ONCE Foundation scholarships for students with disabilities They are becoming one of the main levers for students with functional diversity so they can continue their education, specialize, and access highly skilled jobs. The new edition of the 'Opportunity for Talent' program has once again focused on those who, despite the barriers, aspire to develop a solid academic and professional career.
In her twelfth callThis program has awarded a total of 104 grants across Spain to university students and vocational training students with disabilities. The grants cover various options, from postgraduate studies and international exchanges to combining studies with sports, with the aim of helping these individuals find a real place in the job market.
'Opportunity for Talent' program: what it is and who it is aimed at
The scholarship program 'Opportunity for Talent' by the ONCE Foundation It is designed to support the higher education for students with disabilities and, at the same time, promote their integration into technical and skilled jobs. It is not limited to simply covering part of the study expenses, but also seeks to encourage these students to develop research projects, undertake internships in companies, or train abroad.
In this edition, the scholarships have been distributed among four main modalitiesMaster's and postgraduate studies, transnational mobility, studies and sports, and vocational training. Each type of aid has specific requirements and funding, but they all share the same purpose: to ensure that disability is not an obstacle to accessing quality education.
The program is co-financed by Fundación ONCE and various donor companiesThese initiatives provide resources to expand the number of beneficiaries and increase the funding amounts. In this way, a collaborative network is established between the third sector, the university sector, and the business community, directly impacting opportunities for students with disabilities.
Furthermore, 'Opportunity for Talent' has the active participation of CRUE Spanish Universities and the Spanish Committee of Representatives of People with Disabilities (CERMI), two key actors to ensure the call reaches students and guarantees a rights-based and inclusive approach.
Distribution of the 104 scholarships: types and amounts
In the latest call for 'Opportunity for Talent', the following have been awarded 104 scholarships in totalThese resources are distributed among the different programs depending on the type of studies and the needs of each individual. This structure allows for adaptation to very different realities within the student population with disabilities.
32 Master's and Postgraduate Scholarships They are aimed at university graduates who want to pursue an official master's degree or other specialized studies at Spanish universities, advanced training centers, or business schools. Each grant has a endowment of 3.000 eurosdesigned to alleviate the tuition fees and other expenses associated with this type of training.
The modality of Transnational mobility offers 25 scholarships of 6.000 euros each, intended for undergraduate or master's students who enroll in a foreign universityThese grants make it easier for students with disabilities to spend time in other countries, improve their language skills, and gain international experience that is often crucial to their professional development.
On the other hand, the category of Studies and Sport meets 27 scholarships The grants, worth 3.000 euros, aim to support those who must combine academic studies with a sports career, something that requires very precise time management and, in many cases, additional resources. With these grants, the ONCE Foundation seeks to ensure that people with disabilities do not have to give up either studying or continuing to develop in the sports field.
Finally, they have been granted 20 scholarships Vocational trainingEach grant, worth €1.000, is aimed at young people with disabilities enrolled in vocational training programs. Vocational training is a direct route to employment, and these grants are intended to give an extra boost to those who choose this educational option by covering some of the costs that could hinder their continued studies.
Geographical distribution of aid: focus on Andalusia and presence throughout the country
The impact of the 'Opportunity for Talent' program extends across all the Spanish territorywith beneficiaries from virtually all autonomous communities. In this call for applications, AndalucÃa It stands out as the region with the highest number of scholarship recipients, with a total of 25 students who have received some of the available aid.
Along with Andalusia, the communities with the most participants are the Region of Madrid, with 19 students supported, and Cataloniawhich has a total of 14 scholarship recipients. Valencian Community It provides 11 beneficiaries, while Galicia It reaches the figure of 7. Next are Asturias, Murcia and the Canary Islands, with 4 students each.
There is also a presence of scholarship students in the the Basque Country (3 aids), Castilla la Mancha (3) Castilla y Leon (3) and Estremadura (2). They close the regional map Aragon, Cantabria, Navarre, La Rioja and Ceutawith one scholarship student in each case, which reflects a fairly wide distribution, although with differences in volume depending on the size and educational reality of each community.
