Government of Spain-Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism - "Tourism of Spain" Scholarships

What you get

You will be offered a paid one-year work placement in the tourism sector. The remuneration is approximately 2,580 EUR gross per month, which, depending on the location, amounts to a total of around 17,000 to 54,000 euros per year. You can extend the placement for a second year. For placements abroad, the remuneration is higher to compensate for the higher cost of living. For example, in Lisbon you will receive around 24,900 EUR, in New York 40,700 EUR and in Singapore up to around 53,900 EUR, whilst the head office in Madrid pays around 17,100 EUR. There are a total of 36 places: 32 in Spanish tourist offices abroad (in cities such as Berlin, London, Paris, New York, Tokyo, Beijing and Singapore) and 4 at the head office in Madrid. You will work on tasks such as market research, tourism marketing and promoting Spain as a destination. The programme is run by the Instituto de Turismo de España (Turespaña), a public body under the Spanish Ministry of Industry and Tourism.

Who can apply

• Nationality: You are a national of Spain, another EU country or a country within the European Economic Area.
• Degree: You must hold a university degree (Bachelor’s, Master’s or Diplom) in tourism, economics, business administration, sociology or public administration. Any foreign qualification must be recognised as equivalent in Spain.
• How recent: You have completed your degree within the last 6 years and before the application deadline.
• Grades: You must have achieved at least 6 out of 10 for a Bachelor’s, Master’s or equivalent degree, or at least 7 out of 10 for one of the diplomas listed.
• English: You can provide evidence of your English language proficiency at level C1 or above by means of an official certificate.
• Spanish: If you are not from Spain, you will also need proof of Spanish language proficiency at level C1 or above.

How to apply

You apply online via the Ministry’s electronic portal using a digital certificate. The application deadline is 14 September. Applicants are assessed against one another, and the best candidates are selected.

How realistic are your chances?

There are only 36 places, and the entry requirements are specific: a degree in the relevant subject area, a recently obtained university degree, good grades and proven proficiency in C1 (as well as Spanish, if you are not Spanish). As a result, the pool of eligible applicants is smaller than for an open scholarship. If you clearly meet all the requirements and can provide evidence of this, your prospects are good. The remuneration is attractive and the selection process is highly competitive, so a compelling, well-structured application is crucial.