Scholarships in Colombia
Having a higher education degree is fundamental for your future. If financing your degree is what raises doubts for you, learn about the scholarship system in your country.
It is well known that the university from which a graduate obtains their degree is highly valued by companies and organizations seeking professionals, and therefore, being able to study at the best ones is part of many people's goals.
However, not everyone has the possibility to finance their studies at institutions of this kind; many students cannot afford the costs of studying at a university, even if it is public.
That is why scholarships have been created—financial aid that allows thousands of young people around the world to pay for higher education, both in their own countries and for those who travel abroad in search of the same opportunities.
Colombia is a country where young students will find different financing options for their studies; however, there is no specific national scholarship program in the region. On the contrary, students will have to either go to each university and find out what scholarship programs are offered there, or opt for scholarships external to universities—those managed by various organizations and foundations.
Scholarships by universities in Colombia
The most common method by which a student in the Higher Education system in Colombia obtains aid to finance their degree is through universities' own scholarships.
These scholarships differ from one institution to another and do not require the same requirements in all cases, nor do they offer the same amounts or types of support to the student.
Each university that has its own scholarship system in Colombia prioritizes the student's academic level, effort, and financial possibilities. Because the essence of any financial aid program for students is to benefit those who perform best but have the fewest resources.
In general terms, Colombian universities award excellence scholarships, intended for students who have achieved the highest grades, institutional scholarships intended for students with clear financial needs, and scholarships for those who have ICETEX loans.
Excellence scholarships apply to those who, having completed a given academic term, achieve the highest average in their graduating class, reaching an average of 4.0 or higher. Often, in fact, these students at some higher-education institutions join the university's honor roll, which, if they wish, secures them a scholarship to fund the entirety of the next academic term. If they maintain the same grades and average, these students can renew the scholarship.
University financial aid programs for low-income students are committed to providing financial assistance to the students who need it most, but also to those who arguably deserve it most, since these are students with excellent academic performance. These scholarships typically offer partial funding for tuition and fees.
As for scholarships for students with ICETEX loans, we must first explain that this entity belongs to the Colombian state and is responsible for promoting the country's Higher Education system by granting educational loans to young people with fewer resources. It is precisely these students who usually benefit at universities through specific scholarships that help finance their degree. These scholarships are usually partial.
ICETEX Scholarships for Studies Abroad
ICETEX channels the offer of international scholarships for Colombian students. These are study-abroad funding programs that any young person from Colombia can apply to by responding to the relevant call.
In this regard, ICETEX's role consists of publishing the available international scholarships through calls that establish the requirements to meet, the candidate profile, the scholarship characteristics, its duration, and other details.
These calls have a maximum deadline for applicants to participate and submit their information, so the best way to stay informed of news and opportunities that may arise is by visiting the ICETEX website, where current calls are published.
ICETEX Maintenance Subsidy for Students
In addition to international scholarships, the Colombian state offers the possibility of accessing a maintenance subsidy for students who are beneficiaries of ICETEX loans.
This would not be a scholarship, but rather financial support to cover the costs of studying at university. With this subsidy, each beneficiary receives $682,432 Colombian pesos.
The benefit will be given to those who are in Sisben, the information system used by the National Government to identify families that may be beneficiaries of social programs. Specifically, students who receive the subsidy will have to belong to the third category of the system.
