Colombia Government Scholarship for International Students

Applications are being received for the Colombia Government Scholarship. The scholarship program was created by the Colombian government in collaboration with various educational institutions to promote educational access and excellence and empower talented individuals. This government scholarship program aims to foster academic excellence, research capabilities, and cross-cultural understanding among the recipients. This financial assistance program ensures that talented individuals from diverse backgrounds have the opportunity to access quality education and contribute to the socio-economic development of their countries. The program seeks to nurture future leaders, professionals, and change-makers who will contribute to the progress of humanity.

Fully funded, the Beca Colombia scholarship program is open to foreigners who wish to pursue postgraduate studies in specializations and master’s degrees in public and private Colombian higher education institutions in accordance with the 2026-2 ACADEMIC OFFER CATALOG. Furthermore, applicants must be foreign citizens of any nationality who do not have dual nationality (Colombian), who are not residing in Colombia, who have not been beneficiaries of this program in previous calls, and who have a professional or bachelor’s degree.

Foreigners from non-Spanish-speaking countries who need to strengthen their Spanish language to carry out their postgraduate studies will attend a language class. But you still need that letter of acceptance to a specialization and master’s program offered in the “ACADEMIC OFFER CATALOG 2026-2”. Once the Spanish course has been successfully completed, the beneficiary must begin the postgraduate program to which he or she was admitted.

Program Details

• Host Institution: Partner educational institution in Colombia. Please click here to see the full list.
• Eligible programs: Available programs in this document.
• Number of awards: Up to 70.
• Duration: Specializations (up to 12 months), Master’s (up to 24 months), and Spanish courses (up to 6 months).
• Target group: Open to citizens of all nationalities.

Colombia Government Scholarship Benefits

Selected candidates for this Latin America scholarship program will have the following benefits:

1. Full tuition coverage from the Colombian higher education institution (only for programs in the 2026-2 Academic Offer Catalogue).
2. Health insurance allowance – financial support for medical and hospital assistance in Colombia. Covers only the scholarship holder, not family members. Medications and copayments are your problem. If ICETEX can’t provide this, you must buy your own policy.
3. Courtesy visa (type V) – ICETEX provides a letter to help you get it from Colombia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Free of charge.
4. Monthly living allowance – equivalent to two (2) Colombian legal minimum monthly wages. Paid quarterly in arrears. Only for scholars physically present in Colombia.
5. Foreigner ID allowance – 250,000 COP one time, paid with your first stipend after you get your Cédula de Extranjería and open a bank account.

Colombia Government Scholarship Eligibility

To apply for the Beca Colombia scholarship program, you must meet every single one of these requirements. Miss one, and you’re out.

• Be a foreign citizen. No Colombian nationality, not even dual.
• Not reside in Colombia and not have resided there for the six months before applying.
• No marital relationship or de facto union with a Colombian citizen at the time of application.
• Never have been a beneficiary of ICETEX’s Beca Colombia program before.
• Be over 18 and under 50 years old at the call’s closing date. Strict. No exceptions.
• Hold a professional undergraduate degree (bachelor’s or equivalent) in any field.
• Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 4.0 out of 5.0 at the undergraduate level (or equivalent on the Colombian scale). Postgraduate grades don’t count.
• Have final admission to at least one program in the 2026-2 Academic Offer Catalogue. Up to three programs, but you must rank them.
• Have at least 12 months of professional experience after your undergraduate degree, directly related to the program you chose.
• Provide a medical certificate (issued within 30 days before the call closes) proving good physical and mental health.

How to Apply for this Colombia Government Scholarship

Eligible candidates who would like to apply for this government scholarship should click on the apply button below to create an account and follow the instructions to submit their applications.

Required Documents

1. Final admission letter(s) from the university: Must specify program start and end dates. The start date must be the second semester of 2026 (2026-2). One to three letters accepted. Rank them 1 to 3 in your motivation letter.
2. Undergraduate degree transcript: Must show a minimum 4.0/5.0 GPA, include the grading scale (min and max passing grades) and the weighted average. Without that scale, your application is rejected. Transcripts in Spanish, Portuguese, French, or English are fine. Others need an official translation.
3. Motivation letter and program prioritization: Complete this directly in the application platform. Explain why Colombia, why this program, and what you’ll do with the knowledge back home. If you have multiple admission letters, rank them.
4. Copy of valid passport: First page only. Must be valid for at least one year from the call closing date (June 5, 2026).
5. University degree or diploma: Certified copy from the issuing institution or notarized.
6. Medical certificate: Issued by a licensed physician within 30 days before June 5, 2026. Must include signature, stamp, and professional registration info.
7. Professional experience certificate: Minimum 12 months after graduation. Must show position, functions, and start and end dates. Only experience directly related to your chosen program counts.

Selected applicants cannot change their program or university. The admission letters you submit are final. You can apply to up to three programs, but your priority order matters. The selection committee uses that to allocate scholarships. The candidate can apply to up to three postgraduate programs that are in the catalogue, and the letter of motivation must establish the priority of each one.

The application deadline is June 5, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Colombia time (GMT-5). Results will be published on ICETEX’s website on June 18, 2026. If you’re selected, you have just two days to accept. Miss that window, and the scholarship goes to someone else. For more details, please visit the official page for more details on the Colombian Government Scholarship.