Paraguay is offering 249 international scholarships under BECAL for postgraduate studies, specialist training, and language courses. The initiative comes through the National Scholarship Programme “Carlos Antonio López”, under the Ministry of Economy and Finance. Applications will open on 3 March 2026 and close at 15:00 on 5 May 2026. Authorities confirmed that the full guidelines are already available online for prospective applicants.
Opportunities abroad and at home
Of the total, 219 scholarships are allocated to international opportunities under the self-managed modality. These include Master’s and PhD programmes, postdoctoral research, specialist training, and undergraduate international mobility. The programme aims to strengthen Paraguay’s human capital in both the public and private sectors. By supporting study at leading global universities, BECAL seeks to enhance professional expertise and institutional performance back home.
Among the available places are 20 PhDs in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), three PhDs for the private sector, and four Master’s degrees in STI targeted at the world’s top 20 universities. Also, nine Master’s in Education, and ten Master’s for private sector professionals.
In addition, 130 specialist training scholarships are offered for professionals in both sectors. Five grants are available for undergraduate international mobility, and two for postdoctoral research and short research stays in STI-related fields.
Public and private sector focus
The international scholarships under BECAL also set aside 36 Master’s scholarships specifically aimed at developing advanced human capital within the public sector. These are designed for tenured civil servants with at least two years of service in eligible institutions.
Meanwhile, specialist scholarships for private sector professionals are open to formally employed workers, whether employed or self-employed. At the same time, for public employees who are not tenured civil servants. Applicants must have at least two years of work experience and demonstrate that their chosen course directly relates to their current role.
Thirty additional places are available under the assisted modality for language courses in Paraguay. These are targeted at university students seeking to strengthen their linguistic skills as part of their academic development.
Broad academic scope
The 2026 call is open to all major fields of knowledge, following the classification of the Frascati Manual. These include Natural Sciences, Engineering and Technology, Medical and Health Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, Social Sciences, including Education, and Humanities, limited to Design and Architecture. Scholarships for postdoctoral research and short stays in STI fields will fund outstanding candidates for research periods lasting more than three months and up to 24 months.
Applications must be submitted entirely through the SPI platform managed by CONACYT. The list of selected candidates is expected in the final week of June 2026. Overall, the programme seeks to improve the performance of public institutions and private companies by incorporating highly qualified professionals into their workforce, reinforcing Paraguay’s long-term development strategy.
