Scholarships Remain Good for Spanish Studies

While Spanish language is NOT recognized as a “critical need” language, it is nonetheless one of the most in-demand in the U.S. The Hispanic population in this country has outpaced all other minority groups and the business and industry sector in Spanish goods and services is exploding with opportunity. If they are not already in place, some of the best scholarships you should keep an eye on are likely to come from major corporations and other private sector sources with their eye on the Spanish buying market.

What can you do with a Spanish Studies degree?

  • Interpreter
  • Social workers and counselors
  • Politics
  • Business Administration
  • Teacher/Educator
  • School counselor

Scholarships for Spanish Studies Majors

This is a short-list of scholarships and is by no means exhaustive. Some are very well-known, while others are school-specific and obscure. Use this solely as an indication of the array of scholarship opportunities you can dig up in your field of study.

  • From government funds one of the best scholarship programs is the Gilman International Scholarship. This federally funded program is open to undergraduate students receiving Pell Grants. Why? Traditionally students able to study abroad had few financial impediments. Many Pell Grant students would have no chance to go abroad to study Spanish or a Spanish culture without a program like this one. Eligible candidates receive up to $5,000 in scholarship money.
  • Study abroad organizations also are solid sources for scholarship money. Most offer students with demonstrable financial difficulty some scholarship funding for many of their abroad studies. Many college and university Spanish Studies departments also offer scholarships specifically to help students study abroad.
  • The federally funded Fulbright Scholarship is one of the most prestigious programs. It’s chief mission: to make the world a smaller place, one scholar at a time. In practice the program offers standout scholars the opportunity to pursue research and study all over the world, including students engaged in Spanish Studies. To find current opportunities in Spanish-language countries, check out the Fulbright website. Scholarships often allow students at the graduate or post-graduate level the chance to participate in teaching or international exchange research projects.
  • The Selmer Birkelo Scholarship from the University of Minnesota is awarded annually to a few students. Eligible candidates must be studying in Spanish Studies alone or in combination with another discipline, such as Political Science or Economics. Awards are $4,000 each.