Marcos Daniel Maldonado Núñez, 22, a former student of the Faculty of Engineering at the National University of Asunción (UNA), has been admitted to the Mathematics program at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom after a rigorous selection process. However, he faces the challenge of securing financial support for his studies, which total £46,000 (about 370,000 guaraníes) for the three-year course.
In an interview, Maldonado explained that he discovered his true calling for mathematics during his undergraduate engineering studies at UNA. “I applied to Cambridge because the program really interested me. I saw something that aligned with my interests and that is not so common in Paraguay,” he said.
The application process began between June and July 2025, when he researched how to access British universities and the necessary requirements. The admission system is done through a digital platform, where applicants submit academic information and a personal essay explaining their reasons for pursuing the chosen career.
Maldonado highlighted an additional difficulty for Paraguayan students: national school certificates are not recognized as sufficient for direct admission to some universities in the United Kingdom. “Unfortunately, school diplomas issued here are not considered sufficient as an academic qualification,” he stated. As an alternative, he used his performance at UNA, where he achieved excellent grades.
After completing academic interviews and assessments, he received a positive response between January and February 2026. “It was a very happy moment,” he recalled. However, the next step became a greater challenge due to the high cost. Although he applied for a scholarship from the university itself, he was not selected in the final stage.
The young man also sought support from institutions and individuals but has so far received no concrete responses. Therefore, he decided to make his case public through social media and the press. “I am resorting to these means,” he said. He has until the end of June to confirm acceptance and arrange the funds. If he secures support, the trip to the United Kingdom is scheduled for September, when he will begin the three-year course.
Those interested in helping can contact him via Instagram @_marcosmaldonado.