Academic Mobility of Paraguayan Students

A Small, Young Market with a Fast-Growing Appetite for International Education

Introduction

Paraguay is one of the least explored student markets in South America. With about 6 million inhabitants, one of the youngest populations in the region and two decades of stable economic growth, the country has a small but affluent upper-middle class concentrated in Asunción, and a national scholarship program that has turned studying abroad into a visible, aspirational path. This page summarises what is known about Paraguayan students abroad and what it means for international universities.

Overview of Paraguayan Student Mobility

Historically, most Paraguayans who studied abroad went to neighbouring Argentina and Brazil, for proximity, language and the cost of public universities there. Over the past decade the picture has diversified: Spain, the United States, the United Kingdom and other European countries have gained ground, driven by scholarships, English-language schooling in Asunción and families with growing financial capacity.

Preferred Destinations and Levels of Study

Top Destinations

• Argentina and Brazil: still the largest flows for full degrees, especially medicine, law, engineering and business, at public and private universities close to the border and in Buenos Aires, São Paulo and Curitiba.
• Spain: the first choice outside the region for master's programs, helped by language and by agreements with BECAL and Fundación Carolina.
• United States: 642 students in 2023/24, with a majority at undergraduate level; EducationUSA and Fulbright have an active presence in Asunción.
• United Kingdom and other European destinations: important for BECAL-funded master's and PhD programs, together with France, Germany, the Netherlands and Australia.

Levels of Study in the United States

Among the BECAL scholars abroad in an earlier cohort, about a third were in Spain, a fifth in the United Kingdom and more than a tenth in the United States, with France, Australia and other countries following. Most were enrolled in master's programs, followed by doctorates.

Fields of Study and Academic Focus

Popular Fields of Study

• Business, Economics and Finance
• Engineering, Technology and Data
• Medicine and Health Sciences
• Agribusiness, Environmental Sciences and Energy
• Law, Public Policy and International Relations
• Education and Social Sciences (priority areas for BECAL)

Program Preferences

• Undergraduate: students from Asunción's bilingual private schools, often with IB or American diplomas, aim at English-taught bachelor's degrees in the United States, Europe and, increasingly, Canada; scholarships and merit awards are decisive.
• Postgraduate: master's and PhD programs are the core of BECAL funding and of family-funded mobility among young professionals.
• Languages and pathways: English and preparatory programs remain a frequent first step abroad.

Recent Trends and Future Outlook

Government Support

BECAL (Programa Nacional de Becas de Postgrado en el Exterior "Don Carlos Antonio López"), created in 2015, finances master's, doctoral, post-doctoral and undergraduate mobility programs at highly ranked universities abroad, with sustainability guaranteed until at least 2030. It has become the main engine of outbound mobility and a reference point for families that fund their own studies.

Future Prospects

A young population, macroeconomic stability, a growing bilingual school system and very limited presence of international recruiters make Paraguay a market where early movers can build strong positions. Demand is concentrated in Asunción, which makes it efficient to reach.