University King Juan Carlos - International "A Magical Opportunity" Program

What the "A Magical Opportunity" programme gives you

You will spend around six months in the United States. First, you will complete a two-week course in California, followed by a six-month paid work placement at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. The hourly wage is around 18 USD, so you will earn money whilst you work. The programme assumes that you will earn at least approximately 15,300 USD (approximately 13,000 EUR) during the placement. In addition, the University of California, Riverside (UCR) awards three grants of 1,000 USD each (about 860 EUR) to selected participants. You will also earn 30 ECTS credits and a UCR certificate in ‘Applied Management for Hospitality and Tourism’. The programme is run by the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (URJC) in Madrid in partnership with UCR and Walt Disney World.

As this is a fee-paying programme, you will need to pay the UCR tuition fees, insurance, visa and flights yourself. The three scholarships cover part of these costs, but not the full amount.

Who can apply

• University: You are studying for a Bachelor’s degree (Grado) at the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos and will remain enrolled until you complete your degree.
• Field of study: You hold a degree in tourism, economics, business administration, marketing, advertising and public relations, journalism, audiovisual or digital communication, international relations, protocol, or industrial relations and human resources.
• Study progress: You have earned at least 60 ECTS credits on this degree programme and your overall average is at least a ‘pass’ (aprobado).
• Age: You must be at least 18 when you apply.
• English: You have a very good command of English. An official certificate issued no more than two years ago will be accepted: TOEFL iBT 80, IELTS 6.5 or Duolingo 100. If you do not have such a certificate, please sit a Duolingo test offered by UCR.
• Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities are welcome to apply. The only set requirement is that you are a student at URJC.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted via the URJC’s online form between 13 and 26 January 2026. The URJC will first check whether you meet the criteria. The UCR will then shortlist candidates based on their academic transcript, personal statement, CV and proof of English language proficiency. Shortlisted students must attend a final interview with representatives from the UCR and Disney on 24 February 2026 at the Móstoles campus, during which the UCR and Disney will make the final selection.

How realistic are your chances?

This programme is very selective: only URJC undergraduate students from a specified list of degree programmes are eligible to apply, which keeps the pool of applicants small. However, the three UCR scholarships are awarded to just a handful of selected participants. The awards are decided on the basis of academic grades, essays and the English test, meaning they are harder to secure than the place at university itself. If you clearly meet the criteria, can demonstrate solid academic performance and a good command of English, and prepare well for the interview in February, your chances are good.