Quick Summary
MinCiencias Doctorados Nacionales (Formerly Colciencias), administered by Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación (MinCiencias), is one of the funding options available to colombian nationals and legal permanent residents in Colombia. The award covers Up to COP $117,600,000 in tuition support plus approximately COP $4,100,000 per month in living stipend, over up to 4 years and is open to phd / doctorado students studying multidisciplinary, prioritized around colombia's five missions (bioeconomy, food sovereignty, energy transition, health, and science for peace). The scholarship runs for up to 48 months (4 years) and may be renewed annually based on academic performance. Eligibility is generally based on open to Colombian citizens and legal residents who already hold a master's degree and are admitted to, or in their first year of, an accredited national doctoral program. Research proposals must be framed around one of Colombia's five strategic policy Missions, and the doctoral program itself must carry current Ministry of Education accreditation. The application deadline is announced annually on the official scholarship page. EduAtlasHub tracks updated deadlines, coverage details and eligibility requirements for this scholarship as they change.
✨ Should I Apply for MinCiencias Doctorados Nacionales (Formerly Colciencias)?
Instant AI-powered application intelligence
🌍 Overview
💰
Award Amount
Up to COP $117,600,000 in tuition support plus approximately COP $4,100,000 per month in living stipend, over up to 4 years
⏳
Duration
Up to 48 months (4 years)
🔬
Fields
Multidisciplinary, prioritized around Colombia's five Missions (bioeconomy, food sovereignty, energy transition, health, and science for peace)
🏆
Awards/Year
300 (national doctorate track, Convocatoria 975)
🏛️
Provider
Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación (MinCiencias)
MinCiencias, the successor agency to Colciencias, funds doctoral study in Colombia through a forgivable loan (crédito condonable) rather than an outright grant: recipients formally borrow the funds and the debt is cancelled if they complete the degree and meet post-graduation conditions. The financing can cover up to COP $117,600,000 in tuition and a monthly living allowance of roughly COP $4,100,000 across up to four years, plus up to COP $80,000,000 toward the applicant's research proposal. Under the agency's 2026 call ('Becas para El Cambio'), proposals must align with one of five national policy Missions, such as bioeconomy or health sovereignty, and applicants must already hold a master's degree and an admission letter or active enrollment in an accredited national doctoral program.
👥 Who Should Apply
Open to Colombian citizens and legal residents who already hold a master's degree and are admitted to, or in their first year of, an accredited national doctoral program. Research proposals must be framed around one of Colombia's five strategic policy Missions, and the doctoral program itself must carry current Ministry of Education accreditation.
🏛️ Host University
Accredited doctoral programs at Colombian universities
🤝 Sponsor
Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación de Colombia
🔬 Fields of Study
Multidisciplinary, prioritized around Colombia's five Missions (bioeconomy, food sovereignty, energy transition, health, and science for peace)
✨ Key Benefits
Funds up to four years of doctoral tuition (capped around COP $117,600,000), a monthly stipend near COP $4,100,000, health-contribution support, and a separate research budget of up to COP $80,000,000 for project costs; the entire amount is structured as a loan that is forgiven upon completing the degree and meeting the program's post-graduation conditions. A scholar who withdraws from the program or doesn't meet the post-graduation conditions becomes liable for repaying the loan rather than having it forgiven.
🎯 Target Students
Colombian nationals and legal permanent residents
🏷 Tags
PhD
Colombia
Research
MinCiencias
Colciencias
Doctoral Training
Forgivable Loan
💸 Funding Breakdown
Tuition
Up to COP $117,600,000 across the program
Living Stipend
Approximately COP $4,100,000 per month
Total Award
Up to COP $117,600,000 in tuition support plus approximately COP $4,100,000 per month in living stipend, over up to 4 years
✈️ Travel: No
🏠 Accommodation: Not separately itemized; drawn from the monthly living stipend
💊 Health Insurance: Monthly allowance to cover social security/health contributions
🔄 Renewable: Yes
💳 App Fee: Free
🎓 Tuition Coverage
Up to COP $117,600,000 across the program
🏠 Living Stipend
Approximately COP $4,100,000 per month
🏡 Accommodation
Not separately itemized; drawn from the monthly living stipend
💊 Health Insurance
Monthly allowance to cover social security/health contributions
🎁 Other Benefits
Up to COP $80,000,000 in support for the doctoral research proposal's development costs
📋 Renewal Conditions
Each semester's disbursement is contingent on satisfactory academic progress, verified through advisor and program reports.
✅ Eligibility Requirements
🌍 Eligible Nationalities
Colombian nationality or legal permanent residency, a master's degree from an accredited institution, and an admission letter to (or active first-year enrollment in) an accredited Colombian doctoral program
🎓 Academic Level
PhD / Doctorado
💼 Work Experience
Not mandatory; prior research output and publications are weighted in evaluation
💰 Financial Need
Not a primary factor; evaluation centers on research merit and thematic alignment
🎯 Target Students
Colombian nationals and legal permanent residents
📝 Application Requirements
Essay / SOP
Yes, research project proposal
Documents Required
- Academic Transcripts
- Passport / National ID
- Recommendation Letters
- CV / Resume
- Personal Statement / Essays
📋 Application Process
Frame the research proposal explicitly around one of the five national policy Missions (bioeconomy and territory, food sovereignty, energy transition, health sovereignty, or science for peace) — proposals outside these lines score lower under Convocatoria 975's rubric. Keep the CvLAC researcher profile current before applying, since reviewers cross-check it.
💡 Insider Tip: The accreditation status of the doctoral program and the strength of the affiliated research group (registered in GrupLAC) factor directly into scoring, so confirm both are in good standing before submitting. A strong personal academic record can still score poorly overall if the affiliated program or research group's own accreditation has lapsed.