next is expected in spring 2027.
Checking against your answers…
Where to go and what to do, step by step
Check the conditions: you are finishing the last year of Bachillerato or a higher vocational course, with an average of 7+, Spanish nationality or a residence permit, full-time first-year degree in Spain and a limited income threshold.
Pick your route: first-generation university student or first-generation woman in STEM. Only one application is accepted, and if you fit both you must choose one.
Apply for the Ministry's (or Basque Government's) general grant: the application is not accepted without it. Its refusal on economic grounds also means refusal of the Jesús Serra.
Gather documents: certificates of each parent's highest qualification, grades and, if relevant, a disability certificate of 33 %+.
Fill in the form on the foundation's website before 29 May at 14:00 (peninsular time; the 2026 deadline, a guide for 2027).
Go through selection: a committee of seven education professionals reads applications against the published criteria.
Documents and materials to attach to the application.
Example (written by us): Ana's parents only completed Bachillerato and intermediate vocational training. She picks the first-generation route; in April she applies for the general grant, in May she fills in the Occident form with her parents' certificates and grades (7.9). The committee checks her income and distance to campus and sets the payment.
An example we wrote to illustrate: it is not an official sample, replace the details with your own.
14 awards: 7 for first-generation students and 7 for first-generation women in STEM; one in each route is reserved for people with a disability of 33 % or more. A committee of seven education professionals decides.
Awardees get a payment based on income and distance to the university, personal mentoring throughout the degree, an annual skills programme, help with materials and wellbeing support.
Guide checked against the official pages: 9 October 2026. Guide written from official sources. Details may change: check them on the application page.
A letter template and a checklist to review before sending. If a local model is running on your computer, the text reads more naturally.
“7 becas universitarias para alumnos y alumnas que quieren ser los primeros de su familia en cursar estudios universitarios. 7 becas STEM para mujeres y alumnas que quieren ser las primeras de su familia en titularse en grados STEM.”
Experience from people who have already applied. These are user opinions and are not verified by the organiser.
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This information is for guidance only. Conditions change every year — check them on the provider's official website before applying.
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