The Government of Catalonia has taken a significant step towards educational equity by approving a decree that equates discounts on university fees for single-parent families with those already enjoyed by large families. This measure, which will come into effect for the 2026/27 academic year, will allow single-parent families with one child to benefit from a 50% reduction in university fees, while those with more than one child or with children with disabilities will be exempt from all fees.
A historic advance for social justice
The decision is part of a budget agreement reached between the Government and the Comuns, with 12.5 million euros allocated for its implementation. This change responds to a “historic claim” from single-parent families, according to the Catalan executive. The leader of Comuns in the Parliament, Jéssica Albiach, emphasised the importance of this measure by stating that “children from single-parent families will find it a bit easier to access university.” She also highlighted that nearly 50% of these families are at risk of poverty.
For practical purposes, a single-parent family is defined as one composed of an adult and their children under 21 years old (or up to 25 if they are studying). The categories are divided into general and special; the latter includes those formed by parents with two or more children or where one has a disability. Currently, there are 78,550 titles recognised as single-parent families compared to 164,444 titles corresponding to large families.
Aside from the new decree on university fees, the Generalitat has also confirmed that other reductions and price controls applied in recent years will be maintained. For the next academic year, the price per credit will be 17.69 euros for degrees and qualifying master’s programmes, with a 30% discount for non-qualifying master’s programmes.
The decree also preserves the Equidad scholarship system, which offers total or partial exemptions to vulnerable groups, including large families and people with disabilities. This measure aims to ensure that no student is limited in their access to higher education due to their family situation.
The approval of this decree reflects the growing concern over the economic and social inequalities faced by many single-parent families in Catalonia. Over the years, these families have fought for recognition and adequate support in various areas, including education. The equalisation of rights between single-parent and large families is a step forward in the pursuit of a fairer and more inclusive society.
Although this measure had been briefly implemented in the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 academic years, its lack of renewal had left many families without the necessary support. With this new decree, the Government hopes not only to ease the financial burden on these families but also to promote greater equality of opportunity for all students.
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