The introduction of new financial support for medical students in Catalonia could be a game changer in the education market. Some young people dreaming of a medical career will now have the opportunity to study at a private university for a price close to public rates. This decision may influence the distribution of future doctors across regions and help reduce the outflow of talented applicants to other fields.
According to the Department of Universities’ plan, from the new academic year, tuition fees at the Faculty of Medicine at Universitat de Vic-Universitat Central de Catalunya (UVic) will decrease by almost 44%. Instead of the previous 13,500 euros per year, students will be offered a rate of 7,560 euros. This reduction will be made possible thanks to a special aid scheme: students will receive a grant of 6,000 euros, which they won’t have to repay if they complete their studies at this campus.
Program terms and details
Unlike standard loans, the new scheme provides that the debt is cancelled if the student successfully graduates from UVic. If a student decides to transfer or does not complete their studies, they will have to repay part of the funds, proportional to the years not completed. According to El Pais, the government will allocate 4 million euros for this purpose as part of a long-term contract with the university. UVic is a unique institution combining elements of both private and public sectors: it is managed by the private Fundación Balmes, but the board includes representatives from the Generalitat and local municipalities.
For comparison, annual tuition for medical studies at public universities in Catalonia is around €1,000, while at private institutions such as Ramon Llull it can reach up to €19,000. The new measure will bring the cost of studying at UVic closer to the average price for other specialties, which is about €6,000 per year. Additionally, supplementary scholarships of €2,000—regardless of family income—are already available and can be combined with other forms of support.
Expanding access and new seats
Catalan authorities plan to create 700 new places for medical students over five years, both in public and private universities. However, only 195 new seats have been approved so far for the upcoming academic year, all of them at private universities. UVic will increase its intake from 115 to 140 students. One of the aims is to make medical education more accessible outside major cities and encourage graduates to remain working in central Catalonia.
Against the backdrop of a growing need for medical professionals, especially in areas facing shortages, such initiatives take on special significance. As El Pais notes, the government aims not only to increase access to education, but also to better balance the distribution of doctors across the region.
Context and implications
Catalonia has previously taken steps to support young people and families facing difficult situations. For example, a sharp increase in the number of children receiving summer scholarships was recently announced, reflecting a broader trend towards expanding social support in the region. You can read more about the rise in these scholarships in the article about new support measures for families in Catalonia.
In recent years, Spain has seen growing interest in reforms in education and healthcare. In 2025, Madrid discussed the possibility of introducing similar programs for engineering and teaching students, but they were not implemented. Other regions have also launched pilot projects to reduce tuition for in-demand fields, but Catalonia became the first to apply such a scheme for medicine at a private university. This could serve as an example for other autonomous regions where the shortage of doctors is particularly acute.
