UNED and UIMP: The State will compensate free tuition for disability, violence, and large families

Key data

UNED and UIMP are required by law not to charge tuition—or to apply bonuses—to certain vulnerable groups. The problem: until now there was no clear and regulated mechanism for the State to return that money to them. The Order EFD/599/2026, published on June 15, 2026, establishes the basis for that compensation and enters into force on the same day of its publication.

The objective is to guarantee the financial sustainability of both state public universities without imposing new administrative burdens on beneficiary students.

What does this regulation establish?

The order regulates three key aspects: who has the right to exemption or bonus, what types of education are covered, and under what conditions the State pays the universities.

Groups with the right to tuition exemption or bonus

Education covered by compensation

• Undergraduate studies
• Master's studies
• University access courses

Limits and exclusions

• There are limits on repeat enrollments in the same subject.
• There are limits on simultaneous degree programs.
• Amounts already financed through other public or private channels are excluded.
• Payment is conditional on the existence of sufficient budgetary appropriation in the General State Budget.

Economic and operational impact

For UNED and UIMP, this order represents a structural change in the management of their income. Until now, the absence of a regulated compensation mechanism generated budgetary uncertainty: universities assumed the cost of exemptions without guarantee of reimbursement.

With the new regulation, both institutions can plan their budgets with greater certainty, knowing that the State formally recognizes the debt for public fees not charged. However, compensation is not unconditional: it depends on the General State Budget including sufficient appropriation for it, which introduces an element of risk in years of budget extension.

From an operational perspective, universities must properly accredit and document each exemption applied in order to claim compensation. Amounts already covered by scholarships or other public or private aid are excluded, so the administrative management of each case becomes especially relevant.

Who does it affect?

• UNED: Spain's main distance learning university, with tens of thousands of students enrolled each academic year. It is the institution with the greatest potential volume of exemptions.
• UIMP (International University Menéndez Pelayo): state public university specialized in postgraduate and specialized training.
• Students with disabilities equal to or greater than 33% enrolled in either of the two universities.
• Victims of gender-based violence who access studies at UNED or UIMP.
• Large families with more than three children or of special category.
• Recognized victims of terrorism.
• Recipients of Minimum Vital Income at the time of enrollment.
• Children of civil servants who died in the line of duty.
• Managers and administrative teams of both universities, who must adapt their accreditation and compensation request processes.

Practical example

Imagine that UNED enrolls in the 2026-2027 academic year 500 students with a degree of disability equal to or greater than 33% in undergraduate studies. Each of them is exempt from paying the public tuition fee. Without Order EFD/599/2026, UNED would absorb that cost without guarantee of recovery. With the new regulation, the university can document those 500 exemptions and claim compensation from the State, provided that the General State Budget includes sufficient appropriation and the amounts are not already covered by scholarships or other aid.

The same mechanism applies to a UIMP student who certifies being a victim of gender-based violence and is enrolled in a master's program: the university applies the exemption, documents the case, and requests compensation from the Ministry of Education in accordance with the bases established in this order.

What should universities do now?

1. Review internal accreditation procedures for each beneficiary group (disability, IMV, large families, etc.) to ensure that documentation is sufficient to justify compensation to the Ministry.
2. Identify and separate amounts already financed through other channels (public scholarships, private aid) to avoid including them in the compensation request, preventing improper claims.
3. Apply the established limits on repeat enrollments and simultaneous degree programs before processing the exemption.
4. Monitor the approval of the General State Budget each fiscal year, since payment of compensation is conditional on the existence of sufficient budgetary appropriation.
5. Coordinate with legal and financial services to adapt compensation request models to the bases regulated in Order EFD/599/2026.

Official source

Consult complete regulation in official source

Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-12996