Generales

By Andrea Carolina Vargas Malagón, Journalist at UdeA Communications Office 

Nearly half of UdeA’s 3,200 graduate students receive tuition exemptions, while over 200 benefit from scholarships and forgivable loans. The university provides these opportunities to help professionals further their academic careers. 

Universidad de Antioquia graduate studies headquarters. Photo: Communications Office / Alejandra Uribe Fernández  

Earning an undergraduate degree is a significant milestone, but it’s just the beginning. Furthering education, deepening knowledge, and pursuing better opportunities come next. However, for many, the cost of postgraduate studies—whether a specialization, master’s, or doctorate—remains a significant hurdle, even at public universities. 

To address this challenge, the Universidad de Antioquia fosters high-quality academic training and helps students continue their education by offering various scholarships and exemptions that make postgraduate studies more accessible. 

“About half of UdeA’s graduate students receive tuition exemptions through their affiliation with the university or benefit from scholarships,” said Marco Antonio Vélez, Director of Graduate Studies at the Universidad de Antioquia. 

By the end of 2024, Data UdeA reported 3,168 graduate students at the Universidad de Antioquia: 676 in specializations, 1,393 in master’s programs, 596 in doctoral programs, and 503 in medical-surgical specialties. 

The Postgraduate Studies Department reports that over 200 students have benefited from scholarships and forgivable loans. Among them, 77 receive support from the Master’s and Doctoral Scholarship Funds financed by UdeA resources. Additionally, 83 students receive funding from programs supported by the General Royalties System, 28 through Sapiencia, 24 from the Ministry of National Education, and seven from Minciencias. 

“The University Postgraduate System is funded by postgraduate program registrations and a portion of tuition revenue allocated to the department. These financial resources create a foundation reinvested in academic training,” explained Vélez, regarding the funding of scholarships directly granted by the Universidad de Antioquia. 

Applications open for 54 UdeA scholarships 

The Universidad de Antioquia has 54 scholarships available for the second half of 2025 to support professionals in advancing their academic training. This offering includes 36 scholarships for master’s programs and 18 for doctoral programs, all within the university’s accredited educational programs. 

Each accredited academic program in the research-based master’s track will offer two scholarships. These scholarships will cover up to seven current legal monthly minimum wages in Colombia (SMMLV) per semester for tuition fees for a maximum of four semesters. 

The PhD scholarships will cover full tuition for up to eight semesters, provide a monthly stipend equivalent to three current legal monthly minimum wages, and include a one-time grant of up to 4.5 legal monthly minimum wages for an international internship. 

“Coursework-based master’s programs were not included in this offer, as the focus is on strengthening research. Students in research-based master’s programs have a clearer path to continuing their work at the doctoral level. Our goal is to foster academic progression,” explained Vélez. 

The university will distribute master’s and doctoral scholarships in two rounds. The first application deadline is March 17, 2025, and the second is July 10, 2025. Full details on the scholarship schedule and application requirements are available on the UdeA website. 

Exemptions for UdeA community 

The Universidad de Antioquia is committed to supporting the academic growth of its community by providing greater access to postgraduate studies. Graduates, affiliated members, occasional and full-time faculty, and non-teaching staff can benefit from tuition exemptions and discounts. 

“Graduates receive a 10% tuition discount, while teachers qualify for a 75% or 100% exemption, depending on their affiliation. Even UdeA employees’ children and spouses may be eligible for a tuition discount,” said Vélez. 

For details on tuition exemptions for the UdeA community and the application process, visit the university’s website. 

Those not eligible for scholarships or exemptions can explore alternative financing options through educational loans offered by UdeA-affiliated institutions such as Cooprudea, the Confiar Cooperative, Sufi, and Icetex.