IPA-Copan scholarships: how to get them and how to keep them
Who is entitled to an IPA-Copan scholarship, what it covers in high school, trade school and university, which schools it does not apply to, and what to do to keep it.
In the communities supported by IPA-Copan, students who meet the requirements are guaranteed a scholarship for secondary education and can apply for a scholarship for a trade school or a university. Thanks to these scholarships, your education can be practically free.
This topic brings together what the Ruta de Vida guide, published by IPA-Copan in partnership with Rotary, says about scholarships at each stage, where they apply and where they do not, and what is in your hands to avoid losing them.
If you have a scholarship, you are already in Ruta de Vida
If you have an IPA-Copan scholarship, you are part of the Ruta de Vida program. That includes the book, the social media groups, personalized guidance from the team, and the Fondo de Salud Estudiantil (Student Health Fund). Trade school and university students are automatically added to a program WhatsApp group; sixth-grade and high school students can join the Facebook group «Ruta de Vida por IPA-Copan». That is where important announcements are posted.
The high school scholarship (grades 7 to 12)
If you live in a village supported by IPA-Copan, there is a high school in your community or in a nearby one, and you are entitled to a scholarship that covers your educational expenses. Continuing on to seventh grade is usually straightforward.
The scholarship applies at the high schools approved by the program, which are listed by municipality in the book: Copán Ruinas, Santa Rita, and Cabañas. Two important conditions:
- The high school must offer eight or more hours of classes per week. At some centers in the IHER system, that condition decides whether there is a scholarship or not.
- Students under fifteen need special permission for the SEMED modality.
Since 2025 the program has a partnership with Río Amarillo IHER, with six teachers, good facilities, computers, and a free school bus service that runs through Río Negro, Aldea Nueva, Cabañas, Santa Rita, and El Jaral. Students attend one day a week, Saturday or Sunday, depending on their grade and career track.
Where there is no scholarship
Because of the high costs and for other reasons, IPA-Copan does not offer scholarships for grades 7 to 12 at the bilingual schools (Mayatan, Abba, Los Pinos), Instituto Evangélico Amigos, IHER and IEFP in Santa Rita, ICEI at any of its locations, or the Educatodos program.
The trade school scholarship
Scholarships are available for teenagers and adults from the villages supported by IPA-Copan. They cover school fees and class materials; the student pays for their own transportation, unless classes are taught at the main campus of the school. Unless otherwise indicated, there are scholarships for the options described in the topic on trade schools in Copán.
Two exceptions: at this time IPA-Copan does not offer scholarships for Children International in Copán Ruinas or for the Centro de Cultura Popular in Santa Rita. You do not need a scholarship to learn English: Duolingo is free and, with half an hour a day, you make progress quickly.
Anyone who graduates from the ETAOO can also apply for a loan with favorable conditions to buy the tools, equipment, and basic supplies for their own microenterprise. This is explained in the topic on entrepreneurship and microenterprises.
The university scholarship
The university scholarship must be applied for and is not guaranteed. Before requesting it, it helps to be clear about four decisions: which degree you want to study, which modality suits you (in person, remote teaching, online, or distance learning), whether you need weekday or weekend classes, and which university fits your situation. The book compares the universities in Copán Ruinas and Santa Rita, online universities, and some farther away, and warns that the latter are usually much more expensive because of rent, food, and transportation.
A practical detail many people discover too late: getting into university may require starting the paperwork many months before classes begin. If you want to enroll in January, you may have to start in June of the previous year. Several public universities require an admission test.
How to keep the scholarship
The book does not turn this into a list of rules; it turns it into an attitude. What is in your hands:
- Study at an approved center and with the class hours the program requires. Transferring to a non-approved high school means losing the scholarship.
- Stay in touch. Take part in the Facebook or WhatsApp group that corresponds to you: that is where deadlines, changes, and opportunities are announced.
- Do not let an illness take you out of school. That is what the Fondo de Salud Estudiantil is for; report your case to the team before dropping out of classes.
- Speak up in time. If your parents do not agree with you continuing your studies, the program team can meet with them during a visit to your school to talk about the options.
- Ask for help before giving up. The team offers guidance on résumés, job searching, renting a room, and more.
The specific requirements for each level are confirmed by the program team. If you have questions about your case, write to them.
Sources
This article draws on documentation from Rotary International, partner clubs, and local institutions.
- Ruta de Vida: cómo planificar tu educación y carrera en Copán
Topics: scholarships · IPA-Copan · high school · university · trade school
Free book: Ruta de Vida
Download the complete book as a PDF or explore the other sections of this guide.