Beca MEC general for post-compulsory studies (FP, Bachillerato and University)

What you need to have ready

1. Cl@ve or digital certificate to access the sede. If you don't have one, register at https://clave.gob.es/registro.
2. Details of the centre and studies (Bachillerato, FP, university, centre, province).
3. NIF of all members of your family unit you live with on 31 December of the reference year.
4. Planned credits/modules (if university or higher FP) and whether you'll do a full or partial enrolment.
5. IBAN in your name for the payment.

Documentation

1. DNI/NIE of the applicant and family members (they usually cross-check automatically, but have them ready).
2. Título de familia numerosa and certificate of disability if applicable.
3. Rental contract + receipts and proof of your own income if you claim independence.
4. Separation/divorce sentence and convenio regulador if there is custody/pensions.
5. Certificado de empadronamiento colectivo or libro de familia if the family composition doesn't match the cross-checks.
6. Proof of enrollment or planned credits (your centre confirms this later).

Step by step

1. Go to https://www.becaseducacion.gob.es and open the Beca general for the relevant year. You'll see the Solicitar button when the deadline is open.
2. Log in with Cl@ve or a digital certificate. If you don't have one, sign up online or book a Cl@ve appointment; without this you can't start.
3. Fill in the application: studies and centre, housing situation (with family, rental, residence), family unit (NIF of everyone), disability, familia numerosa, etc. Enter credits/modules if applicable.
4. Authorise data checks (AEAT, Seguridad Social, Catastro). If you don't, upload the certificates the system requests in PDF.
5. Submit and download the resguardo with your expediente number. Check Mis expedientes to make sure nothing is pending.
6. Enroll in September–October. Your centre submits the actual enrollment. If you reduce credits or cancel subjects, tell the grants office/update your expediente or you risk a reintegro.
7. If you get a requerimiento to fix something, go to the expediente and click Aportar documentos. If the sede is down, use the Registro Electrónico Común: https://rec.redsara.es stating your expediente number and convocatoria.
8. Check the resolution (provisional and final) on the sede. Payments normally arrive between December and March.

Time-savers and tips

1. Don't mark independence if you can't prove a rental contract, payments and your own means: they'll reject it and you'll lose weeks.
2. Bank account in your name always. If you put someone else's account the payment may be bounced.
3. Fill the form carefully: enter NIFs and address correctly. A mistyped NIF = a requerimiento.
4. Authorise data checks. If you don't, you'll have to upload IRPF, empadronamiento and other docs, and it drags out the process.
5. Don't wait until the last day: the sede slows down and the submit button can hang.
6. If you're a foreigner without a Spanish tax return, provide income certificates or whatever they ask; otherwise they'll require it.

Common mistakes that can ruin the process

1. Submitting after the deadline: you're out, unless there's a very justified reason.
2. Registering fewer credits than required and not informing them: you'll have to repay.
3. Not including all cohabitants of the family unit or putting the wrong address: the cross-check with Catastro/empadronamiento will flag it and they'll stop your expediente.
4. Not authorising data checks and not uploading the certificates: decision frozen until you fix it.
5. IBAN in someone else’s name: payment held back.
6. Not checking the notifications inbox of the expediente: they'll send a requerimiento and you can lose the grant if you don't reply.