ANID National Doctoral Scholarship (Beca de Doctorado Nacional)
A fully funded PhD scholarship from Chile's National Research and Development Agency (ANID) that is explicitly open to foreign nationals with or without Chilean residency, covering tuition, a generous monthly stipend, and health insurance for up to four years at any accredited Chilean university.
Quick Facts
Status
Applications OpenFunding
Fully FundedDeadline
Applications open late September and close mid-November each year (annual Año Académico cycle)
Country
ChileAbout the ANID National Doctoral Scholarship
The Beca de Doctorado Nacional is ANID's flagship domestic doctoral scholarship, funding PhD study at Chilean universities across every field of knowledge. What sets it apart from many of ANID's other programs, and from popular assumptions about Chilean government funding, is that its official rules explicitly state the competition is open to 'personas chilenas o extranjeras, con o sin permanencia definitiva en Chile' — Chilean or foreign nationals, with or without permanent residency. In practice this means an applicant from any country in the world can apply directly, without first obtaining Chilean residency or citizenship, as long as they are admitted to an accredited doctoral program.
ANID (Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo) is Chile's main science and research funding body, operating under the Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation. The National Doctoral Scholarship supports candidates in accredited programs recognized under Chilean higher-education law (Ley N° 20.129), spanning sciences, engineering, humanities, social sciences, and every other discipline offered at the doctoral level by Chilean universities. Each annual convocation typically awards several dozen new grants — 65 in a recent cycle — alongside continuing support for prior cohorts.
Funding is substantial and multi-part: an annual maintenance stipend of up to CLP 7,800,000 (adjusted yearly for inflation), tuition and enrollment coverage of up to CLP 2,700,000 per year, and health insurance up to CLP 407,880 annually, plus a supplementary allowance of 5% of the monthly stipend for each dependent child under 18. On top of the base award, recipients can apply for complementary benefits including an annual research-expenses allowance of roughly CLP 2,678,000, a six-month thesis-completion extension, funded research internships abroad lasting one to ten months, and co-tutorship arrangements abroad lasting up to 24 months with additional support.
Selection is based on academic merit: applicants need a Licenciado degree, professional title, or foreign equivalent, and must show either a GPA of at least 5.0 on Chile's 7.0 scale or a ranking in the top 30% of their undergraduate cohort. Applicants must already be formally admitted to, in the process of applying to, or currently enrolled in an accredited Chilean doctoral program at the time they apply for the scholarship, since the university acceptance (or enrollment status) is itself one of the required documents.
The scholarship runs on an annual cycle tied to the Chilean academic year, with applications submitted entirely online through ANID's dedicated portal. Because the program funds study inside Chile rather than abroad, it is a direct route for international students who already have, or are pursuing, admission to a Chilean PhD program and want government-level funding without needing prior residency status.
Eligible Levels
Eligible Fields
Why Choose This Scholarship?
One of the few Chilean government scholarships explicitly open to foreign nationals without any residency requirement
Covers all fields of knowledge, not just STEM or a restricted list of priority areas
Generous four-year funding package covering tuition, living costs, health insurance, and research expenses
Built-in options for funded international research stays and co-tutorship abroad during the PhD
Straightforward, fully online application process through a single national portal
What the Scholarship Covers
Studying in Chile
Chile hosts several of Latin America's top-ranked research universities, including Universidad de Chile and Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, with strong doctoral programs in astronomy, engineering, marine sciences, and the social sciences. ANID's national scholarship funding has helped build a research ecosystem that draws increasing numbers of foreign doctoral candidates each year.
Eligibility Requirements
5 requirements
Documents Checklist
7 documents required
How to Apply - Step by Step
Step 1: Secure admission (or begin the admission process) to an accredited doctoral program at a Chilean university.
Step 2: Create an account on ANID's application portal (spl.anid.cl) when the annual convocation opens.
Step 3: Upload all required documents as PDF files (max 2,048 KB each, in Spanish or English) — degree certificates, GPA/ranking proof, admission letter, and recommendation letters.
Step 4: Submit the single, final application before the November deadline; no modifications are accepted after submission.
Step 5: Await results announcement from ANID and, if selected, complete enrollment formalities to activate the scholarship.
Application Timeline
Late September
Convocation opens
Bases published and ANID portal opens for applications
Mid-November
Application deadline
Single online submission through spl.anid.cl
First half of following year
Results announced
Published via ANID and notified to applicants
March (Chilean academic year)
Program start
Aligned with the Chilean university calendar
Insider Tips & Pro Tips
Secure your doctoral program admission letter early — it is a required document and the application window is only about seven to eight weeks long.
Foreign transcripts and degree certificates typically need an information-verification certificate; start that process well before the portal opens in September.
Applications and required letters can be submitted in English as well as Spanish, so international applicants are not required to translate every document.
Line up your two recommendation letters in advance since referees also need to submit them through the portal within the same deadline.
Because there is no single application resubmission allowed, review every document carefully before final submission.
If your GPA doesn't clearly meet the 5.0/7.0 threshold, gather documentation of your undergraduate class ranking as an alternative eligibility route.
Important Links & Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questions - click any to expand
No. The official rules explicitly state the scholarship is open to Chilean or foreign nationals, with or without permanent residency in Chile.
All fields of knowledge, as long as the doctoral program is accredited under Chilean higher-education law (Ley N° 20.129) and offered by a Chilean university.
You need to be formally admitted, in the process of applying, or currently enrolled in an accredited Chilean doctoral program, since proof of that status is a required document.
Up to CLP 7,800,000 per year in living stipend, up to CLP 2,700,000 per year in tuition coverage, and up to CLP 407,880 per year in health insurance, for up to four years, plus optional complementary research and mobility funding.
Yes. Recipients can apply for complementary benefits covering a funded research internship abroad (one to ten months) or a co-tutorship arrangement abroad (up to 24 months).
Ready to Apply?
Head to the official portal and start your application today.
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Deadline: Applications open late September and close mid-November each year (annual Año Académico cycle)