The National Scholarship Programme Don Carlos Antonio López (BECAL), through the Ministry of Economy and Finance, reminds prospective scholars that the application deadline is 30 January 2026 at 15:00. Applicants have until this time to submit completed applications to one of more than 200 scholarship programmes available. This marks the third call for national postgraduate programmes. Additionally, it is the first-ever call for specialisation programmes in higher education institutions within the country.
Candidates who have already begun their applications via the Instrument Application System (SPI) of the National Science and Technology Council (CONACYT) must ensure their submissions are finalised by Friday, 30 January at 15:00. Only fully completed applications will be considered valid for approval within the system.
A total of 70 master’s scholarships, 26 doctoral scholarships, and 140 specialisation scholarships are available. These opportunities are aimed at Paraguayan professionals seeking to advance their academic and professional careers. In 2025, the BECAL programme made 120 virtual specialisation spots available. These were aimed at Paraguayan professionals seeking to further their academic training at prestigious international universities. This year, over 9,000 scholars are applying to in person scholarships throughout the country.
Application guidelines
BECAL emphasises that incomplete applications or those containing illegible documentation will be excluded from the evaluation and selection process. These measures are in accordance with the Base and Condition Guidelines of the National Scholarship Programme.
The Ministry further warns that the submission of false information or falsified documents at any stage will result in exclusion from the programme or cancellation of the contract. Whether the incident happened during evaluation, selection, or the scholarship period itself. In such cases, beneficiaries may also be required to refund any received benefits.
Applicants to the National Scholarship Programme are strongly advised to take care when uploading information to the system. Personal details, document numbers, and particularly email addresses should be carefully checked. All scholarship notifications will be sent electronically.
National Scholarship Programme as long-term investments
These scholarships are funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (BID). Those opportunties form part of a broader strategy to strengthen national human capital. In this new phase, BECAL aims to increase the participation of skilled professionals in both public and private institutions. Additionally, the initiative aims at expanding the number of specialised professionals to support national development. The goal is to ensure the long-term sustainability of the BECAL National Scholarship Programme.
