Spain - New University Students’ Statute: obligations for external academic placements

Royal Decree-Law 855/2026, of October 21, 2026 approving the University Students’ Statute, published in the Official State Gazette on October 22, 2026, regulates the rights and obligations of university students. 

The main labor and social security measures include the following:

• Placements for educational purposes only. External academic placements, whether curricular or extracurricular, which may be carried out in companies and other entities through educational cooperation agreements, must be aligned with the training and competencies set out in the study plan and may not under any circumstances be used to fill a job position. The training plan must include, among other aspects, the competencies, ECTS credit allocation, activities, the placement period, working hours and the evaluation system.
• Tutoring. Each student will be assigned both an academic tutor and a supervisor from the host entity who will agree on the training plan, inform the student of the plan before the placement begins and monitor their progress. The activities of the university tutor and the supervisor from the host entity or company must ensure adequate oversight of the placement and at least, an initial guidance meeting, a mid-placement review meeting and a final evaluation meeting. The university and the host entity are responsible for supervising the placement and assuming their responsibilities under the cooperation agreement. They must also ensure that student-to-tutor ratios are consistent with the placement’s educational objectives. 
• Obligations of the student. Students must carry out their placements diligently, in accordance with the educational cooperation agreement and the rules of the entity where they take place.
• Inclusion in the social security system. The performance of external academic placements, in any of their forms, entails the student's inclusion in the social security system, under the terms and conditions established by the applicable legislation.
• Reimbursement of expenses. Educational cooperation agreements may establish mechanisms for the reimbursement of certain expenses directly related to the placement.
• Stricter requirements for the selection of host entities. Universities may only enter into placement agreements with entities that provide sufficient safeguards for the educational purpose of the placement and the protection of students' rights. They may not enter into such agreements with entities that are subject to any of the grounds for exclusion set out in the regulations governing external academic placements. For dual education programs, the universities must adopt specific regulations that take into account the applicable labor legislation.

The royal decree repeals Royal Decree 1791/2010 approving the University Students’ Statute, as well as all the provisions of equal or lower rank that are contrary to its terms.

The royal decree enters into force on October 23, 2026, and universities will have a period of twelve months to bring their internal regulations into line with its provisions.