The University of Jaén announces 30 research initiation grants

The University of Jaén announces 30 research initiation grants for the 2026/2027 academic year, endowed with 500 euros for Undergraduate students and 700 euros for Master’s students. The call is formalized through the Resolution of September 25, 2026, published in the Official Gazette of the Junta de Andalucía (BOJA) number 191, dated October 1, 2026 (official reference: 00343969).

The resolution, signed by Rector Nicolás Ruiz Reyes, develops Action R.2.a (Modality 1) of the 2026 Own Research and Knowledge Transfer Plan, approved by agreement of the UJA Governing Council in session no. 33, dated March 26, 2026, within the “UJA Talento” program. The objective is to promote basic research training for students with high academic performance through tutored projects.

The grants are awarded on a competitive basis and their maximum initial endowment amounts to 17,000 euros, charged to budget applications 2026 02.03 IFP 480.17 and 02.03 IFP 480.18. The call provides for an additional amount of 7,100 euros—10 more Undergraduate grants and 3 Master’s grants—which would allow the number of beneficiaries to double if budget availability exists before the final resolution.

Amounts and continuity

• 20 grants for Undergraduate students, with a single payment of 500 euros.
• 10 grants for Master’s students, with a single payment of 700 euros.
• A second grant of 700 euros for those who, after being Undergraduate beneficiaries in 2026/2027, enroll in an official Master’s degree at the UJA in 2027/2028.

The activities will take place during the 2026/2027 academic year and will end on September 30, 2027. Each student may submit a single application and benefit from the complete grant itinerary only once.

Requirements and application

Students enrolled in official Undergraduate or Master’s degrees at the University of Jaén in 2026/2027 may apply, excluding those enrolled in doctoral programs. For Undergraduate students, it is required to have completed 75% of the degree credits and a minimum GPA according to the field of knowledge:

• 7.50 in Arts and Humanities.
• 7.25 in Social and Legal Sciences.
• 7.00 in Health Sciences.
• 6.75 in Sciences.
• 6.50 in Engineering and Architecture.

In the case of Master’s students, a GPA from the qualifying Undergraduate studies equal to or higher than that of their field must be proven. The application must be submitted electronically via the UJA Electronic Office, addressed to the Research Management Service, within fifteen business days from the day following the publication of the summary in the BOJA. It must be accompanied by the standardized form (Annex I), DNI, NIE or passport, academic certification where applicable, and a research memorandum of maximum 2,000 words (Annex II) with the approval of the tutor.

Evaluation and Resolution

The UJA Investigation Commission will evaluate the applications: the average grade of the academic record scores up to 10 points, and having held a Collaboration Scholarship in ministerial departments adds 1 point. The grants are incompatible with those collaboration scholarships, with FPU, FPI, or PIF predoctoral contracts, and with other grants of a similar nature.

The Vice-Rectorate for Research and Knowledge Transfer will issue the final resolution within a maximum period of six months from the publication of the call; once this period has elapsed without an express resolution, the applications will be understood as rejected by administrative silence. Each grant is linked to a tutor, a doctoral teaching and research staff member with full-time affiliation, who may only endorse one application.

For students with outstanding academic records, the call opens a pathway into the research career with funding and tutoring from the first courses, as well as economic continuity when transitioning to the master’s degree. The resolution exhausts the administrative route and may be optionally appealed for reversal before the Rector within one month or, within two months, before the contentious-administrative jurisdiction.

Source: Official Gazette of the Government of Andalusia (BOJA), no. 191, October 1, 2026, section 1. General provisions, page 12739 (official reference: 00343969).