If you are planning to study in Colombia with financial support, Colombian government scholarships are among the best opportunities available to international students. This scholarship provides fully funded programs at Colombian universities across a wide range of fields. In this article, we will explain everything you need to know about the Colombian Government Scholarships, including their benefits, eligibility criteria, required documents, and a detailed step-by-step application process to help you apply successfully.
The Colombian Government Scholarship 2026-2027 is offered to international students for specialization degrees and master’s. These scholarships will cover all expenses for the scholarship, books, a monthly grant, and tuition fees.
This scholarship call is for foreign citizens of all nationalities to study for master’s or specialization degrees. You will study in Colombian educational institutions. 70 International Scholarships will be provided.
Scholarship Summary
- Level of Study: Master’s, Specialization Course
- Institution(s): Colombian Higher Educational Institutes
- Study Destination: Colombia
- Number of Scholarships: Up to 70.
- Opportunity Focus Areas: Any full-time master’s or specialization degree.
- Program Period: The duration of the Columbia scholarships will consist of twelve (12) months for specialization, twenty-four (24) months for a master’s.
- Deadline: June 05, 2026
Scholarship Coverage
Colombian government scholarships provide the recipient with the following benefits:
- Monthly Allowance: ICETEX will provide each scholarship holder with a monthly living allowance equivalent to two (2) Colombian legal minimum monthly wages (SMLMV), updated annually according to the adjustment approved by the Ministry of Labor of Colombia. This allowance will only be granted to scholarship holders who are physically present in Colombia and enrolled in in-person academic programs. Payments will be made on a quarterly basis in arrears.
- Tuition: 100% coverage of all these costs granted by the Colombian universities (only for academic programs found in the catalog of this call).
- Health Insurance: The program provides financial support for medical and hospital assistance for the scholarship holder during the period of study in Colombia. This benefit applies exclusively to the scholarship holder and does not extend to family members. Costs related to medications, copayments, or other medical expenses must be covered by the scholarship holder and are not considered unforeseen expenses.
- Foreigner ID allowance: The scholarship holder will receive a one-time financial support of two hundred fifty thousand Colombian pesos (COP $250,000) to cover the costs related to the issuance of the Foreigner Identification Card in Colombia. This benefit will be disbursed only once during the academic program and will be paid together with the first living allowance payment, subject to verification of the required conditions.
- Courtesy Visa: ICETEX will provide each scholarship holder with a letter to request the Courtesy Visa type “V”, issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Colombia, for the duration of the academic program. This benefit applies exclusively to the scholarship holder. If family members require a visa, they must complete the process independently in accordance with Colombian immigration regulations.
Eligibility Criteria for Colombian Government Scholarships
To qualify for Colombian government scholarships, candidates must fulfill all of the following requirements:
- Eligible Countries: The applicant must be a foreign citizen and must not hold Colombian nationality under any circumstances, including cases of dual nationality. The applicant must not be residing in Colombia, nor have resided in the country during the six (6) months immediately prior to the application, and must not have started studies in Colombia at the time of applying to the call.
- The applicant must be over 18 years of age and under 50 years of age at the time of the closing of the call. This requirement is strict and does not admit exceptions.
- The applicant must not have previously been a beneficiary of ICETEX through the Beca Colombia Program in previous calls.
- The applicant must not have a marital relationship or de facto union with a Colombian citizen at the time of application
- The applicant must hold a professional undergraduate degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in any field of knowledge and must certify a minimum cumulative GPA of 4.0 out of 5.0 at the undergraduate level, or its equivalent according to the Colombian grading scale based on the grading system of the country of origin. Grades obtained in postgraduate studies will not be valid for the purpose of meeting this requirement.
- The applicant must certify good physical and mental health through a medical certificate issued by a licensed general physician.
How to Apply for Colombian Government Scholarships?
Please follow the instructions below to apply for Colombian government scholarships:
- Eligible candidates may apply for the fully funded scholarships from the Government of Colombia’s online application system.
- Upload the following required documents digitally to the ICETEX application platform in PDF format:
- Definitive admission letter from the Higher Education Institution (Minimum 1 letter-Maximum 3 letters).
- A copy of university degree(s) or diploma(s) must be certified by the issuing Higher Education Institution or notarized. IMPORTANT: Copies of short courses, certificates, or training programs will not be accepted.
- Document certifying undergraduate studies, which must show a minimum cumulative GPA of 4.0 out of 5.0, or its equivalent according to the Colombian grading scale. The transcript must explicitly include the grading scale, indicating the minimum and maximum passing grades, as well as the weighted GPA of the program, in order to allow comparison with the Colombian grading system. If this information is not included, the application will be rejected. This document may be evaluated in Spanish, Portuguese, French, or English. If the original language is different, an official translation into Spanish or English must be attached.
- The applicant must complete the motivation letter section directly in the application platform during the application process. This document must not be uploaded separately.
- Clear copy of the first page of the valid passport showing the applicant’s personal data and photograph. The passport must have a minimum validity of one (1) year counted from the closing date of the call.
- The applicant must submit a medical certificate stating their physical and mental health condition, issued by a licensed physician authorized to practice in the country of issuance. The certificate must not have been issued more than thirty (30) calendar days prior to the closing date of the call. The document must include the physician’s signature and stamp, as well as the corresponding identification and professional registration information.
- The applicant must submit certifications proving a minimum of twelve (12) months of professional experience.
Website
To know more about Colombian government scholarships, please visit the official websites: