Colombia is a colorful country that is known for its lovely culture and tasty cuisine. Unbeknownst to many, it’s a desirable destination for studying as well.
The Latin American nation is home to many world-class universities, including the Pontifical Javeriana University and the University of Andes. These are just two of the nine institutions that have dominated the World University Rankings.
Given this high quality of education, Colombian universities are surprisingly affordable. For $6,000 a year, you can build your way towards an undergraduate or graduate degree.
Even with this affordability, it’s a little-known fact that you can study in Colombia for free. With these five Colombia scholarships for international students, you can make your educational dreams come true – without paying a lot!
Does Colombia Give Scholarships to International Students?
Yes, the government of Columbia, universities in Columbia, and other private and public organizations offer scholarships for international students enrolled in institutions across the country. The scholarships cover expenses like tuition, books, accommodation, and research. Whether enrolling for an undergraduate or graduate degree, you will find the scholarship to cater to your needs.
See Also: Cheap Universities in Columbia
Best Scholarships in Colombia
1. Government of Colombia Scholarship for Foreign Students
- Scholarship Link
- Scholarship Amount: Full tuition
- Eligible Degree: Master’s or Doctorate degree at participating Colombian Universities
The Government of Colombia offers a full scholarship program for graduate students of various nationalities. It is open to everybody except Ecuadorians, Peruvians, Hungarians, and the French as there are specific programs for these citizens.
Apart from a full tuition waiver, scholars will also be given monthly & incidental allowances, stipends for educational materials, health insurance, and installation fees.
Applicants should be 25-49 years old, with a GPA equivalent to 4 on the Colombian scale of 1-5. Additionally, they should have mastery of the Spanish language – both in speaking and writing. That’s because most Colombian universities have Spanish as their teaching medium, although some offer programs in English.
The requirements for this Colombia scholarship include a diploma, transcript of records, letter of acceptance from a Colombian university, and certification of professional experience. A curriculum vitae, passport page photocopy, and DELE test results are mandated as well.
Awardees are chosen based on their academic performance, career experience, and proposed study project.
2. Alianzo-Pacifico Scholarship
- Scholarship Link
- Scholarship Amount: Full tuition
- Eligible Degree: Bachelor’s or Doctorate degree at participating Colombian Universities
Founded by the OAS Scholarship Foundation, the scholarship is designed to fund students from Colombia’s partner countries: Mexico, Peru, and Chile.
Through this program, citizens from the said nations may take their Bachelor’s or Ph.D. studies in Colombian universities for free. Scholars will also be given monthly allowances, insurance, and roundtrip airfare, apart from a tuition waiver.
This scholarship in Colombia is open to students who wish to specialize in the fields of business, public administration, political science, tourism, international relations, environment, science, or engineering.
Undergraduate applicants, who should have a GPA of 4.0/5.0, are free to apply once they’re in the 5th semester.
The same grade requirement applies to Ph.D. applicants – a GPA of 4.0/5.0.
Regardless of the degree, scholarship applicants must be in peak physical and mental health to get this award.
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3. Colombo Ecuadorian Scholarship
- Scholarship Link
- Scholarship Amount: Full tuition up to 24 months
- Eligible Degree: Master’s degree at participating Colombian Universities
Exclusive to Ecuadorian students, the Colombo Ecuadorian Scholarship provides a full ride to a Master’s degree. On top of the tuition waiver, awardees will be given health insurance and a monthly stipend.
Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree with a GPA of at least 4.0/5.0. However, students who have completed their undergraduate degrees in Colombia are immediately exempted.
Students are free to choose up to three programs. Once the scholarship is awarded, the student may not change the scholarship degree.
Although the funding is limited to two years, scholars may request to extend the duration of this Colombia scholarship. To do so, the student must provide a formal request letter, grading certificate (at least 4.0 out of 5.0), and certifications coming from the university and program director.
Scholars will be selected by the Ministry of Education Superior, Science, Technology, and Innovation.
Click Here to See: Free Universities for International Students
4. Universidad de Antioquia Scholarship Fund
- Scholarship Link
- Scholarship Amount: Undisclosed
- Eligible Degree: Master’s or Doctorate degree at Universidad de Antioquia
Universidad de Antioquia (UdeA) is a public higher education institution with the main campus in Medellin, Colombia. Founded in 1803, it serves as the oldest departmental university in the country.
UdeA offers scholarships for international graduate students. Its Master’s fund was created in the year 2016 to encourage more foreigners to study at UdeA.
Another UdeA scholarship available for foreigners is the Ph.D. fund, founded earlier in 2013.
Depending on the availability of slots for this Colombia scholarship, the student may enroll in any of UdeA’s faculties, including Arts, Agriculture, Economics, Science, Communications, Law, Nursing, Engineering, Dentistry, Medicine, Dentistry, Public Health, or Pharmaceutical science.
Graduate applicants will need to satisfy all the requirements for admission. These include a transcript of records from an accredited institution, curriculum vitae or resume, and proficiency in Spanish & another language.
5. Universidad de La Sabana Excellence Scholarship
- Scholarship Link
- Scholarship Amount: Full tuition
- Eligible Degree: Master of International Law at Universidad de La Sabana
Universidad de La Sabana is a private higher education institution based in Bogota, Colombia. Founded in 1979, it offers 23 undergraduate programs, 49 Master’s degrees, and 4 Ph.D. programs.
While its tuition is costlier than public universities, international students may still be able to study here. That’s because the university offers a handful of awards, one of which is the Excellence Scholarship, one of the best scholarships in Colombia for international students.
It is open to Latin American students who wish to take a Master’s in International Law. With this program, scholars can advance their respective careers and fulfill their duty of promoting local, national, and global development.
The scholarship will cover the total tuition amount, including an accommodation allowance, book/educational allowance, and contingency allowance.
Students who are interested in this scholarship should first be admitted to the program. The foremost requirement for admission is a law degree, which can be taken in Colombia or any other country.
Other admission requirements include proof of English proficiency, professional recommendation letters, and a personal statement. Shortlisted applicants will need to undergo an interview as well.
Once admitted, the student may apply for the Excellence Scholarship program.
Check Also: Scholarships for International Students
From the diverse culture, and amazing cuisine, to top-ranking institutions and financial aid opportunities, Columbia offers the best study destination for international students. The above scholarships will go a long way to help you fund your studies at your institution of choice in Columbia. Additionally, you can sample other fully funded scholarships on our website to explore your options.
We hope that this article on the scholarships at Colombia was helpful. If you’re interested in studying abroad, make sure to check out the Available Programs for International Students!
