Tenerife’s Cabildo has announced 340 scholarships for language immersion programmes for secondary school students, backed by €3.88 million in funding.
The programme will give young people the opportunity to study in Ireland, Canada, France and the United States during the 2027-2029 academic years.
There are several options available, including full academic years and shorter stays, with the programme particularly aimed at students in the final years of secondary education.
The Cabildo says the aim is to ensure that a family’s financial situation does not decide what educational opportunities a young person can access.
340 places across four countries
The scholarships are divided into several programmes:
- 30 full academic-year places for fourth-year secondary students in Ireland.
- 210 first-term places for fourth-year students, with 60 in Ireland, 120 in Canada and 30 in France.
- 100 dual scholarships split between the United States and Canada.
Efraín Medina, the Cabildo’s minister for Employment, Education and Youth, said the programme has been designed to offer different types of international experience, from full-year stays to shorter programmes and dual scholarships leading to an international baccalaureate qualification.
Who can apply?
Applicants must be residents of Tenerife and be enrolled at a school on the island.
There is also an income requirement. Family income must not exceed €20,000 per person.
Students applying for the language immersion scholarships must have achieved a minimum average mark of 7.5 during their first and second years of secondary education.
Academic results will be taken into account during the selection process. Where applicants are tied, priority will be given to students from families with lower incomes.
Cabildo president Rosa Dávila said the intention is to make sure talent and ambition are not limited by a family’s financial circumstances.
Applications open until 13 October
Applications will open on the first working day after the official publication of the programme guidelines and will remain open until 13 October 2026.
The entire application process will be carried out online through the Cabildo de Tenerife website.
Dávila said the programme is about more than simply learning another language. Spending time studying in the country where a language is spoken can also help students develop greater independence, maturity and cultural awareness.
More education funding planned
The language immersion programme forms part of a wider education funding package from the Cabildo.
Dávila also highlighted ongoing scholarships for students following different academic and vocational paths, with up to €8 million being invested in higher education and vocational training.
Further support is planned for students with special educational needs and those taking part in the Erasmus programme.
The message from the Cabildo is fairly straightforward: the aim is to give young people in Tenerife more opportunities to study, gain international experience and learn languages, without their family’s financial situation being the deciding factor.