On 20 October 2026, the Spanish Council of Ministers approved a new Estatuto del Estudiantado Universitario . Led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez the Consejo de Ministros thereby established a nationwide framework for students’ rights and the duties to protect them at public universities. Official government statements identify four priorities: explicit recognition of the paro académico, expanded psychological support, measures to help students balance study and paid work, and guidelines on desconexión digital.
The statute requires universities to define procedures for calling a full or partial paro académico. Student representatives are to be involved, while the right to education of other students must also be protected. Details such as scheduling exams on strike days will be set out in each university’s regulations. In relation to mental health, the decree recognises accessible counselling and intervention services as a core responsibility of universities.
To help students balance their responsibilities, the statute calls for part-time and flexible options, for example regarding deadlines and attendance, as well as greater consideration of housing costs in funding programmes. The government also approved, according to its own figures, 45 million euros for almost 2,000 additional places in public university halls of residence. The desconexión digital is established as the principle of not being contactable outside designated hours; exceptions remain possible for urgent communications, such as last-minute changes to exams.
The text also contains provisions on health protection, equality, the prevention of discrimination and bullying, and the use of artificial intelligence in teaching and examinations. According to the government, it was drawn up in consultation with the CRUE, the nationwide association of university leaders, as well as student organisations CEUNE and CREUP.
Implementation now rests with the universities and will in some cases require additional budget decisions by the autonomous communities. Student organisations welcome the legal recognition of the paro académico and the expansion of psychological services, but call for prompt funding and clear deadlines. University leaders point to the need to integrate the new rights with the smooth running of courses and the organisation of examinations.
At government level, responsibility lies with the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades. With this decision, the central government is creating a common framework that gives universities room to determine the details while setting minimum standards for students.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).