Don Carlos Antonio Lopez (BECAL)

The University of Waterloo is pleased to receive applications from excellent Paraguayan students who will be applying for Don Carlos Antonio Lopez (BECAL) scholarships.

The University of Waterloo is a member of the CALDO consortium, an association of Canada’s leading research universities committed to international education. CALDO is currently working with these Latin American countries: Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Panama.

Scholarship Overview

To promote long-term collaboration and exchange in graduate education, BECAL and CALDO Member Universities have established a graduate co-funding program for Paraguayan doctoral students and, in some cases, thesis-based master's degree students to study and conduct research at Waterloo with funding provided jointly through BECAL and Waterloo.

What does the BECAL Scholarship Cover?

• Airfare (one-way to Waterloo and a one-way return at the end of the program).
• Domestic tuition and academic fees.
• A monthly living allowance.
• One-time relocation allowance.
• Yearly allowance for books and/or materials.
• Health insurance coverage through the University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP).
• Doctoral Students – possible coverage of travel expenses, health insurance and the allocation of a percentage of the support of fellow for spouse and children.

Eligible Programs

• Doctoral studies for up to 4 (four) years.
• Research master’s studies for up to 2 (two) years.

Doctoral Funding

• The scholarship provides full funding (including but not limited to tuition and fees, health insurance (UHIP) and living allowance/stipend) for doctoral programs for 4 years or 12 academic terms. Domestic tuition will be assessed.

Master’s Research Funding

• The scholarship provides full funding (including but not limited to tuition and fees, health insurance (UHIP) and living allowance/stipend) for two years or six academic terms. International tuition will be assessed.
• The Faculty/Program/Supervisor will be required to provide support for the tuition differential between international and domestic tuition for master’s students only.

English for Academic Success (EFAS)

• BECAL will fund language studies before beginning the academic program.

BECAL application procedure

1. Visit www.becal.gov.py/ for scholarship deadlines.
2. Applicants contact universities and submit online applications and supporting documents.
3. Applicants apply through BECAL, including Waterloo’s Offer of Admission.
4. BECAL confirms the scholarship.

Applying to Waterloo

• Minimum admission requirements include a 4/5 or very good overall standing (GPA).
• Certification of English language proficiency (ELP) through one of the accepted examinations is required.
• Prospective graduate students apply online. 
  • In the Other Information section, under International Agreements, select Paraguay: BECAL.
• Some agreements provide a preliminary sponsorship or scholarship letter, if applicable, email a PDF copy to an admissions specialist. Remember to include your full name and your 8 digit (numerical only) Waterloo student ID number.

Important:

• The sponsorship documentation must detail the approved program, financial support amount and the number of years the funding has been granted (a minimum of two years for a master’s research program and a minimum of four years for a PhD program).
• Please refer to Arranging your fees with a third-party sponsorship on the Finance website for the information required in the official sponsorship documentation. If there is any change in your funding situation, the University of Waterloo may re-evaluate your Offer of Admission, and reserves the right to withdraw your Offer of Admission or withdraw you from your graduate program.

Contact

• For further information contact the Manager, Graduate Admissions at gradadmissions@uwaterloo.ca.