Six students from Ibiza have travelled to Canada to begin a unique international educational experience, spending the first term of their fourth year of secondary education there through the Balearic Government’s Excellence Scholarship programme.

The students left Ibiza on Saturday, August 29, joining a group of 24 students from across the Balearic Islands selected for the 2026–2027 programme. The group includes 14 students from Mallorca, four from Menorca and six from Ibiza.

A Term of School in Canada

The students will complete the first trimester of 4º de la ESO, Spain’s final year of compulsory secondary education, while studying in Canada.

They have been placed across several Canadian provinces, including Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta and Nova Scotia, where they will attend local schools and stay with host families.

The programme gives the students the opportunity to experience everyday life and education in another country while developing their English-language skills through full immersion.

What the Scholarship Covers

The Excellence Scholarships are designed to make the international experience accessible to selected students by covering the main costs associated with their stay.

The €300,000 programme funded by the Balearic Government covers travel, accommodation with host families, school enrolment, cultural activities, insurance and personalised support during the students’ time in Canada.

The programme is intended to provide more than simply an opportunity to improve English.

Students also gain experience adapting to a different educational system and culture, encouraging greater independence and personal development.

Six Students Represent Ibiza

For Ibiza, the participation of six local students offers an opportunity to experience life far beyond the island while continuing their secondary education.

The students will spend the first term of the 2026–2027 academic year in Canada before returning to continue their studies.

The programme reflects the growing emphasis on international educational opportunities for young people in the Balearic Islands, giving students the chance to develop language skills and broaden their academic and cultural horizons.

Following a Previous Ireland Programme

The Canadian programme follows a similar initiative organised during the previous academic year.

In 2025–2026, 25 students from the Balearic Islands took part in a comparable Excellence Scholarship programme in Ireland, supported by €200,000 in public funding.

The move from Ireland to Canada expands the international reach of the programme and continues the Govern’s investment in language immersion and international education.

An International Experience for Ibiza’s Students

The six students from Ibiza are now beginning several months that will combine school, cultural exchange and everyday life in Canada.

For the young island residents, it is a chance to experience a completely different environment while developing skills that can benefit them throughout their future education.

Their journey also highlights the opportunities available to young people from Ibiza to study abroad while remaining connected to the Balearic education system.

The students are expected to return to Ibiza after completing the first trimester, bringing back not only improved English skills but also a new international perspective.

Source: Noudiari