Scholarships in Colombia: Which ones are real and how to apply

When a family is looking scholarships in Colombia You almost always find the same thing: lists of nice names, no clear requirements, and a form from a third party promising to process it. The reality is simpler and stricter. Here, almost nothing called a scholarship is actually a scholarship: most are forgivable loans, funds from a specific entity, and a tuition-free policy that isn't applied for in the way people think.

This is the actual route, with each piece of information taken from the official website of the entity that publishes it.

How do scholarships work in Colombia?

Scholarships in Colombia operate through three channels. First, tuition-free education, where the state pays undergraduate tuition at 67 public institutions, which you can access by enrolling. Second, forgivable loans from ICETEX, which become scholarships only if you meet the requirements. And third, calls for applications from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (Minciencias) and international cooperation agencies. None of these are processed through intermediaries.

A current example using figures: the Álvaro Ulcué Chocué Fund finances up to four minimum wages per semester, but as a forgivable loan. If the person doesn't meet the fund's requirements, that money must be repaid. That's why the first question is never "Which scholarship do I get?", but rather "Which of the three options is right for me?".

What scholarships actually exist in Colombia, and who awards them?

There isn't a single national scholarship fund or a one-stop shop. Instead, there are four separate pathways that operate differently and are applied for through different channels: tuition-free education at public institutions, funds administered by ICETEX for specific populations, state-funded postgraduate programs, and scholarships offered by foreign governments and organizations. Each has its own administrator and application schedule.

Armed with the official websites of each entity, read in August 2026: Ministry of Education, ICETEX, Minciencias and Colfuturo. The quotas and dates change with each call for applications.

Are scholarships, forgivable loans, and tuition-free education the same thing?

No, and confusing them is what causes a family to plan the semester poorly. scholarship It's money that can't be returned. forgivable loan Yes, it is a debt: it only becomes a scholarship if the person meets the conditions set for them, and if they don't, it has to be paid back. free of charge It is neither of those: it is the State directly paying tuition at public institutions.

The Black Communities Fund illustrates this well. ICETEX waives the payment, but requires a diploma, graduation certificate, and the final report of a community or social project approved by the Regional Advisory Committee. Without that report, the loan remains a loan.

What is free access and why does almost no one ask for it properly?

Because it's not requested through a national scholarship platform. The "I Can Study" tuition-free policy, part of the "University in Your Territory" strategy, is based on... Law 2307 of July 31, 2023, Decree 2271 of December 29, 2023 and an operating regulation of January 17, 2024. The benefit is the payment of net regular tuition at 67 public higher education institutions, and the Ministry of Education reported that age and nationality restrictions have been eliminated.

The process works the opposite of what people think: first, you enroll in a public institution, and the tuition waiver applies to that enrollment. We explained what happened with the previous program in the Generation E guide.

Where are the official announcements published?

On the website of the organization that owns the program, never in a messaging group. For those coming from outside, there's a rule that almost no blog in the niche mentions, and it's written by the organization itself: ICETEX is the Colombian government entity responsible for channeling the offer of international cooperation scholarships offered to the country by governments and international organizations., And it does so by mandate of Law 30 of 1992. If a scholarship from another country is real and open to Colombians, it appears there.

For postgraduate studies within the country, the current opportunity is the Minciencias call for proposals number 975., Scholarships for Change, It offers three options: a national master's degree, a national doctorate, and a doctorate abroad. The latter has a strict filter that should be considered before getting too excited: the destination university must be among the top 500 in the 2025 Shanghai Ranking.

What scholarships does the Colombian government offer?

The national government doesn't offer a generic "scholarship": it has specific programs, each with its own organization. This is a brief overview, with a guide explaining each one step by step.

Compiled on September 30, 2026, using data from the Ministry of Education's tuition-free policy page and the ICETEX Álvaro Ulcué Chocué Fund page. The number of available slots and application deadlines change with each call for applications.

If you have to choose where to start, we look at two things with families: whether the person will be studying undergraduate studies at a public institution (where tuition-free education outweighs any other funding) and whether they belong to a program with their own funds through ICETEX. Municipalities are a separate process and it's best to review them simultaneously, as their schedules are very flexible.

Are there any funds with open calls for applications right now?

Yes. The official website of Black Communities Fund, read in August 2026, publishes this schedule for the 2026-2 call.

ICETEX Black Communities Fund website. The entity has moved these deadlines within the same call for applications, so confirm the date on the day you register.

The Álvaro Ulcué Chocué Fund, for Indigenous peoples, opened 3,000 slots in this same call for applications, and here we need to be honest: ICETEX published two different closing dates for registration. The press release of July 22, 2026, announced August 11, while the fund's website shows August 18. Both dates have passed, so now we have to wait for the next call for applications and check the fund's website, not the date we remember. For those who did manage to register, ICETEX will publish the results of the first group on October 30, 2026; we covered it in the guide to the Álvaro Ulcué Chocué Fund.

Who can charge you for a scholarship?

No one. None of these programs charge an enrollment fee or offer places through intermediaries. ICETEX funds are registered on the entity's platform, and the tuition waiver applies to enrollment at a public institution, without any separate process.

The advice we give to families who write to us is always the same: if someone asks you for money to guarantee you a scholarship, to move you up the list, or to fill out the form for you, it's the same tactic as the... subsidy scams. Charging for something that is free.

Studying opens the door, the roof is what holds it up

We are a foundation for decent housing, and we talk about scholarships for a practical reason: in the families we support, the child who manages to complete a technical or professional degree is usually the one who gets their home out of the rent. That's why these pathways go hand in hand with the map of state aid and subsidies, and not apart.

If the scholarship route doesn't work out for you this semester, there are other options available: educational loans, with step-by-step instructions on how to apply. How to apply for ICETEX and the ICETEX requirements for scholarships and funds, the SENA calls for applications, either Youth Income If you are in the priority population. And if your family is in the Single Registry of Victims, That condition also applies to free tuition.

Common mistakes when looking for scholarships in Colombia

• Believing that a forgivable loan is a scholarship. If you don't meet the condition they set for you, it's a debt that has to be paid.
• Looking for free tuition on a scholarship platform. It is not requested there: it is applied to the registration of the public institution where you have already been admitted.
• Go by the date that someone shared. The deadlines are extended and postponed, and the correct date is the one currently on the entity's website.

Frequently asked questions about scholarships in Colombia

Are there scholarships in Colombia for studying without having finished high school?

Higher education funds and loans require you to be admitted to or enrolled in a higher education institution. If you haven't finished high school yet, SENA training programs are an option, as they don't require this.

Does the free tuition also cover registration and graduation fees?

The Ministry of Education presents free registration and graduation fees as part of the same policy, in separate sections from tuition. Confirm with your institution what applies to your program.

How much does the Black Communities Fund cover?

ICETEX reports that it finances up to three minimum wages per semester, in two modalities: tuition, which is paid directly to the institution, or living expenses, which are transferred to the student's account.

Can I have two forms of assistance at the same time?

ICETEX funds require that you not be receiving financial support for the same purpose from another entity or from another of their funds. Check this condition in the terms and conditions before applying for either.

How Hepacom accompanies you

At the Hechos Para la Comunidad Foundation, we don't offer scholarships, we don't process applications, and we don't charge for guidance. What we do is explain which of these paths is right for you, so you don't waste a semester looking in the wrong place.

If you need guidance, write to us at donaciones@hepacom.org or leave us your details at contact us.

Information guide. The procedure is handled by the official entity. Verify through the official channel. Hepacom does not charge or process payments.

Last updated: September 2026.