IFARHU is the massive state apparatus in Panama that distributes educational funding from primary school all the way through to international PhDs. The 'Concurso General de Becas' (General Scholarship Contest) is their largest annual domestic rollout.
Quick Overview
Full Requirements & Details
Academic Requirements
- Min. CGPA
- 2.0
- 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
- No
- TOEFL
- No
- GRE
- Not Required
- Local Language
- Spanish
- Local Lang Test
- No
- Study Languages
- Spanish
Financial Details
- Type
- Partial
- Fund Details
- Modest monthly stipend (e.g., B/. 125 for public university) or tuition support abroad
- Monthly Stipend
- PAB 125/mo
- Tuition
- Partial
- Living Costs
- Partial
- Travel & Health
- Optional / None
- Application Fee
- Free (No Application Fee)
- Spouse Allowed
- No
What Matters Most
Required Documents
Why You Should Apply
IFARHU is primarily for Panamanian citizens. However, it holds a unique caveat: foreign nationals are eligible to apply if they can prove at least 10 years of legal, continuous residency in Panama and have completed their secondary education on Panamanian soil. If you meet these strict residency criteria, or if you are a Panamanian citizen, this program provides a reliable financial baseline.
For domestic university studies, the stipend is modest (around 125 Balboas/USD per month for public universities), but it helps offset daily costs. IFARHU also manages lucrative international scholarships for Panamanians to study abroad (in the US, Europe, and Asia), which can cover full tuition and high living stipends depending on the specific bilateral agreement.
Application Process
The process is entirely digitized and usually opens in January. You must register through the official portal (ifarhuconcurso.gob.pa) during the narrow application window. You enter your grades and personal data into the system.
IFARHU uses an automated algorithm to pre-select winners based on GPA. If pre-selected, you must physically (or digitally, depending on the cycle) present your official, sealed transcripts and ID to verify the data you entered.
How to Win This Scholarship
Honesty is critical. If you enter a GPA of 4.6 in the portal to win, but your official transcript says 4.4, you will be instantly disqualified when you present your documents. For university students, the minimum academic index required to apply is 2.0 out of 3.0.
For the highly lucrative international scholarships (to study abroad), you must monitor the IFARHU website year-round, as these specific calls open independently from the General Contest and require interviews and language proficiency tests.
Benefits After Completing Study
IFARHU is transitioning all payments to the 'Clave Social' debit card system, streamlining the reception of funds and integrating students into the national banking system.
If you are an international student with no ties to Panama, IFARHU will not fund you. You must seek bilateral exchange programs. For IFARHU beneficiaries, maintaining your GPA is non-negotiable; if your grades drop below the required threshold during your studies, your payments will be suspended immediately.
Official Source
For complete details and to verify all requirements, please refer to the scholarship provider's official website.
Visit Official Source