Becas Chile (ANID) is a fully funded government scholarship program administered by Chile's National Agency for Research and Development (ANID) that enables Chilean citizens to pursue Master's and Doctoral degrees at top-ranked international universities. The program covers 100% of tuition, monthly stipends between $1,500 and $2,800 USD, round-trip airfare, health insurance, and allowances for dependents. Approximately 450 scholarships are awarded annually from roughly 2,200 applicants.
How Becas Chile Works
The program is funded by the Chilean government through the Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnologia, Conocimiento e Innovacion. It targets Chilean researchers, academics, and professionals who want to build advanced human capital for the country's development. Applicants must secure an unconditional acceptance letter from a top international university ranked in the top 100 to 150 by ARWU, QS, or THE rankings.
Funding Coverage
- Tuition: 100% of tuition fees at the host university
- Monthly stipend: $1,500 to $2,800 USD depending on the destination country and cost of living
- Airfare: Round-trip flights from Chile to the host country
- Health insurance: Full coverage for the duration of study
- Dependents' allowances: Additional stipend for spouse and children
- Duration: Up to 2 years for Master's, up to 4 years for PhD
Eligibility
- Chilean citizenship required
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent
- High academic standards (GPA or class ranking)
- Unconditional acceptance letter from a top-ranked international university
- All fields eligible except clinical medicine, MBA, and business administration (STEM and humanities research prioritized, including music and arts)
Application Timeline
- Doctorate call: Opens in March, deadline in March or April annually
- Master's call: Opens in March, deadline in April annually
- Results published: Approximately June each year
- For the 2025 cycle, the PhD call opened March 19, 2025 with a deadline of April 22, 2025 and results published June 30, 2025
Real-World Example
A Chilean musician with a Bachelor's degree in music performance who secures acceptance to a Master's program at the Royal Academy of Music in London (ranked in the QS top 50 for performing arts) could apply for Becas Chile. If selected, ANID would cover the full tuition (approximately GBP 30,000 per year for international students), provide a monthly stipend of roughly $2,500 USD for living expenses in London, pay for round-trip flights from Santiago, and cover health insurance for the two-year program. The total value over two years would exceed $120,000 USD.
With approximately 450 awards from 2,200 applicants, the acceptance rate is roughly 20% to 25%. The program is highly competitive but fully comprehensive.
Why It Matters for Independent Artists
If you are a Chilean musician planning graduate study abroad, Becas Chile is the most comprehensive funding source available. It covers not just tuition but all living expenses, travel, and insurance, meaning you can focus entirely on your studies without taking on debt.
The program requires an acceptance letter from a top-ranked university before you apply. This means you must first apply to and be accepted by your target school. Start this process 12 to 18 months before the ANID deadline. Research universities that rank in the top 150 by ARWU, QS, or THE, as ANID evaluates the prestige of the host institution.
Music and arts programs qualify under the humanities research category. Contact the ANID office or your target university's international office for guidance on whether your specific program meets the ranking requirements.
Eligibility Criteria
- Chilean citizens, or foreigners with valid permanent residence in Chile
- Must hold a Chilean Licenciatura (at least 8 semesters) or Titulo Profesional (at least 10 semesters), or an equivalent foreign degree of at least 3 years (bachelor's or diploma)
- Minimum grade average of 5.0 on the Chilean 1-7 scale, or graduation in the top 30% of the class
- Must be admitted to a PhD or Master's program abroad, or already enrolled in one
- The program must be full-time and in person at a university outside Chile (no online or part-time programs)
- All fields are eligible, though priority areas include public security, artificial intelligence, climate change, and quantum technologies. Music and arts qualify under humanities research
- Must not have already held a Becas Chile or ANID grant for an equal or higher degree
- No age restrictions specified
- No membership requirements
Deadlines and Application Timeline
- Doctorate call opens: Typically March each year
- Doctorate deadline: March or April each year (2025 cycle: April 22, 2025; 2026 cycle: May 19, 2026)
- Master's call opens: Typically March each year
- Master's deadline: Typically April each year
- Notification: Results published approximately June to July each year (2025 cycle results published June 30, 2025)
- The postdoctorate call opens in June with a July deadline and September results
Past Recipients
ANID publishes selection results on its website for each competition cycle. Individual recipient names are published in official adjudication documents. Approximately 450 scholarships are awarded annually from roughly 2,200 applicants, yielding an acceptance rate of approximately 20% to 25%. Between 2008 and 2025, approximately 12,000 Becas Chile scholarships were awarded. The program does not publish a centralized public directory of past recipients by name in a single searchable table.
Step-by-Step Application Process
- Secure university admission: Apply to and receive an unconditional acceptance letter from a top-ranked international university (top 100 to 150 by ARWU, QS, or THE rankings) before applying for the scholarship. Start this process 12 to 18 months before the ANID deadline
- Create an ANID account: Register on the ANID application system at spl.anid.cl
- Complete the online application: Fill in your CV and application form, and upload required documents as PDFs in Spanish or English
- Arrange two confidential reference letters: Ensure references submit their letters before the deadline through the ANID system
- Submit proof of English proficiency: Provide TOEFL or IELTS scores if required by the host university
- Submit the application: Complete and submit all materials before the deadline (typically March to April for doctorate, April for master's)
- Await evaluation: Applications are scored on academic record, study goals, planned contribution to Chile, and quality of the host university. The evaluation process takes approximately one month
- Receive notification: Results are published on the ANID website and individual notification letters are sent as PDF documents with score breakdowns
Program Videos
Similar Scholarships
- Fulbright Foreign Student Program - International graduate study funding from the US government
- DAAD Study Scholarships - Studying music in Germany
- Music Scholarships Directory - Full list of funding opportunities
- Music Schools Directory - Find accredited international music programs
Related Opportunities
- Fulbright Foreign Student Program for international graduate study funding from the US government
- DAAD Study Scholarships for studying music in Germany
- Music Scholarships Directory for the full list of funding opportunities
- Music Schools Directory to find accredited international music programs
- Visit the ANID Becas Chile portal for official application details and deadlines
