CONACyT
Oct 28, 2010
The National Council for Science and Technology is one of the most important scholarship providers in Mexico
CONACyT Scholarship programme 2010
Overview
| Provider: |
National Council of Cience and Technology (CONACyT) |
| Call: | 1st call: 9 March – 23 April (results second half of May)
2nd call: 26 April – 9 July (results first half of August) |
| Programmes: | PhD, Master and specialization in the fields of science and technology Preference is given to PhD studies in specific study fields. For other fields of study, there are specific calls in cooperation with Funed and FONCA. |
| Benefits: | • Total or partial tuition fee • Health insurance • Monthly allowance of 990 euros for living expenses |
| Duration: | • Specialization: up to 12 months • Master’s degree: up to 24 months • PhD: up to 36 months |
| Requirements |
see below |
| Webpage |
Spanish webpage with the complete text of the call for scholarships for studying abroad |
Provider
One of the tasks of the National Council of Science and Technology (Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología, CONACyT) is to provide scholarships for national and international students in higher education. CONACyT was created in 1970 as a decentralized organism of the public federal administration and member of the education sector. It is also responsible for the elaboration of science and technology policies in Mexico. The current director is Mtro. Juan Carlos Romero Hicks, who has been in charge since 2007.
Calls
CONACyT has announced various calls per year in its scholarship programme for studies abroad. The dates are usually as follows:
- 1st call from March until April. The results of this call will be announced in the second half of May.
- 2nd call from April until July. The results of this call will be announced in the first half of August.
- 3rd call in the autumn if there is still budget for scholarships available
Target group
The scholarships apply for certain postgraduate programmes (PhD, Master or specialization). Preference is given to PhDs, and especially in the following study fields:
- Biotechnology
- Medicine
- Energy
- Environment
- Industrial and manufacturing technologies
- Materials
- Nanotechnology
- Information technology and telecommunication
- Applied mathematics and mathematical models
Even though these are the fields of preference, other studies can receive the scholarship as well (see also “CONACyT-Funed” scholarship and “CONACyT-FONCA” scholarship below).
In the evaluation of each application, its position in the Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2009 is also taken into consideration. Candidates applying to institutions that have signed a co-financing agreement with CONACyT also have preference over other candidates.
Application procedure
- On the CONACyT webpage the student must register with a username and password and complete the application form and his or her curriculum vitae online. Together with digital versions of the application documents this must be send to CONACyT via the webpage. This concludes the pre-registration for the scholarship.
- The printed version and physical documents must be handed in personally at the general CONACyT office or a regional office to conclude the application.
- The following documents must be handed in for application:
Academic documentation
a. Application form
b. Curriculum vitae
c. In case the applicant has working experience: a short description of the obtained goals or impact of activities (max. 1 page)
d. In case the applicant has done community service: a short description of activities, dates and achievements or impact (max. 1 page)
e. Recommendation letter from the sector that show interest in his or her academic project, or a letter that offers a job after completing his or her studies
f. Official and definite acceptation letter from the institution where the candidate will do his or her postgraduate studies. A letter of acceptance with the condition that the student must meet the financial needs to complete the study programme is also acceptable. This letter must be on paper with the official letterhead of the institution and contain the following information:
i. Level and name of the programme
ii. Starting date
iii. Official duration of the date
iv. Original signature of the person writing the letter.
g. Information about the selected postgraduate programme (official duration, language of teaching, curricular structure, obligatory and optional subjects that the student will follow and information about the research in the study field) in English or Spanish.
h. Copy of the document that proves the annual tuition and registration fees.
i. In case of PhD studies, presentation of the background and objectives of the research, signed by the tutor assigned to the student. Furthermire, the c.v. of the tutor must be included to demonstrate his knowledge and accomplishments in the field of research.
j. English diploma:
i. TOEFL PBT of at least 550 points
ii. TOEFL CBT of at least 213 points
iii. TOEFL IBT of at least 79-80 points
iv. IELTS with a minimum score of 6.0
k. Three recommendation letters written by former professors or employers of the candidate, which contain the original signature of the person writing the letter. Recommendation letters must be handed in in a closed envelope. They do not need to be included in a digital version during pre-registration.
l. Copy of the official certificate with the subjects and grades of the previous studies. The minimum GPA must be 8.0 or its equivalent.
m. If the candidate receives or is applying for another financial help, a document that states the provider, amount, duration and characteristics of this financial aid.
n. Since these scholarships are public funds paid for by tax payers, a document from the candidate, his or her parents or tutor that confirms that they have paid taxes is necessary.
Administrative documentation
a. Copy of the diploma of the previously obtained degree. If the diploma has not yet been obtained, this needs to be handed in before the formalization date of the scholarship.
b. Copy of the birth certificate or naturalization letter that confirms Mexican nationality
c. Copy of the official identification of the candidate
d. Copy of the CURP (registration number)
e. In case there are people depending economically on the candidate: copies of marriage certificate and/or birth certificate of the children
f. In case the candidate has already received a CONACyT scholarship, a letter is required that proves this.
Benefits
The CONACyT scholarship covers the following concepts:
- Complete or partial tuition fee
- Health insurance
- Monthly allowance of 990 euros for living expenses
Duration
The duration of the scholarship depends on the study level:
- Specialization: up to 12 months
- Master’s degree: up to 24 months
- PhD: up to 36 months
CONACyT-FUNED scholarship
CONACyT has an agreement with credit organization Funed (www.funedmx.org) to provide scholarships for students in the following study fields:
- Business administration
- Marketing
- Communication sciences
- Engineering focusing on logistics, administration and operation management
- Industrial design
- Law
- Public administration
- Economics
- Business (MBA)
- Finance
- International relations
- International business
- Hotel management and tourism
In total 100 scholarships are available. The benefits are:
From Conacyt:
- Monthly allowance of 990 euros for living expenses
- Health insurance
From Funed:
- Credit for up to $20,000.00 USD per study year for tuition fees. A maximum of two years can be loaned from Funed.
The application dates are equal to the general dates.
CONACyT - FONCA Scholarship
For students of arts, culture or related studies, there is a specific call in cooperation with FONCA (National Fund for Culture and Arts). More information on this call can be found on the FONCA webpage.