A 15-year-old student from Girona, Júlia Xifra Comajuan, has lost an Amancio Ortega Foundation scholarship for the 2026-2027 academic year in the United States. The award would have covered her first year of Batxillerat abroad.
She had already passed the selection process and was preparing for the stay when she was excluded from the programme because of her medical situation. Her family says she has a stable chronic illness, that it was declared from the outset, and that it is controlled with medication.
The family says the condition does not stop her from living a normal life and argues that the decision is unfair. They also say they informed the foundation about her health status early in the application process.
The scholarship is one of the Amancio Ortega Foundation's competitive awards for students who want to study in the US. For readers following education coverage in Catalonia, see our news page for more local reporting.
More information on the scholarship scheme is available from the Amancio Ortega Foundation. Background on the US study destination can be checked through the US Department of State.
