COLFUTURO - COLFUTURO Scholarships for students from Colombia

What COLFUTURO gives you

You will receive a loan of up to USD 50,000 to fund a full-time Master’s degree, a PhD or specialist medical training abroad. The programme covers a course of study lasting between 9 and 24 months. This is not a standard loan: 25% of it turns into a grant you never repay, provided you complete your studies, return to Colombia and remain there for three years. You decide for yourself how to allocate the funds towards tuition fees, insurance, relocation costs, study materials and living expenses. After graduating, you will be granted a 12-month grace period before repayment begins. The programme is run by COLFUTURO, a Colombian foundation. If you study at the University of Nottingham, you may be eligible for an additional university scholarship covering your tuition fees, subject to selection by COLFUTURO.

Who can apply

• Nationality: You are Colombian.
• Degree so far: You already hold a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university.
• What you will study: A full-time Master’s degree programme, a PhD programme or specialist medical training abroad involving face-to-face teaching.
• Field of study: Any topic, no restrictions.
• Admission: You can provide proof of admission to the degree programme you wish to study.
• Language: If you select this option, you will need to provide evidence that you are proficient in a second language when the loan is finalised.
• Essay: You are writing a personal essay about your plans for the future and your goals.
• Nottingham grades: To study in Nottingham, a solid bachelor’s degree is generally required for a master’s programme (depending on the course, this might be, for example, 4.0/5.0 or 3.5/5.0), and a Master’s degree is also normally required for a PhD.

How to apply

You apply online via COLFUTURO during the annual application round (Convocatoria), submitting your essay, your chosen degree programme and the required documents. The 2027 round begins on 4. January and ends on 4 March; the results will be announced on 18 May. COLFUTURO selects the grant recipients and forwards the list of selected students to partner universities such as Nottingham.

How realistic are your chances?

This is Colombia’s most important funding opportunity for postgraduate study abroad, which is why many outstanding candidates apply and the selection process is highly competitive. As part of the funding is provided as a repayable loan rather than a pure grant, the pool of applicants is smaller than for fully funded scholarships. A compelling essay and a firm offer of a place on a prestigious degree programme will improve your chances. If you are a Colombian university graduate with good academic results and a well-thought-out life plan, you have a realistic chance of success.