A critical piece of insider knowledge: there is no centralized, fully funded 'Costa Rica Government Scholarship' for international students. The state delegates educational funding to individual public universities and international NGO partnerships.
Quick Overview
Full Requirements & Details
Academic Requirements
- Min. CGPA
- No Minimum Requirement
- Offer Degrees
- Bachelors, Masters, PhD
- Subjects
- Agriculture, Arts, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Computer Science, Economics, Engineering, History, Law, Mathematics, Medicine, Physics, Psychology
- Seats Available
- Varies by institution
- Study Gap Allowed
- No Restrictions (Gap Allowed)
- Research Publication
- No
- Work Experience
- No
- Age Range
- No Age Limit
Language Requirements
- IELTS
- No
- TOEFL
- No
- GRE
- Not Required
- Local Language
- Spanish
- Local Lang Test
- No
- Study Languages
- Spanish, English (EARTH)
Financial Details
- Type
- Partial
- Fund Details
- Variable: ranging from tuition discounts to full rides via partners like Mastercard Foundation
- Monthly Stipend
- CRC 0/mo
- Tuition
- Partial
- Living Costs
- Optional
- Travel & Health
- No / None
- Application Fee
- Free (No Application Fee)
- Spouse Allowed
- No
What Matters Most
Required Documents
Why You Should Apply
Costa Rica is the ecological and diplomatic capital of Central America. While the central government won't hand you a check, public giants like the University of Costa Rica (UCR) and National University (UNA) offer highly subsidized tuition (even for foreigners) and internal 'becas' based on academic merit or socioeconomic need. If you are interested in tropical agriculture, sustainability, or environmental engineering, EARTH University in Costa Rica is world-renowned and offers massive financial aid packages, including full-ride scholarships funded by the Mastercard Foundation for students from Africa and Latin America.
Application Process
You must apply directly to the specific university's admissions and financial aid offices. The process involves submitting legalized transcripts, passing an admission exam (for public universities like UCR), and then requesting a socioeconomic evaluation to determine your scholarship bracket.
How to Win This Scholarship
Do not waste time searching for a centralized government portal. Target specific faculties. If you are applying to EARTH University, highlight your commitment to returning to your home country to lead sustainable agricultural projects—they are looking for future community leaders, not just academic savants.
For UCR, your high school or undergraduate grades must be impeccable to qualify for the higher tiers of tuition exemption.
Benefits After Completing Study
Degrees from Costa Rican public universities are highly respected across Latin America and often serve as a stepping stone to PhD programs in the US or Europe, particularly in environmental sciences.
Public universities in Costa Rica operate on a sliding scale for tuition based on your family's income. Even without a formal 'scholarship,' your tuition might be surprisingly low compared to US or European standards. However, the cost of living in Costa Rica is the highest in Central America, so you must budget carefully for rent and food in San José or surrounding areas.
Official Source
For complete details and to verify all requirements, please refer to the scholarship provider's official website.
Visit Official Source