Government of Costa Rica - CONAPE Student Loan Scheme

What the CONAPE loan gives you

You will receive a low-interest student loan of up to about 39,880 EUR (37 million CRC) to fund your studies. You can draw down this loan over a study period of up to 9 years. As this is a loan and not a grant, you will need to repay it over a period of up to 14 years after completing your studies. CONAPE is a government agency in Costa Rica that has been providing student loans since 1976. It covers your tuition fees as well as living costs (up to 370,000 CRC per month for on-campus courses, less for online courses), study materials and a computer, should you need one. After you graduate, CONAPE will reimburse you for any interest incurred during your studies.

Interest rates are low and depend on your field of study: 0% for English courses and for students from disadvantaged groups who are unable to provide a guarantor, 3.7% for science and engineering, and 4.2% for other subject areas.

Who can apply

• Nationality: You are a student from Costa Rica who needs financial support for your studies.
• Field of study: All fields of study are eligible, ranging from short courses and language courses to vocational training, Bachelor’s, Licenciatura, Master’s and PhD programmes.
• Where you study: Whether in Costa Rica or abroad, whether on-site, in a hybrid format or online, your degree programme and your higher education institution must be registered in the CONAPE database.
• Age: You must be at least 15 years old to enrol on language and short courses; you do not need to have completed secondary education to take these courses.
• Income: You can still apply even if you do not have a job or a regular income. You must provide evidence that you need the money.
• Guarantor-free track: Indigenous students, people living in poverty or in emergency situations, and applicants from Guanacaste, Limón or Puntarenas are eligible for 0% interest rates and do not require a guarantor (someone who agrees to take over the repayment should you be unable to do so).

How to apply

You can apply online via the CONAPE portal at any time; there is no fixed deadline. First, check whether your degree programme and your university are listed in the CONAPE database, then submit your credit application and track its processing status online. You will be notified of the decision by email. If your application is approved, you will sign the contract with CONAPE. There is no interview; the assessment is purely administrative.

How realistic are your chances?

This is a government loan available to any Costa Rican who can demonstrate a financial need – not a competitive scholarship – so there is no selection process to be won. If your degree programme is registered with CONAPE and your application is complete (including a guarantor, unless you qualify for the guarantor-free option), approval depends more on the completeness of your application than on competing against other applicants. Bear in mind that you will have to repay the money after you graduate.