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Universidad Francisco Marroquín
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UFM offers three types of financial aid: deferred tuition (student loans), scholarships based on need or a combination of academic merit and need; tuition waivers.
Deferred tuition. The University seeks the brightest and most motivated students. In order not to lose a bright candidate because of ability to pay, when it was founded, the University established a policy of deferred tuition for any licenciatura student demonstrating need.
In the admissions process, the student's ability to pay is at no point taken into account. Such information is deliberately excluded from the admissions process precisely to guard against any possibility of economic discrimination. Once a student is admitted to a licenciatura program, s/he is free to request a student loan. By UFM policy, no such student demonstrating need is denied a loan. Students are expected to begin reimbursement one year after completion of course work.
Scholarships for the handicapped. Since 198?, the School of Systems Engineering and Computer Science has offered a program for the handicapped in data entry. The program is free of charge. Qualified students who wish to continue on in a full degree program at this school are encouraged to do so and are given a full scholarship.
UFM established a second program for the handicapped in 19?? for wounded military officers.
UFM is the only university in Guatemala with programs especially directed to the handicapped. It is also the only campus in Guatemala designed to fully accommodate the physical needs of the handicapped, including all rest rooms.
Merit Scholarships. Very few graduates of Guatemala's public school system end up in a private university, including the brightest and most talented. Even if they qualify for a full tuition scholarship or deferred tuition, most must work to support themselves or contribute to the family budget. For many families just keeping them in secondary school represents a significant sacrifice of income they might could be earning at a job. Thus, those who want to study usually end up at the state-run university.
UFM has established a program of merit scholarships to help such students and, at the same time, help the University reach the country's best minds. Outstanding students from the public school system are invited to compete for scholarships which include not only tuition, but also a stipend for books, clothes, and spending money.
Sponsored scholarships. Gifts to the University for scholarships are awarded according to the desires of the donor. In one such case, at the donor's request, the University designed several scholarships for women students based on need.
Tuition waivers for faculty, staff and faculty children. Faculty and staff members are eligible for tuition waivers, as are children of faculty in undergraduate programs.