ICETEX for victims of armed conflict: what fund exists and how to apply

We receive messages from families who registered years ago in the Single Registry of Victims who, when their child goes on to university, discover that the place has been offered but the enrollment hasn't. The same question arises: the ICETEX for victims of the armed conflict, Is it a scholarship or a debt? It's a 100% forgivable undergraduate loan, and the key word is "forgivable": it's not repaid if the person graduates and completes two more steps that almost no one manages to do in time.

What is ICETEX for victims of the armed conflict and what does it provide?

It is an administered fund, not a scholarship or a regular line of credit. It is called the Reparation Fund for Access, Retention and Graduation in Higher Education for the Population Victim of the Armed Conflict in Colombia, and it provides 100 % forgivable undergraduate credits at the technical professional, technological and university levels, in person or remotely, from any semester.

A managed fund means that ICETEX handles the operation, while another entity provides the funding and sets the rules: in this case, the Ministry of National Education, the ATENEA District Agency, and the High Council for Victims' Rights. Therefore, its conditions are not the same as those of... ICETEX educational loan that any student requests. As of September 3, 2026, the official form marks the call as closedThis is for preparation, not for applying today.

Why doesn't Law 1448 make university free?

Because Article 51 separates two things that are mixed up all the time. Law 1448 of 2011 It mandates access to and exemption from all academic costs in official establishments, but only in preschool, primary and secondary education, and provided that the family does not have the resources to pay for them.

For higher education, it says something different: public institutions, within the framework of their autonomy, establish admission and enrollment processes that facilitate access for victims, with special mention of female heads of household, adolescents, and people with disabilities. And the Ministry of Education is tasked with ensuring their inclusion in the special credit lines and subsidies offered by ICETEX. This mandate is, literally, the origin of this fund.

The regulation opens a third door that almost no one uses: within the SENA's quotas, priority must be given to and access guaranteed for victims. With the fund closed, the SENA calls for applications They are the free route that remains open.

Who can request it and what role does the RUV play?

The RUV is the entry point, and there's no way around it. Victims included in the RUV can apply. Single Registry of Victims or recognized in rulings from the Justice and Peace process, Land Restitution, the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, or the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. It covers the displaced population, because forced displacement is one of the victimizing acts included in the registry. If the household is not registered, that procedure comes first: it is declared to the Public Prosecutor's Office and costs nothing, according to the form. Victims Unit registry.

The other requirements are specific: being Colombian and having a high school diploma, having taken the Saber 11 exam, being admitted or enrolled in an institution recognized by the Ministry of Education, not already holding a university degree, not being in arrears with ICETEX, and not receiving other support for the same purpose. This last point is the one that most often rejects applications: it overlaps with programs the family already has and didn't register.

What does the fund pay for and what does it leave out?

You pay two fees, and neither goes through an intermediary. The net regular tuition is covered up to 11 minimum wages and is paid directly to the institution. The living allowance is 1.5 minimum wages and is paid to the beneficiary each semester, whether the program is semester-based or year-long. One detail changes the calculation: if you study at a public institution and qualify for the tuition-free policy, the tuition is covered by that policy, and the fund only provides the living allowance.

What the loan doesn't cover is clearly stated and is the source of many worries: registration fees, course credits, certifications, graduation fees, materials, language courses, and seminars are all the student's responsibility. In a long degree program, these expenses add up, and that's where a semester can fall apart when there's only a few places left.

When is it truly forgiven and when does it become debt again?

The loan is forgiven when the person graduates, not when they finish the courses. To obtain an exemption from payment from the Board of Directors, three things are required: the academic degree, the graduation certificate, and the certificate of participation and compliance in the Victims Unit's Support Strategy, which can be requested by emailing estrategia.educacion@unidadvictimas.gov.co. Those who entered through the Bogotá chapter process it through ATENEA.

The calendar also dictates. The Board only meets to grant debt forgiveness between February and August, and the beneficiary has a maximum of three semesters to complete the procedure from the end of the last funded period: until June 30 if that period ended in the second semester, until December 31 if it ended in the first.

Here's the part we prefer to say directly: anyone who doesn't meet the deadline or doesn't complete the program You must pay ICETEX the principal plus interest, in monthly installments, from the date of notification. It is also lost for unjustified abandonment, for falsifying documents, for changing institutions or programs without authorization from the Board, for suspending more than two periods without permission, or for academic expulsion.

When does the application period open and how are applicants selected?

The last call for applications opened on December 4, 2025, accepted applications until December 19, and published results on February 12, 2026, with legalization and signing of guarantees taking place that same month. The number of places, according to the information sheet, depends on available resources.

It's not about who arrives first: it's about who gets the highest score. Eligibility is determined by the ICFES score in the first and second semesters, the academic average from the third semester onward, the Sisbén IV group (between A1 and C2, or the socioeconomic stratum if it's not registered), the quality of the institution and program, the percentage of women in STEM fields, the PDET municipality where the school is located, and the educational modality. If you don't know which group your household falls into, see how to read the Sisbén score.

Regarding intermediaries, the entity leaves no room for doubt: the beneficiary doesn't need them, and ICETEX services are completely free. If someone charges to "guarantee" a spot, that's a scam. subsidy scam and it is reported.

How does it differ from other higher education pathways?

Look at the last column: it's the one that decides whether or not the family is left with a debt.

Sources: Official fund fact sheet on the ICETEX portal and article 51 of Law 1448 of 2011, consulted on September 3, 2026. The amounts are in minimum wages because they change every January.

Three mistakes we see repeated

• Believing that it covers the entire career. It covers tuition and living expenses; graduation fees, materials, and certifications are provided by the family.
• Leave the accompaniment for last. The certificate is required for forgiveness and is not issued overnight after graduation.
• Accept two grants for the same category. Another tuition assistance, or having had another 100 % forgivable line, removes the application.

Frequently asked questions about ICETEX for victims of the armed conflict

Is it suitable for master's degrees or specializations?
No. It only funds undergraduate studies. For the next level, there are other pathways, listed in scholarships for postgraduate studies in Colombia.

Does the administrative compensation overlap with this credit?
These are different measures and are not mutually exclusive, although all financial support for the same category must be declared. We explain that part in reparations to victims.

Where can I check if another application period has opened?
In the fund's information sheet in the ICETEX portal, where terms, addenda, and results are listed. The general requirements are in ICETEX requirements.

How Hepacom accompanies you

At the Hechos Para la Comunidad Foundation, we work for the right to decent housing in Colombia, And in displaced families, the two go hand in hand: the roof supports their studies, and their studies end up supporting their roof. That's why we've compiled this information free of charge, just like with the... State subsidies.

If you have any questions about your case, write to us at donaciones@hepacom.org or visit our website contact. Hepacom does not charge for registration nor does it manage payments for any State program.

Last updated: September 2026. Information guide. The process is handled by the official entity. Always check the official ICETEX and Victims Unit channels before applying: dates and amounts change with each call for applications. Hepacom does not charge or process payments.