February 11, 2026
For the eleventh consecutive year, the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (PUC) has ranked first nationwide in the awarding of the Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo (ANID) National Doctoral Scholarships, reaffirming its sustained leadership in the training of advanced human capital in Chile.
In the 2026 academic year, ANID awarded 949 scholarships nationwide, 159 of which were granted to UC students, representing 17% of the total selected candidates.
This year’s competition took place in a highly competitive context, with 4,121 applications submitted, an increase of 22.7% compared to 3,359 applications received in 2025.
“PUC’s leadership for eleven consecutive years in the ANID National Doctoral Scholarship awards reflects the consistency and depth of a university project committed to the value of knowledge as a driver of both national and international impact. It is the result of a community dedicated to training outstanding researchers who engage with the frontiers of knowledge and translate that work into meaningful contributions in Chile and globally. This achievement recognizes the merit of our students and reaffirms the university’s role as a key institution serving society and addressing Chile’s most pressing needs,” said Rector Juan Carlos de la Llera.
Currently, the UC offers 39 doctoral programs, with 1,478 students across all fields of knowledge. 100% of its programs are accredited by the Comisión Nacional de Acreditación (CNA), underscoring the university’s strong track record in doctoral education.
This achievement takes place within a national context in which doctoral education has experienced sustained growth in the number of accredited programs. At the same time, high demand and the availability of scholarships continue to make the selection process highly competitive, highlighting the need to strengthen funding mechanisms to support the training of highly qualified researchers in Chile.
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