Becas Chile (ANID) 2026

Overview

Becas Chile is the Chilean State's main programme for funding advanced graduate study abroad, run by the Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo (ANID), the national research and development agency that took over from CONICYT. Through its "Becas en el Extranjero" line, ANID funds Chileans and foreign nationals with permanent residency in Chile to do master's (Magíster en el Extranjero) and doctoral (Doctorado en el Extranjero) study at universities anywhere in the world except Chile.

The point of the programme is to build advanced human capital, so that scholars return home and put their knowledge to work on Chile's scientific, academic, economic, social and cultural development. Each annual cycle (convocatoria) publishes its own bases concursales — the official rules — listing general and priority areas of study. The 2026 cycle ran its application windows in the second quarter of the year.

Key Facts at a Glance

• Funding body: Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo (ANID), Government of Chile
• Programme line: Becas Chile — Becas en el Extranjero (Magíster and Doctorado)
• Level of study: Master's and Doctoral degrees
• Host countries: Any country except Chile
• Eligible nationalities: Chilean citizens and foreign nationals with permanent residency in Chile
• Master's duration: Up to 24 months
• Doctoral duration: Renewable annually, up to 4 years (48 months)
• Coverage: Tuition and enrolment, monthly living allowance, installation, health, travel and family allowances
• Academic excellence requirement: Undergraduate GPA of 5.0 or higher (on Chile's 1–7 scale) or top 30% of graduating cohort

Eligibility Criteria

The master's and doctoral lines differ slightly, but the core requirements are shared. Always check the exact wording in that year's bases concursales before applying.

• Be a Chilean citizen or a foreign national with valid permanent residency (permanencia definitiva) in Chile.
• Hold a Licenciado degree (minimum eight semesters), a professional title (minimum ten semesters), or an equivalent foreign credential.
• Show academic excellence: an undergraduate graduation average of 5.0 or higher on the 1–7 scale, or a place in the top 30% of your graduating cohort.
• Be accepted into, or already enrolled as a regular student in, an eligible master's or doctoral programme abroad.
• For the master's line, some programmes are excluded — MBA-type business administration degrees and law programmes geared to commercial, tax or corporate practice, for example. Check the bases for the current exclusion list.

Scholarship Benefits

Becas Chile is built to cover the full cost of studying abroad. The exact amounts are set each year in the bases and can vary by destination country and city.

• Tuition and enrolment (arancel y matrícula): payment of the programme's tuition and registration costs.
• Monthly living allowance (manutención): a monthly maintenance payment that varies by destination; for the doctoral line it has typically run roughly US$1,300 to US$1,800 per month depending on country and city.
• Installation allowance: a one-time US$500 payment to help with arrival costs.
• Annual materials/books allowance: US$300 per year, where applicable.
• Health insurance allowance: up to US$800 per year, which can extend to a spouse or civil partner and children living with the scholar abroad.
• Return allowance: a one-time US$500 payment on returning to Chile.
• Travel (pasajes): airfare for the scholar and, where applicable, spouse or civil partner and dependent children.
• Visa costs: reimbursement of visa fees for the scholar and dependents.
• Language and additional support: language-course benefits, and for the doctoral line, extended maternity/paternity provisions may apply.

How to Apply

You apply online through ANID's scholarship platform. The general flow:

• Read that year's bases concursales for your line (Magíster or Doctorado en el Extranjero) carefully and confirm you meet every requirement.
• Create or update your account on ANID's online application system.
• Complete the form, naming your destination university and programme and your area of study (general or priority).
• Upload all required documents and arrange for recommendation letters to come in before the deadline.
• Submit and confirm receipt. Late or incomplete applications aren't evaluated.

Evaluation generally weighs your academic background, the quality of the destination university, and your essays and project, alongside the other criteria set in the bases.

Required Documents

The exact list lives in each year's bases. Typical documents:

• National identity document (cédula de identidad) or proof of permanent residency.
• Degree certificate(s) and official transcripts (concentración de notas).
• Proof of academic excellence: graduation-average certificate or ranking certificate (top 30%).
• Letter of acceptance or proof of regular enrolment in the destination programme.
• Recommendation letters submitted through the platform.
• A study plan or motivation essay, and a research project outline where required.
• Language certification if the destination programme requires it.

Important Dates & Deadlines

Becas Chile runs on an annual cycle, with each line publishing its own calendar. For the 2026 convocatoria:

• Magíster en el Extranjero 2026: applications opened in late April and closed on 28 May 2026 at 13:00 (continental Chile time), with results expected around September 2026.
• Doctorado en el Extranjero 2026: the bases came out in mid-April, with applications and recommendation letters due by 19 May 2026 at 13:00.

Dates change every cycle, so always verify the current deadlines on the official ANID website before applying.

Tips for a Strong Application

• Start early. Securing admission abroad and gathering certified documents can take months.
• Pick a strong destination programme. The standing and fit of the institution carry real weight in evaluation.
• Write a clear study plan that ties your goals to Chile's development. Contributing to the country on return is the whole point of the programme.
• Document your academic excellence properly — GPA certificate or ranking — and make sure every claim is backed up.
• Brief your referees early and give them your study plan so their letters reinforce your case.
• Read the bases line by line. Small administrative omissions are a common reason for disqualification.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I study in any country?

Any country except Chile. The programme exists specifically to fund study abroad.

Q: Do I need to already be admitted to a programme?

You need to be either accepted into, or a regular enrolled student in, an eligible programme. Each year's bases spell out the conditional-acceptance rules.

Q: How long does the funding last?

The master's benefit runs up to 24 months. The doctoral benefit is renewable annually up to four years from the start of the programme.

Q: Are family members covered?

The package can include travel, health and visa support for a spouse or civil partner and dependent children, subject to the conditions in the bases.

Q: Is there an obligation after I finish?

Yes — scholars take on commitments tied to returning to Chile and contributing to the country. The exact return and retribution conditions are in the official rules and the scholarship agreement.

Related Scholarships

If you're looking at Latin American government funding for graduate study, also consider:

• Beca de Doctorado Nacional / Magíster Nacional (ANID): ANID funding for graduate study within Chile.
• CONAHCYT / SECIHTI Scholarships (Mexico): Mexico's national postgraduate scholarships for study at home and abroad.
• Chevening, Fulbright and DAAD: international government scholarships often combined with or compared to Becas Chile.