University of Vigo - Academic Excellence Scholarships

Benefit

You will receive a one-off cash prize if you commence your studies at Universidade de Vigo in Spain with top marks. The exact amount is not disclosed. The university funds this prize in partnership with Santander Bank as part of the bank’s ‘Excellence’ student support programme. Every year, Vigo awards 140 prizes to new students: 105 for students starting a bachelor’s degree (Grao) and 35 for students starting a master’s degree. There is a separate call for applications for new PhD students. The scholarships are awarded on the basis of the best grades achieved in previous studies.

Eligibility

• Where you study: You are enrolling for the first time at the University of Vigo, either at its own faculties or at the public nursing colleges in Ourense, Pontevedra and Meixoeiro.
• Level: You are just starting a Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD programme and are not continuing a programme you have already started.
• Field of study: Open to all subjects.
• Grades (bachelor): You have completed your Bachillerato or the upper vocational training cycle (Ciclo Superior) with an average mark of at least 8 out of 10.
• Grades (master): Your entry grade for the Master’s programme is at least 7 out of 10.
• Grades (doctorate): The Bachelor’s or engineering degree, which qualifies the holder to undertake a PhD, must have a grade point average of at least 7 out of 10.
• Nationality or residence: You are a Spanish national, an EU citizen who can prove continuous residence, or a non-EU citizen lawfully resident in Spain. A student residence permit alone is not sufficient.

How to apply

Please complete the online form in the university’s virtual office and register on the Santander Open Academy platform. The deadline is 15 October. Once the applications have been reviewed, the university will first publish a provisional list of winners, followed by a final list; there will be an opportunity to lodge an appeal between the two.

How realistic are your chances?

With 140 prizes per year, the prize pool is larger than for an award given to a single winner, but the academic requirements are strict: an average of 8 for Bachelor’s applicants and 7 for Master’s and PhD students. If you significantly exceed these grades, enrol as a first-year student in Vigo and apply before the October deadline, your chances are good, as only new students in Vigo who meet the required grades are eligible to apply.