Scholarship Program
Educational area
Any plans made by the Amancio Ortega Gaona Foundation Scholarship Programme since the launch of the Scholarship Programme for this year have been overshadowed by events arising from the worldwide spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite the intense work carried out in recent weeks, under the current circumstances it is not possible to take the necessary steps to ensure that the next academic year in the United States or Canada will take place as planned.
The various procedures for processing applications, which are necessary for study during the academic year, are being affected by circumstances such as the paralysis of visa procedures, the impossibility of knowing the terms in which the next academic year will take place in both countries and difficulty in identifying and selecting host families, all processes which are practically paralysed at the moment, in addition to limitations on international mobility of citizens. But beyond these challenges, at this time the health and safety conditions of our recipients in the destination countries cannot be sufficiently guaranteed in the period from August 2020 to June 2021.
For all the above reasons, the 2020-21 Amancio Ortega Gaona Foundation Scholarship Programme has been cancelled due to force majeure. As a result of this cancellation, selected students have been informed of the need to register for their first year of University degree studies at the centre of their choice in order to guarantee the continuity of their studies next year.
The Amancio Ortega Gaona Foundation Scholarship Programme would like to thank all those involved in this initiative for their collaboration and understanding during these difficult times.
Each year, the Amancio Ortega Foundation’s Scholarship Program selects 600 high school sophomores from schools throughout Spain to study their junior year of high school in the United States and Canada. Since its inception in 2010, the Program aims to provide young participants not only with English language skills, but also tools to help them increase their ability to adapt to new social and cultural environments.
In order to encourage complete immersion in the destination countries -both with extensive experience in welcoming international students- and to promote English language learning, the 600 scholarship holders who participate in the Program each year live with a host family and attend local educational centers. The age of 15-16 is ideal for the acquisition of knowledge and life experiences, while ensuring sufficient responsibility and autonomy for full integration.
Currently, almost 3,000 students have taken part in the Amancio Ortega Foundation’s Scholarship Program.
