Applications are now open for the Colombian government scholarship 2025 (BECA Colombia Scholarship) for postgraduate studies in Colombia for the academic year 2024-2025. Applicants from non-Spanish-speaking countries can also apply for scholarships of up to 6 months to perfect the Spanish language.
In this blog post we present to you everything you need to know about the exciting Beca Colombia Scholarship Program for international students. Below we give key aspects about this opportunity and then jump into more details.
Colombia Scholarship key aspects
Programs for: Master's, PhD students, Postgraduates
Fields: All available fields of study at host institutions
Basic Requirements: Applicants must be a foreign citizen without Colombian nationality and not have resided in Colombian territory for the last 6 months or initiated studies in Colombia at the time of application.
Duration: 6 - 48 months depending on program
Funding: Fully funded academic program covering tuition fees, monthly stipend equivalent to three minimum wages, books and materials allowance, installation allowance, health insurance, and immigration card expenses support.
Targeted segment
This program is aimed at foreigners who wish to pursue their postgraduate studies in Colombia, as well as for foreigners from non-Spanish-speaking countries who need to strengthen the Spanish language to carry out postgraduate studies in Colombia.
Available study programs and host universities
The BECA Colombia Scholarship covers any study field available within many participating host universities for Master's, PhD and Postgraduate levels. To see the available study programs and host universities, you can download the document below.
Benefits
The BECA Colombia Scholarship is a fully funded scholarship that provides the following for the awarded students:
a). Enrollment:
The coverage of the entire tuition will be granted by the Colombian higher education institution
(only for the academic programs that are within the catalog of academic offer document above.
b) Health Policy/Medical Insurance:
Medical and hospital assistance in Colombia that includes repatriation in case of disability or death. This assistance is only covered during the study period in Colombia and only to the
scholarship recipient, it is not extended to family members. Scholars must bear the cost of
prescription drugs and a moderate fee for medical examinations.
c) Courtesy visa:
ICETEX will send each fellow a letter for the online application of the courtesy visa type “V” visa, which will be granted by the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs during the study period. This
visa is only for the fellow. If you require a visa for family members, they must apply for a visa on
their behalf.
d) Living Expenses/monthly stipend:
ICETEX will support each foreign scholarship holder with a monthly support (living expenses)
amounting to three current legal monthly minimum wages.
e) Installation expenses:
ICETEX will support each scholarship holder with an amount for installation expenses in
Colombia, for the only time in the study period. This item will be granted only to those who are in Colombian territory carrying out in person studies.
f) Expenses of books and materials:
For each year of study, ICETEX will support each scholarship holder with a value for books and materials, specialization scholarship holders will receive a single support, master's scholarship holders will receive up to two supports and doctorate scholarship holders between three and four according to the time of their study. doctorate.
g) Foreign Identification “Cedula de Extranjeria:
Requirements and Eligibility
Students must satisfy below requirements to be eligible for the Colombian Scholarship:
be a foreign citizen
Not have Colombian nationality.
Not be residing, nor have resided the last 6 months prior to applying for the scholarship in Colombian territory or have started studies in Colombia at the time of application.
In case of being selected, scholars can be asked by ICETEX to provide the Certificate of Migratory Movements, with a date no greater than 30 days at the time of entering Colombian territory
Must not have any marital or de facto relationship in Colombia.
Not having been a beneficiary of ICETEX through the Beca Colombia program.
Not be older than 50 years.
Have a cumulative general average of 4.0 out of 5.0 in undergraduate to apply the call.
According to the grading scale of each country, the note must be equivalent to a minimum of 4.0
Have a professional, undergraduate, or graduate degree in any area of knowledge.
Have admission to at least between one and three postgraduate programs found in the Academic Offer Catalog 2024 annexed to this announcement.
In case of applying to Spanish courses, the admission of the Institution offering the Spanish course will be suspended.
Have good physical and mental health, certified by a doctor.
Required Documents
1. Letter of pre- admission or final admission from the university:
The letter of final admission to the academic program must be issued by the Colombian university to which the foreign candidate applied and must specify the start and end dates of the academic program. The candidate may submit from one to three letters and must establish the priority order of each academic program in the essay. All letters of admission must be for programs that start in the second semester of 2024. Letters of admission will not be accepted for programs that start in the first semester of 2024, nor in later semesters.
2. Letter of Academic Recommendation:
This letter must be issued by a professor at the University where you completed undergraduate studies.
3. Certificate of undergraduate or graduate transcripts:
Document that certifies the undergraduate or graduate studies in which a minimum average of 4 out of 5 or its equivalent to the Colombian grade scale. Your former university must include a grading scale where the minimum passing grade is recorded, to be able to establish a comparison with the Colombian grading system. This document may be evaluated in Spanish, Portuguese, French or English. If your original language is not either of these four, you must attach an official translation into Spanish or English.
4). Essay:
The document must be a maximum of two (2) pages and argue the importance of studying in Colombia and the impact it will generate on your personal and professional development, and the application upon your return to your country of origin. Those who applied to several programs, must set the order of priority, from 1 to 3.
5). Copy of valid passport:
Copy of the first page of the current passport (with a minimum validity of one year).
6. Copies university degrees or diplomas:
The copy of the diploma must be certified by the home university or may be notarized.
7. Resume or CV: max two pages
8. Health Certificate:
The health certificate must indicate your state of physical and mental health. It may not be greater than thirty days at the time of applying for the call. It must have the signature and stamp of the doctor.
9. Professional Experience Certificate: Certifications of professional experience of at least one year are required. These must contain the positions held, the duration and the functions performed. (It is valid to attach internship certifications).
Application procedure and notes
To submit your application, visit the official application portal linked down:
Or visit the official Colombia scholarship website linked below and click apply:
Notes:
1). Each candidate must personally apply for admission to postgraduate programs directly with higher education institutions or universities. All documents must be attached to the application platform, no physical documents will be received for any reason or outside the deadline of the call.
2). The selected foreign candidate will not be able to change the Program or the University, and only the definitive admission letter(s) presented within the documentation initially received by ICETEX will be taken. The candidate can apply to up to three postgraduate programs that are in the catalog and in the letter of motivation must establish the priority of each one.
3). The application deadline is June 9, 2024.
Further info and Links:
For further details about the BECA Colombia Scholarship, visit the official website below:
Downloadable content: