OAS Academic Scholarships (Organization of American States)

Overview

The OAS Academic Scholarships Program is run by the Organization of American States (OAS/OEA), and its regular program goes back to 1958, making it one of the oldest scholarship schemes in the Americas. It funds citizens and permanent residents of OAS Member States who want to pursue a Master's, a Doctorate, or graduate-level research that leads to a degree at a university in another OAS Member State.

The aim is to build human capital across the hemisphere. One thing to be clear about up front: these awards are complementary. They are not meant to cover 100% of your costs, so you'll need to line up other funding to meet your full tuition and living expenses.

The OAS runs more than one scholarship line. The regular Academic Scholarships Program (1958) funds graduate study and research, while the Special Caribbean Scholarships Program (SPECAF), set up in 1983, covers the final two years of undergraduate study for citizens and residents of the English-speaking Caribbean Member States and Suriname. This guide covers the regular graduate-level program, which is the stream open to applicants from across the Americas.

Key Facts at a Glance

• Funding body: Organization of American States (OAS/OEA)
• Program type: Government / intergovernmental scholarship
• Study levels: Master's, Doctoral, and graduate research
• Maximum value: Up to US $10,000 per academic year (complementary funding)
• Duration: Typically one academic year, renewable for a second year subject to funding and good standing
• Study locations: Any OAS Member State, except the applicant's own country of citizenship or residency
• Who can apply: Citizens or permanent residents of an OAS Member State
• Excluded fields: Medical Sciences and the learning of new languages are generally not funded
• Official site: www.oas.org/en/scholarships

Eligibility Criteria

To be considered, you generally need to meet these conditions:

• Be a citizen or permanent resident of an OAS Member State.
• Have a first university (Bachelor's) degree by the time you apply.
• Have the language competence needed to study in the language of the host institution.
• Hold a GPA at or above the minimum your chosen university or program requires.
• Be in good physical and mental health to complete the program.
• Plan to study in an OAS Member State other than your own. You can't take the scholarship in your country of citizenship or residency.

The National Liaison Office (ONE) in each Member State, along with partner or consortium universities, may set extra requirements, so check your local conditions before you apply.

Scholarship Benefits

The award provides up to US $10,000 per academic year. Since it's complementary, it goes toward tuition and related study costs rather than the whole degree.

• Up to US $10,000 per academic year.
• Scholarships usually run for at least one academic year and may renew for a second, depending on available funding, your academic standing, and institutional confirmation.
• In some cases, access to a network of partner and consortium universities across the Americas that offer additional tuition reductions.

You'll need to arrange other financing to cover the rest of your tuition, travel, and living costs. Building a realistic budget is part of accepting one of these awards.

How to Apply

Applications run through the National Liaison Office (ONE), sometimes called the National Selection Committee, in each Member State, together with the OAS online application system.

• Confirm the current call and deadline with the National Liaison Office (ONE) in your country, since deadlines and procedures differ by Member State.
• Fill out and submit the OAS online application form for graduate studies, with all the supporting documents requested.
• Where a national pre-selection step applies, the National Selection Committee reviews your application first and sends a list of pre-selected candidates to the OAS.
• For some country-specific streams (for example, the partnership administered through EduCanada for studies linked to Canada), there may be a second institutional application step.
• Secure admission or a letter of acceptance from the host institution where the call requires it.

Required Documents

The exact list depends on the call and the Member State, but applicants are usually asked for:

• Proof of citizenship or permanent residency of an OAS Member State.
• A copy of the diploma for your highest degree.
• Official academic transcripts showing GPA.
• A CV (often limited to about two pages, no photographs).
• Two letters of recommendation.
• A letter of admission or acceptance from the host institution, where applicable.
• Proof of current registration, if you're already enrolled.
• A copy of the completed OAS application form.

Important Dates & Deadlines

Deadlines are set country by country through each National Liaison Office, so there's no single global cut-off. For 2026, some national streams published deadlines in the first quarter of the year, with a few calls using dates in March or April 2026.

• Application deadlines: Vary by Member State; confirm directly with your National Liaison Office (ONE).
• Notification: Usually a few months after the deadline, often around mid-year.
• Study start: Typically within the calendar year after selection, depending on the host program.

Tips for a Strong Application

• Contact your country's National Liaison Office early to confirm the deadline and any national pre-selection requirements.
• Secure admission to a good program in an OAS Member State other than your own before or during the application window.
• Plan your finances realistically. The award is complementary and capped at US $10,000 a year, so be ready to show how you'll fund the rest.
• Keep your CV concise and tailored, and pick recommenders who can speak directly to your academic and professional potential.
• Check that your field is eligible. Medical Sciences and language-learning programs are generally excluded.
• Show clear language competence for the host institution's language of instruction.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How much is the OAS Academic Scholarship worth?

Up to US $10,000 per academic year. It's complementary, so it won't cover the full cost of your studies.

Q: Can I use the scholarship to study in my own country?

No. You can't hold the scholarship in your country of citizenship or permanent residency. Your studies have to take place in another OAS Member State.

Q: Which study levels are covered?

The regular program covers Master's degrees, Doctorates, and graduate-level research that leads to a degree.

Q: Are all fields of study eligible?

Most are, but Medical Sciences and programs focused on learning a new language are generally not funded.

Q: When is the deadline?

Each country's National Liaison Office sets its own deadline, so check the current date with the office in your country.

Related Scholarships

• Fundación Carolina Scholarships (postgraduate study in Spain for Latin American students).
• OAS Special Caribbean Scholarships Program (SPECAF) for undergraduate study by citizens of English-speaking Caribbean Member States and Suriname.
• Chevening, Fulbright, and other government-funded graduate scholarships open to Latin American applicants.