BCIE Scholarship Program 2026

Overview

The BCIE Scholarship Program is run by the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (Banco Centroamericano de Integración Económica, BCIE; known in English as CABEI), the regional multilateral development bank for Central America, founded in 1960. Through its Social Support Foundation Fund (FAS BCIE) and partnerships with governments and academic institutions, the bank finances scholarships that build human capital across its member countries and the wider region.

It's an umbrella for several scholarship lines, not one single award. The best-known piece is the BCIE-Zamorano Foundation Scholarship, which funds undergraduate study in agricultural sciences at the Zamorano Pan-American Agricultural School in Honduras. BCIE also co-finances graduate (master's) scholarships for Central American students at partner universities abroad, plus shorter scholarships for public officials, journalists and communicators working on regional development topics.

This guide focuses on the bank's scholarship activity for Central American students. Since each call opens on its own schedule with its own rules, check the current conditions for the specific line you're after on the official BCIE website.

Key Facts at a Glance

• Funding body: Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE / CABEI)
• Founded: 1960; founding members are Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica
• Funding mechanism: BCIE Social Support Foundation Fund (FAS BCIE) and government partnerships
• Flagship line: BCIE-Zamorano Foundation Scholarship (undergraduate agricultural sciences)
• BCIE-Zamorano coverage: Non-reimbursable financing of the annual cost of a four-year undergraduate program at Zamorano
• BCIE-Zamorano funding pool: US$844,000 reported for the 2022 to 2026 period
• Eligible region (Zamorano line): The eight SICA countries plus Cuba and Colombia
• Official website: bcie.org

Eligibility Criteria

Who qualifies depends on which line you apply to. The points below cover the main programs, but always read the specific call.

• BCIE-Zamorano Foundation Scholarship: aimed at young nationals and residents of beneficiary partner countries who want to study agro-industry. Reported eligible countries are the eight SICA members (Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and the Dominican Republic) plus Cuba and Colombia. You need to show financial need and academic merit, meet Zamorano's admission requirements, and be admitted to an undergraduate program.
• Graduate (master's) scholarships: co-financed lines, such as the program with Argentina, target Central American university graduates, usually over 21, who haven't yet started postgraduate study in the host country and who apply within the program's defined fields.
• Short-course scholarships: open to specific audiences such as public officials, journalists and communicators from partner countries.

Scholarship Benefits

Benefits differ by line, so confirm the exact coverage in the relevant call.

• BCIE-Zamorano: non-reimbursable financing that covers the annual cost of a four-year undergraduate program at the Zamorano Pan-American Agricultural School, where students earn an engineering degree with specializations such as sustainable agriculture, agribusiness management, and environment and natural resources.
• Graduate scholarships: co-financed master's lines have included support toward tuition, maintenance, medical insurance and airfare for in-person study abroad.
• Short courses: full scholarships covering participation in regional training workshops and courses.
• Across all lines, recipients join a regional network tied to the bank's development mission in Central America.

How to Apply

Each line has its own route, and some run through partner institutions or national agencies. The general steps:

• Go to the official BCIE website at bcie.org and find the current scholarship calls in the news or social-investment sections.
• Pick the line that fits your profile, for example the BCIE-Zamorano undergraduate scholarship or a co-financed master's program.
• Read the specific call for eligibility, covered fields, benefits, required documents and deadlines.
• For the Zamorano line, meet the admission requirements of the Zamorano Pan-American Agricultural School on top of the scholarship application.
• Submit your application and documents through the channel named in the call before the deadline.

Required Documents

Each call defines the exact list. Applicants commonly need:

• Completed application form for the relevant scholarship line
• Proof of nationality and residency in an eligible partner country
• Academic records, transcripts or grade certificates
• Proof of admission or enrollment (for example, admission to Zamorano for the undergraduate line)
• University degree or diploma, for graduate-level applications
• Curriculum vitae
• Documentation supporting financial need, where required
• Identification document and any additional forms the call specifies

Important Dates & Deadlines

BCIE scholarship calls open at different points through the year, and each line sets its own deadline. For instance, some 2026 calls have set submission deadlines in the second half of the year. Dates change each cycle and differ by line, so confirm the current deadline on the official BCIE website for the scholarship you're applying to.

• Application opens: Varies by line and announced per call
• Application deadline: Varies by line; confirm on bcie.org
• Program duration: The BCIE-Zamorano undergraduate program runs four years

Tips for a Strong Application

• Pick the line that genuinely matches your nationality, level of study and field before you apply.
• For the Zamorano line, lock in admission to the Zamorano school early, since the scholarship depends on it.
• Document financial need clearly and accurately wherever the call asks for it.
• Show steady, strong academic performance, which carries a lot of weight in selection.
• Keep your nationality, residency and academic documents complete and certified.
• Track each call on its own and submit well before the deadline.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who runs the BCIE Scholarship Program?

The Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE / CABEI), the regional development bank founded in 1960, finances the scholarships, often through its Social Support Foundation Fund (FAS BCIE) and partnerships.

Q: What is the BCIE-Zamorano scholarship?

It's the program's flagship line, giving non-reimbursable financing for a four-year undergraduate degree in agricultural sciences at the Zamorano Pan-American Agricultural School in Honduras.

Q: Which countries are eligible?

That depends on the line. The Zamorano scholarship has been open to the eight SICA countries (Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and the Dominican Republic) plus Cuba and Colombia.

Q: Does the program cover only undergraduate study?

No. Alongside the undergraduate Zamorano line, BCIE co-finances graduate (master's) scholarships for Central American students and shorter training scholarships.

Q: Where do I apply?

Through the official BCIE website at bcie.org, following the instructions in the specific call.

Related Scholarships

• Roberto Rocca Education Program 2026 (Techint Group) for engineering and applied-science students
• Zamorano Pan-American Agricultural School institutional scholarships
• Government scholarship programs across the SICA member countries
• Co-financed graduate scholarships for Central American students at partner universities abroad