Applications are now open for the fully funded Columbia Foreign Postgraduate Scholarship. Interested and qualified candidates can now send in their applications.

About the Fully Funded Columbia Foreign Postgraduate Scholarship

The fully funded Columbia Foreign Postgraduate Scholarship is aimed at international students who want to pursue their postgraduate studies in Colombia. It is also open to students from non-Spanish-speaking countries who need to improve their Spanish language skills to pursue postgraduate studies in Colombia. 

The scholarship is overseen by ICETEX, an institution of the Colombian State that promotes higher education by providing educational credits and international cooperation scholarships to students with good academic performance and limited financial means. The scholarship is granted within the framework of the Strategy of Reciprocity for foreigners and its program, Beca Colombia. There are two types of applications for reciprocity scholarships: 

·      For foreigners who wish to pursue postgraduate studies in specialization, master’s, and doctorate degrees in public and private Colombian higher education institutions as per the “2024-2 ACADEMIC OFFER CATALOG”, which is published along with the open call. 

·      For foreigners from non-Spanish speaking countries who wish to pursue postgraduate studies in specialization, master’s, and doctorate degrees in public and private Colombian higher education institutions and who need to improve their Spanish language skills. This is also covered by the “2024-2 ACADEMIC OFFER CATALOG”, which is published along with the call. 

It’s important to note that the beneficiary must present two letters of acceptance: one for the Spanish course and another for a specialization, master’s, or doctoral program offered in the “ACADEMIC OFFER CATALOG 2024-2”. Once the Spanish course has been completed, the beneficiary must begin the postgraduate program to which they were admitted in 2025-1.

Application Deadline

The deadline for the fully funded Columbia Postgraduate Scholarship is June 9th, 2024.

Scholarship Benefits

The benefits of the fully funded Columbia Postgraduate Scholarship are as follows: 

1. Tuition Fees

Coverage of the entire tuition will be granted by the Colombian higher education institution (only for the academic programs that are within the catalogue of academic offers, published in the 2024-2 call).

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. Living Expenses/Monthly Support

ICETEX will support each foreign scholarship holder with monthly support (living expenses) amounting to three current legal monthly minimum wages. In 2025, the adjustment will be made according to the increase in the minimum wage decreed by the Colombian Ministry of Labour. This item will be granted only to those who are in Colombian territory carrying out in-person studies.

5. 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.

6. 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 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.

7. Foreign Identification “Cedula De Extranjeria

This is financial support equivalent to 250,000 COP, which will be paid only once during the entire study program to cover costs related to the issuance of the Foreign Identification id “Cedula d eExtranjeria”. This item will be granted in the first stipend received by the scholarship recipient once the foreign identification and bank certificate have been issued and sent to ICETEX.

Eligibility Requirements for The Fully Funded Colombia Foreign Postgraduate Scholarship

Also, interested applicants must meet the following requirements:

1.     Must be a foreign citizen

2.     Must not have Colombian nationality.

3.     Must not be residing, nor have resided the last 6 months before applying for the scholarship in Colombian territory or have started studies in Colombia at the time of application to the corresponding call.

4.     In case of being selected, scholars can be asked by ICETEX to provide the Certificate of Migratory Movements. It should be with a date no greater than 30 days at the time of entering Colombian territory.

5.     Must not have any marital or de facto relationship in Colombia.

6.     Must not have been a beneficiary of ICETEX through the Beca Colombia program. g) Not be older than 50 years.

7.     Must have a cumulative general average of 4.0 out of 5.0 in undergraduate to apply for the call. According to the grading scale of each country, the note must be equivalent to a minimum of 4.0 for the Colombian scale. It is not valid to present a postgraduate average.

8.     Must have a professional, undergraduate, or graduate degree in any area of knowledge.

9.     Must have admission to at least between one and three postgraduate programs found in the Academic Offer Catalog 2024-2 annexed to this announcement. In case of applying to Spanish courses, the admission of the Institution offering the Spanish course will be suspended. 

10.  Must have good physical and mental health, certified by a doctor.

Other Information on The Columbia Foreign Postgraduate Scholarship

The scholarships for postgraduate studies in Colombia will have a maximum duration according to the modality as follows:

·      Due to the annual budget validity of ICETEX, scholarship holders who attend academic programs longer than 12 months must request a renewal from ICETEX each year, for the continuity of the corresponding study program.

·      The renewal will be subject to compliance with the requirements established by ICETEX, including:

·      Renewal request letter.

·      Certificate of grades with accumulated average of the program. (at least 4.0/5.0).

·      Experience report signed by the tutor or director of the academic program.

·      Certificate from the University stating the current enrollment and the duration of the current academic program

Time Frame of The Columbia Foreign Postgraduate Scholarship

The breakdown of the timeline of the fully funded Columbia Postgraduate Scholarship is as follows: 

1.     Closing of the 2024-02: June 9th, 2024

2.     Evaluation and selection of candidates: From June 10th to June 19th, 2024

3.     Email notification to candidates about selection and non-selection: June 20th, 2024

4.     Scholarship acceptance process by those selected: From June 21st to the 23rd

5.     Start of studies in Colombia: According to the Academic Program

Application Process

The application process is online. To begin the process, visit the official website. It is also important to note that the applicant must guarantee the legitimacy, validity, and veracity of the documentation provided for the award of the scholarship. However, ICETEX reserves the right to verify the veracity of the documents and data contained in the application. For More Information, visit the Official Webpage.