The Junta grants 4.57 million to the University of Extremadura for tuition fees

The Regional Government of Extremadura (Junta de Extremadura) has granted a direct subsidy of 4,576,066.64 euros to the University of Extremadura (UEx) to compensate for amounts not received due to exemptions and discounts on public tuition fees for the 2024/2025 academic year. The decision corresponds to the Directorate General for Universities, under the Department of Education and Vocational Training, and is formalized in the Resolution of October 27, 2026, published in the Official Gazette of Extremadura (DOE) number 212, of November 4, 2026, with official reference 2026062752. The text was authorized by the Governing Council of the Junta on October 20, 2026.

Legal framework of the compensation

The resolution is based on the First Additional Provision of Decree 67/2024, of July 9, which sets the public prices for official education at the UEx for the 2024/2025 course and establishes that the amounts for exemptions and discounts will be compensated to the university by the Junta, except for those corresponding to the State Administration in accordance with article 57.4.b) of Organic Law 2/2023, of March 22, on the University System.

The authority to grant the aid corresponds to the Secretary General of the Department according to article 9 of Law 6/2011, of March 23, on Subsidies of the Autonomous Community of Extremadura, authority delegated to the Director General for Universities by the Resolution of May 13, 2026 (DOE no. 92, of May 15). The organic structure of the department is governed by Decree 112/2026, of May 26.

Direct grant without prior call

The subsidy is granted through the direct award procedure, without a public call, under articles 22.4.c) and 32.1.a) of Law 6/2011. The argument stated in the resolution is that it is not possible to promote competition because the University of Extremadura is the only institution providing the public service of higher education within the scope of the Autonomous Community. As it exceeds 900,000 euros, the grant required prior authorization from the Governing Council, which was granted on October 20.

The application was submitted by Enrique Pandiella Hevia, Vice-Rector for Economic Affairs by delegation of the Manager of the UEx, registered on September 17, 2026, along with the certification of the amounts not received. The justification precedes the grant: the Manager’s certificate, dated June 12, 2025, and ratified on October 15, 2026, sets the total at 4,576,066.64 euros. The funding is charged to the budget application 130100000 G/222D/43200 CAG000000 20240327, program “UEx. Compensation of public prices to the UEx,” with own funds for the 2026 financial year from Law 2/2026, of August 3, on the General Budgets of the Autonomous Community.

Breakdown of the paid exemptions

The resolution details the concepts that make up the compensation:

• 99% bonus from the Junta de Extremadura: €4,021,087.05.
• Special Large Family: €172,691.76.
• Disability: €126,564.18.
• Honor roll in higher education: €91,960.11.
• General Large Family: €54,866.08.
• High school honor roll: €42,433.74.
• Gender Violence: €40,886.76.
• Honor roll for higher-level vocational training cycles: €9,550.62.
• Third and subsequent child: €9,485.44.
• Persons entitled to subsidiary protection and refugees: €3,139.74.
• Victims of terrorism: €1,999.14.
• Beneficiaries of the minimum vital income benefit: €1,402.02.

Background and processing

The Junta has been specifically allocating this compensation in its budgets for each financial year. In 2019, the 99% bonus for credits of subjects passed in the preceding course for Degrees, or up to the two previous courses for Master’s degrees, was incorporated into the public price decree, which significantly increased the amount to be compensated. In 2024, given the impossibility of increasing the specific grant, the Governing Council approved Decree 163/2024, of December 17, with an exceptional complementary aid. In 2025, the allocation increased from 345,000 euros to 2,856,645.37 euros through a direct grant resolution; in 2026, it rises to 4,576,066.64 euros.

The beneficiary entity, with NIF Q-0618001B, must expressly accept the grant within 15 days of notification; if this period expires without acceptance, it will be understood as a waiver. Payment will be made in a single installment of 100% after the signing of the resolution and acceptance, subject to proof of being up to date with state and regional tax authorities and Social Security. An administrative appeal may be filed against the resolution, which does not end the administrative process, within one month before the Minister of Education and Vocational Training. The text is signed by the Director General of Universities, Esther Muñoz Baquero.

The aid is compatible with other grants for the same purpose, provided that the total cost of the activity is not exceeded, and requires the UEx to communicate any other contribution received. The grant will be published in the DOE, on the Autonomous Community’s Grants Portal, and on the Junta’s Transparency Portal.

The impact is direct on the economic sustainability of the only public university in Extremadura and on thousands of students who access tuition free of charge or with a bonus: the compensation reimburses the UEx for an expense already incurred and prevents legal exemptions—disability, large family, honor roll, gender violence, victims of terrorism, or minimum vital income recipients—from detracting own resources from the university budget.

Source: Official Gazette of Extremadura, no. 212, of November 4, 2026, section I (official reference: 2026062752).