Education Minister José Ignacio Wert has reversed his decision to only award Erasmus grants to those students with the lowest economic means after coming under pressure from regional governments, universities, opposition parties, leaders from his own governing Popular Party and the EU.
The minister announced that all students taking part in the European foreign exchange program would retain their grants, at least for the current academic year.
Wert said he had reversed his decision following conversations with Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría and the Finance Ministry.
In October, Wert announced controversial cutbacks which would have seen students lose funds vital to continuing their studies abroad halfway through the academic year.