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The Colombian agency responsible for student loans, grants and scholarships is , in a bid to make the nation a more attractive study destination as its peace process continues.

Although the scheme is not new, ¡°the ¡®Colombia Scholarship¡¯ doubled its budget in the last two years¡±, according to ICETEX president V¨ªctor Alejandro Venegas, as a sign of its ¡°commitment to continue promoting the country as an academic destination¡­in the context of a Colombia in peace¡±, and is now actively targeting applicants in a wider range of countries.

Tourist figures, he pointed out, had risen from just over 2 million in 2010 to more than 6.5 million in 2017, the largest figure in the country¡¯s history. He hoped that education would also become ¡°one of the most attractive sectors for foreigners in Colombia¡±.

A peace process is under way between the Colombian?government and left-wing former guerrilla forces.

The scheme is open until 1 June to all non-nationals aged between 25 and 49 who have a good undergraduate degree, at least one year¡¯s professional experience and basic proficiency in Spanish. They will also require an admissions letter for a preselected range of courses?¨C master¡¯s, PhDs and one-year ¡°specialisation¡± programmes designed to improve skills in a particular occupation or discipline?¨C beginning in the second semester of 2018.

Scholarships will cover the full cost of tuition fees, plus an additional monthly grant worth about ?500 (three times Colombia¡¯s national minimum wage), medical coverage and initial one-off payments for books and materials.

matthew.reisz@timeshighereducation.com