In Guatemala, the Secretariat of Planning and Programming of the Presidency (SEGEPLAN) acts as the national clearinghouse for scholarships. It is crucial to understand that SEGEPLAN does not usually fund international students to come to Guatemala; rather, it manages the 'scholarship bank' offered by foreign governments (like Taiwan, India, or European nations) to Guatemalan citizens.
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
- Hundreds annually
- Study Gap Allowed
- No Restrictions (Gap Allowed)
- Research Publication
- No
- Work Experience
- No
- Age Range
- No Age Limit
Language Requirements
- IELTS
- Optional
- TOEFL
- Optional
- GRE
- Not Required
- Local Language
- Spanish
- Local Lang Test
- No
- Study Languages
- Spanish, Varies abroad
Financial Details
- Type
- Full
- Fund Details
- Varies by bilateral donor (can be full or partial)
- Monthly Stipend
- GTQ 0/mo
- Tuition
- Partial
- Living Costs
- Optional
- Travel & Health
- Optional / None
- Application Fee
- Free (No Application Fee)
- Spouse Allowed
- No
What Matters Most
Required Documents
Why You Should Apply
For Guatemalan citizens, checking the SEGEPLAN portal is the single most important step in securing overseas funding. Instead of hunting through individual embassy websites, SEGEPLAN aggregates opportunities ranging from short technical courses in Japan to full PhDs in Europe. For international students wanting to study IN Guatemala, you must bypass SEGEPLAN entirely and apply directly to universities like Universidad de San Carlos (USAC) or Universidad Francisco Marroquín (UFM), which have their own internal aid systems.
Application Process
Guatemalan applicants must review the active calls on the SEGEPLAN website. You usually submit your application dossier first to SEGEPLAN, which conducts an initial administrative review to ensure you meet the donor country's requirements. SEGEPLAN then forwards the shortlisted candidates to the respective embassy or donor organization for final selection.
How to Win This Scholarship
The competition depends entirely on the donor. Scholarships to Spain or Mexico are hyper-competitive due to the lack of a language barrier. Scholarships to Asia or Eastern Europe are often undersubscribed.
If you are a Guatemalan citizen willing to learn a new language or study in a non-traditional destination, your chances of securing full funding through SEGEPLAN increase exponentially. Ensure your DPI (national ID) and academic records are properly legalized before applying.
Benefits After Completing Study
Many bilateral agreements managed by SEGEPLAN require the scholar to return to Guatemala and register their foreign degree with USAC to ensure brain-gain for the local economy.
Always read the fine print on the SEGEPLAN portal. A 'Beca Parcial' (Partial Scholarship) might only cover tuition, leaving you responsible for flights and thousands of dollars in living expenses. Only target 'Beca Completa' if you do not have independent financial backing.
Official Source
For complete details and to verify all requirements, please refer to the scholarship provider's official website.
Visit Official Source