Francesc Moragas Research Grants 2026

This category may be particularly relevant to Master's projects requiring archival research, access to specialist collections, research travel or other expenses that cannot easily be covered through normal university resources.

2. Doctoral Research

The doctoral category is intended for researchers at Spanish universities or research centres who are in a position to begin a doctoral programme or are already undertaking doctoral research.

Doctoral grants last for 12 months. Funding can support eligible employment-related costs where applicable as well as research expenses such as equipment and materials, travel and subsistence, conference registration, dissemination activities and research stays.

Applicants should present a clearly developed research project with a coherent research question, objectives, methodology and expected contribution. The project must demonstrate a meaningful connection with the subject and objectives of the Francesc Moragas programme.

3. Postdoctoral Research

The postdoctoral category is intended for researchers who hold a doctoral degree and are undertaking research at a university or research centre in Spain.

Postdoctoral grants also last for 12 months. Eligible support may include employment-related costs where applicable and research expenses such as equipment and materials, travel, subsistence, conference participation, dissemination and research stays.

The proposed research should demonstrate academic quality and a clear relationship with the programme's thematic focus.

Research Focus

The programme is centred on the study of Francesc Moragas and the historical and social context surrounding his work. Relevant areas may include:

• The legacy and ideas of Francesc Moragas.
• The development of social action in Spain.
• The history of the social work associated with ”la Caixa”.
• Cooperation and solidarity in Europe and the Mediterranean.
• Comparisons between Catalan experiences and international models of social action.
• Cultural, social and economic developments connected with the historical period under study.
• The potential relevance of Moragas's legacy to contemporary social challenges.
• Research using documentation from the Historical Archive of Fundación ”la Caixa”.

Proposals are not required to follow a single academic discipline, but the research must have a clear connection with the purpose and thematic objectives of the call.

Eligibility

Applicants may be of any nationality, provided they satisfy the academic and institutional requirements for the relevant category.

Master's Applicants:

• Must be Master's students at a university in Spain.
• Must be in a position to undertake their Master's Final Project when the grant begins.

Doctoral Applicants:

• Must be researchers at a Spanish university or research centre.
• Must be in a position to begin a doctoral programme or already be undertaking doctoral research.

Postdoctoral Applicants:

• Must be researchers at a Spanish university or research centre.
• Must hold a doctoral degree.

The proposed research must fall within the humanities and social sciences and must address the legacy of Francesc Moragas or the historical, social, cultural or institutional subjects established by the programme.

Applicants must also satisfy any additional academic, institutional and documentation requirements specified in the official 2026 programme rules.

Benefits and Eligible Research Expenses

The programme has a total budget of €125,000 across its three grant categories.

Depending on the category and approved research project, support may cover:

• Expenses directly associated with a Master's Final Project.
• Research-related transportation and travel.
• Accommodation and subsistence.
• Archive consultation.
• Bibliography and necessary research materials.
• Equipment and other research materials.
• Conference registration.
• Research dissemination activities.
• Eligible research stays.
• Employment-related costs where applicable for doctoral and postdoctoral research.

The programme is therefore not simply a fixed monthly scholarship. The financial support depends on the category and the eligible expenses associated with the approved project.

Selection Process

1. Eligibility Review

Applications are first checked against the formal eligibility requirements established in the programme rules. Academic status, institutional requirements and other conditions must be satisfied before an application proceeds.

2. Preselection

Eligible applications are evaluated remotely by at least two reviewers with relevant disciplinary expertise.

The preselection assessment is based on:

• Academic and professional trajectory: 40%
• Quality and feasibility of the research project: 50%
• Alignment with the purpose of the call: 10%

The research project is therefore a major component of the assessment. Applicants should demonstrate that their proposed work is academically sound, methodologically appropriate and achievable within the six-month or 12-month funding period.

3. Interview

Candidates who pass the preselection stage are invited to an individual interview with a multidisciplinary committee.

The interview assessment considers:

• Research potential: 35%
• Motivation and potential academic or social impact of the project: 35%
• Academic and professional trajectory: 30%

Candidates should be prepared to explain their research question, methodology, sources, feasibility, motivation and expected contribution beyond the information provided in the written application.

Application Timeline

• Applications open: 7 September 2026
• Application deadline: 7 October 2026 at 14:00 Spanish peninsular time
• Preselection results / interview invitations: 6 November 2026
• Selection interviews: 16 November 2026
• Final results: 25 November 2026
• Research start period: 1 December 2026 – 31 March 2027

Required Documents

Applicants should prepare the documentation applicable to their grant category, which may include:

• Completed online application form.
• Research project or proposal information.
• Academic and professional information.
• Documentation demonstrating academic status.
• Academic transcripts and degree documentation where required.
• Master's documentation for doctoral applicants where applicable.
• Doctoral degree documentation for postdoctoral applicants.
• Other supporting documents specified in the official 2026 programme rules.

The exact documentation differs between the Master's, doctoral and postdoctoral categories, so applicants should consult the official rules before submitting.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online through Fundación ”la Caixa”'s scholarship application platform.

Applicants should first identify the category corresponding to their academic stage and then ensure that their research proposal has a clear and credible connection to the programme's objectives.

Because the quality and feasibility of the research project account for 50% of the preselection assessment, applicants should give particular attention to the research question, methodology, sources, timetable and expected contribution.

Researchers planning archival work should explain which historical sources they expect to consult and how those sources contribute to the proposed research.

Important Note for International Applicants

The programme accepts applicants of any nationality, but it is not an unrestricted international research grant. The relevant Master's, doctoral or postdoctoral research must be carried out at a university or research centre in Spain, subject to the requirements of the applicable category.

International applicants should therefore distinguish between nationality eligibility and the Spanish institutional requirement before applying.