Applications are currently open for the 2024–2025 Colombia Foreign Scholarships. This program targets international students who wish to pursue postgraduate studies in Colombia, as well as individuals from non-Spanish-speaking countries who need to enhance their Spanish language skills to undertake postgraduate studies in Colombia.
Administered by ICETEX, a Colombian State institution that promotes higher education through the provision of educational loans and international cooperation scholarships, this program aims to provide financial assistance to foreign citizens as part of the Reciprocity for Foreigners Strategy and its Beca Colombia program. Reciprocity scholarships offer two types of opportunities:
- For foreigners interested in pursuing specialization, master’s, and doctoral degrees in public and private Colombian higher education institutions based on the “2024-2 ACADEMIC OFFER CATALOG,” which is released alongside the open call.
- For individuals from non-Spanish-speaking countries who plan to pursue postgraduate studies in specialization, master’s, and doctoral degrees in public and private Colombian higher education institutions and require Spanish language reinforcement to undertake their studies. This also follows the “2024-2 ACADEMIC OFFER CATALOG,” which accompanies the call.
*Note: Selected beneficiaries must present two acceptance letters: one for the Spanish course and another for a specialization, master’s, or doctoral program listed in the “ACADEMIC OFFER CATALOG 2024-2.” After successfully completing the Spanish course, beneficiaries can commence their postgraduate program in 2025-1.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Must be a foreign citizen.
- Must not hold Colombian nationality.
- Must not have resided in Colombian territory for the last six months prior to applying or commenced studies in Colombia at the time of application.
- Upon selection, scholars may be required by ICETEX to provide a Certificate of Migratory Movements, dated no more than 30 days prior to entering Colombian territory.
- Must not be married or in any common-law relationship in Colombia.
- Must not have previously been a beneficiary of ICETEX through the Beca Colombia program.
- Must not be more than 50 years of age, while applying.
- Must have a cumulative general average of 4.0 out of 5.0 in undergraduate studies. The equivalent of this score on the Colombian scale is required, as per the grading scale of each country.
- Must hold a professional, undergraduate, or graduate degree in any field of knowledge.
- Must have admission to at least one to three postgraduate programs listed in the Academic Offer Catalog 2024-2. For applicants applying to Spanish courses, admission to the institution offering the Spanish course will be considered.
- Must be in good physical and mental health, as certified by a doctor.
Requirements:
- Reciprocity scholarships are intended for foreign citizens of any nationality without dual Colombian nationality, not residing in Colombia, not having previously received benefits from the program, and holding a professional or bachelor’s degree.
Duration of Scholarship or Non-Refundable Financial Support:
The scholarships for postgraduate studies in Colombia have a maximum duration based on the following modalities:
- Since scholarships are awarded annually due to ICETEX’s annual budget validity, recipients attending academic programs longer than 12 months must annually request renewal from ICETEX for program continuity.
- Renewal is contingent upon meeting ICETEX’s requirements, including:
- Letter of renewal request.
- Transcript with an accumulated program average of at least 4.0 out of 5.0.
- Experience report signed by the academic program’s tutor or director.
- Certificate from the university indicating current enrollment and program duration.
Benefits:
Enrollment:
- Full tuition coverage by the Colombian higher education institution (only for programs within the academic offer catalog published in the 2024-2 call).
- Health Policy/Medical Insurance:
Medical and hospital care in Colombia, along with repatriation services in the event of disability or death, will be provided throughout the duration of the study period. This assistance only covers the scholarship recipient and excludes family members. Scholars are responsible for prescription drug costs and a moderate fee for medical examinations.
- Courtesy Visa:
ICETEX will provide each fellow with a letter for online application of the courtesy visa type “V,” granted by the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the study period. This visa is solely for the fellow, and family members must apply for their own visas if needed.
- D. Living Expenses/Monthly Support:
ICETEX will provide monthly support (living expenses) to each foreign scholarship holder, equivalent to three times the current legal monthly minimum wage. Adjustments will be made in 2025 based on increases in the minimum wage decreed by the Colombian Ministry of Labor. This support is only granted to those studying in Colombia in person.
- E) Expenses for setting up:
ICETEX will provide financial assistance to each scholarship recipient for installation costs in Colombia, which will be a one-time grant during the study period. This support will only be available to those conducting in-person studies within Colombian territory.
- F) Costs of textbooks and materials:
Each year of study, ICETEX will offer financial aid to cover the expenses of books and materials. Specialization scholarship recipients will receive one support, master’s scholarship recipients will receive up to two supports, and doctorate scholarship recipients will receive between three and four supports, depending on the duration of their doctoral studies.
- G) Foreign Identification “Cedula de Extranjeria”:
A one-time financial support of 250,000 COP will be provided to cover the expenses related to obtaining the Foreign Identification “Cedula de Extranjeria”. This support will be disbursed upon receipt of the first stipend by the scholarship recipient, after the issuance and submission of the foreign identification and bank certificate to ICETEX.
Timeline:
- Application deadline for 2024-02: June 9th, 2024
- Assessment and selection of applicants: June 10th through June 19th, 2024.
- Notification via email to selected and non-selected candidates: June 20th, 2024
- Selected candidates to complete the scholarship acceptance process: June 21st to June 23rd, 2024
- Commencement of studies in Colombia: As per the Academic Program
Application:
- Foreign applicants can submit their applications online through the following link: [ICETEX Portal](https://portal.icetex.gov.co/Portal/Home/HomeEstudiante/becas/programa-de-reciprocidad-paraextranjeros-en-colombia/becas-colombia-extranjeros)
- Applicants must ensure the legitimacy, validity, and accuracy of the documentation submitted for scholarship consideration. However, ICETEX retains the right to verify the authenticity of the documents and information provided in the application.
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