SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 19 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Department of Universities, Science, Innovation and Culture of the Canary Islands Government has approved the call for scholarships and grants for the 2024/2025 academic year, with an initial budget of 10.5 million euros.
These grants are aimed at undergraduate and master’s students enrolled in public universities, both within and outside the Canary Islands.
Migdalia Machín, the Minister for Universities, Science, Innovation and Culture, highlighted the significance of this initiative, stating that “these scholarships are a vital resource to ensure that students residing in the Canary Islands can pursue their academic training, irrespective of their financial or geographical circumstances.”
Among the options available within this public funding scheme is the fixed tuition grant, designed to cover the public fees for the credits the students have registered for.
This includes credits taken for the first, second, and third time, as well as, in specific cases, those for a fourth enrolment for certain academic programmes.
Another option is the fixed amount related to income, targeted at students whose families fall below the designated income threshold. Eligible students can receive a grant of 1,700 euros, provided they meet the financial criteria outlined in the application process.
The fixed amount associated with residence is set at 2,500 euros and is intended for students who, due to distance or inadequate transport facilities, must live away from their family home throughout the academic year.
This support aims to alleviate some of the expenses incurred from residing away from home in order to attend classes.
Furthermore, assistance is available for maritime and aerial transport, aimed at students who live in the archipelago and require travel to other islands or the mainland to further their studies.
The amount of these grants varies according to the student’s island of residence and academic destination, helping to lessen the financial burden of travel between islands or to the mainland.
In this context, Migdalia Machín has emphasised that insularity presents an “extra economic challenge” for many families in the Canary Islands, particularly those inhabiting less populated islands.
“It is crucial that public administration acknowledges this reality and provides effective solutions that ensure equal opportunities in accessing academic training,” he stated.
Support for students with functional diversity
The programme also encompasses specific support for students with functional diversity, with grants ranging from 600 to 3,000 euros.
Additionally, victims of gender-based violence and their children under the age of 25 will qualify for exemptions from academic requirements, along with receiving extra support for tuition, accommodation, and transport.
Applications will be processed entirely online via the Electronic Office of the Government of the Canary Islands: https://sede.gobiernodecanarias.org/sede/tramites/3215.
Students are required to submit their applications using an electronic signature system. The deadline for application submissions will be one month from the publication of the call in the Official Gazette of the Canary Islands (BOC).
The scholarships provided by the Government of the Canary Islands complement those offered by the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training, thereby covering aspects or types of support not included in state aid.
