The MESCyT scholarship program is the flagship higher education funding mechanism of the Dominican Republic. It is critical to understand its nature: it is designed primarily to fund Dominican citizens to study either at private domestic universities or to pursue postgraduate degrees abroad through bilateral partnerships (such as in Spain, the UK, or the US).
Quick Overview
Full Requirements & Details
Academic Requirements
- Min. CGPA
- 3.0
- Offer Degrees
- Bachelors, Masters, PhD
- Subjects
- Agriculture, Arts, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Computer Science, Economics, Engineering, History, Law, Mathematics, Medicine, Physics, Psychology
- Seats Available
- Thousands 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, English
Financial Details
- Type
- Partial
- Fund Details
- Tuition fees + occasional living stipend depending on specific bilateral agreement
- Monthly Stipend
- DOP 0/mo
- Tuition
- Full
- Living Costs
- Partial
- Travel & Health
- No / None
- Application Fee
- Free (No Application Fee)
- Spouse Allowed
- No
What Matters Most
Required Documents
Why You Should Apply
If you hold a Dominican passport, this is your primary vehicle for government-funded higher education. The program covers full tuition fees at participating institutions. While it does not always provide a luxurious living stipend (and rarely covers flights), having your entire Master's degree tuition paid at a European or American university is a massive financial advantage.
For international students looking to study IN the Dominican Republic, you must realize that MESCyT is rarely an option; instead, you should rely on institutional scholarships offered directly by Dominican universities (like INTEC or PUCMM) or bilateral agreements from your home government.
Application Process
The Ministry announces periodic calls (convocatorias) on their official website. You must apply through the MESCyT digital portal. You will need to upload your 'Cédula' (Dominican ID), your legalized academic records, and a motivation letter.
For international placements, you often need to be pre-admitted or simultaneously apply to the partner university.
How to Win This Scholarship
The bureaucracy is dense. Your academic transcripts must be formally legalized by the Ministry of Education before MESCyT will even look at your file. A GPA of 3.0 is the absolute minimum, but competitive international placements (especially in the UK or Spain) require much higher grades.
Choose programs in STEM, agriculture, or public health; MESCyT heavily prioritizes funding for degrees that address immediate developmental gaps in the Dominican economy rather than purely theoretical arts or humanities degrees.
Benefits After Completing Study
Scholars sent abroad form an elite professional network upon returning to the Dominican Republic, frequently transitioning into high-level roles in government ministries or the growing tech and financial sectors in Santo Domingo.
MESCyT rarely covers international airfare, so you must budget for your own flights. Living stipends, when provided for international study, are often modest and may not fully cover rent in expensive European cities. You must sign a contract agreeing to return to the Dominican Republic upon graduation to apply your knowledge locally.
Official Source
For complete details and to verify all requirements, please refer to the scholarship provider's official website.
Visit Official Source