In the specific case of AndalucÃaThe 25 students who benefited are distributed among the different modalities: Vocational Training, Master's and Postgraduate Studies, International Mobility, and Studies and Sports. This Andalusian presence in the program demonstrates both the existing demand and the importance of continuing to strengthen specific support in the region.
Specific cases: students who put a face to scholarships
Beyond the overall figures, the ONCE Foundation program has a direct impact on personal stories. Two of the beneficiaries are Javier mendoza, a native of Montijo, and Alba Espino, from Cáceres. Both represent the type of profile that these grants are aimed at: young people with disabilities with ambitious academic projects and a desire to continue progressing.
Javier has obtained one of the 32 Master's and Postgraduate Scholarshipswhich will allow him to pursue a university master's degree in Media Journalism at the International University of Valencia. These scholarships, with a grant of 3.000 euros per student, are aimed at people who already have a degree or equivalent qualification and are enrolled or pre-enrolled in an official master's program at any Spanish university, specialized center or business school.
In Alba's case, her career is linked to the International mobilityShe has been one of the 25 people selected in this category, which will allow her to continue her English Philology studies at the University of Edinburgh. Thanks to the scholarship, worth 6.000 euros, she will be able to cover the additional expenses of studying abroad, which are especially significant for students with disabilities.
Mobility grants are reserved for students of Bachelor's or Master's degree enrolled in foreign universitiesThese programs are designed to make international experience a viable option, not just a luxury, for this group. They promote both language improvement and exposure to other academic systems and cultural realities.
Along with the stories of Javier and Alba, the ONCE Foundation has awarded this year 27 scholarships in the Studies and Sports category y 20 in Vocational TrainingThese grants complete the set of 104 awards. Although each case is different, the goal is the same: to ensure that disability does not limit students' educational choices or professional ambitions.
Collaboration with universities, social entities and companies
The development of the 'Opportunity for Talent' program would not be possible without an extensive network of institutional and business collaborationsIn the academic sphere, the initiative is being carried out in conjunction with CRUE Spanish Universities, which brings together most of the country's public and private universities and helps to spread the word about the call among its students.
It also plays a key role Spanish Committee of Representatives of People with Disabilities (CERMI)which acts as a voice for the needs and demands of the community. Their participation helps ensure that the call for proposals' criteria are aligned with a rights-based, accessible, and non-discriminatory approach.
In the business sector, the list of companies contributing financial resources to this edition is extensive. Among the entities supporting the program are: Veolia and Fundación Aquae, Santander Fonemporium, Loewe, Arkas Spain, Asúa Products, Avanza, Capgemini, Hyundai Motor España, McGraw Hill, SABIO, Nordex Energy Spain, Precision For Medicine&Oncology, Skretting España, Holcim España, Medtronics and Grupo OTISAll of them contribute to financing the different types of scholarships and expanding the number of beneficiaries.
This public-private collaboration not only has an economic impact, but also opens up doors to future job opportunities for scholarship recipients. Many of these companies are able to offer internships, entry-level jobs, or projects related to research and innovation, which facilitates the transition from academia to the world of work.
The ONCE Foundation emphasizes that the program seeks not only to provide financial support to students, but also attract talent and connect it with the business communityIn this way, the aim is to ensure that people with disabilities have a presence in technical and highly skilled sectors, reducing the gaps that still persist in employment.
Throughout its twelve editions, more than a thousand young university students with disabilities Students from all over Spain have benefited from 'Opportunity for Talent'. The program's continuity and the growing interest it generates among students are clear indicators of the need to maintain and strengthen this type of initiative.
The data and experiences gathered from this twelfth edition show how the ONCE Foundation scholarships These initiatives have become a significant support system for students with disabilities throughout Spain, particularly in regions like Andalusia, Madrid, and Catalonia, enabling them to pursue master's degrees, participate in international exchange programs, combine studies with sports, or advance in vocational training. The backing of universities, disability organizations, and businesses strengthens a model that, without fanfare, helps these individuals find better opportunities to develop their talents and succeed in the job market.
