Fundacion Guatefuturo (GUATEFUTURO)/UCL - GUATEFUTURO Scholarship

What the GUATEFUTURO Scholarship gives you

You will receive up to about 23,000 EUR per year (USD 25,000) for up to 2 years, i.e. a total of approximately 46,000 euros (50,000 US dollars). Use this sum to undertake a Master’s or PhD programme abroad. This covers your flights, set-up costs, tuition and enrolment fees, health insurance, living costs, as well as books, materials and a computer. The funding comes from the Fundación Guatefuturo, a charitable organisation in Guatemala City that supports Guatemalan professionals studying abroad. If you study at University College London (UCL), the university will grant you a further reduction in your tuition fees of 10% on top of the Guatefuturo grant.

The money is initially granted as a loan, but up to 60% may be waived. You will have 50% written off if you complete your studies on time, return to Guatemala at the agreed time and subsequently live there for twice the duration of your funding period plus one year (or the normal repayment period, whichever is longer). A further amount of 10% of the remaining balance may be waived as a one-off payment if you work for one year at a state institution, in teaching, in research or in the interior of Guatemala.

Who can apply

• Nationality: You are a Guatemalan citizen.
• Level: You are starting a Master’s degree or a 3-year PhD programme. Specialist medical training programmes are only funded if they are in the healthcare sector.
• Where you study: You are studying abroad, full-time and on campus. Online or part-time degree programmes are not eligible for funding.
• Field of study: Open to all subjects.
• Grades: Selection is based solely on academic performance. The examiners take into account both your performance during your foundation year and the quality of the degree programme to which you are applying.

How to apply

You apply directly to the Fundación Guatefuturo via its website. The annual call for applications (Convocatoria PCB) opens in the first quarter of each year, and the successful candidates are announced in July. At the same time, apply directly to the university of your choice for a place on a degree programme. If you choose UCL, you will automatically receive a fee reduction of 10% as soon as Guatefuturo has selected you and UCL has offered you a place.

How realistic are your chances?

This scholarship is very narrowly defined: only Guatemalan citizens who are commencing a full-time postgraduate programme abroad are eligible to apply – which means the pool of applicants remains small. Selection is carried out anonymously and is based solely on academic merit. A strong academic record and admission to a high-quality, well-regarded degree programme are crucial to success. If you meet these requirements and apply as soon as the call for applications is published, your chances are good.