10 Cheapest Universities in Peru for International Students

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Surrounded by the Andean mountains and the Amazon basin, Peru is indeed one of the more picturesque South American countries. After all, it has beautiful heritage sites and ancient cultures that are unlike any other. More than just being a tourist spot, Peru has proven its worth as an educational destination. With its cheap yet good-quality universities, students can enjoy a memorable educational experience here. In this article, we will be looking at cheap universities in Peru for international students.

How is the higher education system in Peru?

From only 7 universities in 1962, Peru is now home to 51 state (nacional) and 89 private (particulare) institutions. To be admitted, students need to have a Certificado de Educación secundaria común completa. Some universities require an entrance exam or a Bachillerato exam. Admission can be quite strict as some programs follow a limited number of enrollees (numerus clausus).

The Bachelor program runs for ~5 years, while the Masters and Doctorate degrees last for 2 and 3 years respectively.

Do Peruvian universities offer degree programs in English?

There are some English-taught programs, however, the majority is in Spanish.

How much will it cost to study in Peruvian universities?

The tuition for bachelor’s studies ranges from $2,316 to $8,400 a year. Postgraduate studies are more expensive, with tuition reaching as much as $40,000 a year.

What are the teaching languages used in Peruvian universities?

Spanish is the primary medium of instruction in Peruvian universities. In bigger institutions, English is used as well.

Cheap Universities in Peru

1. University of Lima

  • Estimated Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: 8,262 PEN ($2,316 a year)
  • Estimated Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: 8,262 PEN ($2,316 a year)

The University of Lima is a private, non-profit educational institution. Founded in 1962, it is regarded as one of the country’s finest universities.

The University has 5 schools for undergraduate studies. These are the Faculties of Business & Economic Science, Law, Communication, Psychology, and Engineering & Architecture. All of these accept foreign students.

The university also has a few postgraduate offerings, including Masters degrees in Business Administration, Taxation, Project Management, Business Law, and Strategic Content Management. With the tuition fee of approximately $2,300 a year, University of Lima is considered the cheapest universities in Peru for international students.

2. Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina

  • Estimated Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: 8,518 PEN ($2,387) a year
  • Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: $10,000 a year

The National Agrarian University (UNALM) is a public educational institution in Lima, Pera. Founded in 1902, it keeps true to its motto of “cultivating the man and the land.” As such, it is the school of choice for students who wish to pursue agriculture, biology, forestry science, and meteorology.

Its undergraduate programs are governed by the Faculties of Agronomy, Life & Physical Science, Forestry Science, Economics, Food Science, Agricultural Engineering, Fisheries Science, and Animal Science.

It also offers Masters and Doctorate degrees in the fields of Economics, Agricultural Sciences, Nutrition, and Environment.

3. Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia

  • Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: 13,500 to 72,000 PEN ($3,784 to $20,182 a year)
  • Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: 13,500 to 72,000 PEN ($3,784 to $20,182 a year)
  • Tuition Fee Link

UPCH or Cayetano Heredia University is a private, non-profit institution situated in Lima, Peru. Founded in 1961, this affordable university in Peru traces its beginnings back to the National University of San Marcos medical school. True to tradition, it was named after the prominent Peruvian physician Cayetano Heredia.

Inspired by its humble beginnings, the university specializes in the fields of Medicine, Stomatology, Nursing, Psychology, Science, Public Health, and Veterinary Medicine. It also offers courses in Education and Philosophy.

International applicants need to submit an application form, letter of motivation, curriculum vitae, and proof of Spanish proficiency to be admitted in such courses.

4. Universidad de Piura

  • Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: 15,734 PEN ($4,410) a year
  • Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: 15,734 PEN ($4,410) a year
  • Tuition Fee Link

Universidad de Piura (UDEP) is a private university founded in 1969. It was established by Opus Dei founder Josemaria Escriva and has campuses in Piura and Lima. It has 6 schools, namely Educational Sciences, Economics & Business, Communication, Law, Humanities, and Engineering.

Apart from good grades and an entrance exam, applicants may need to undergo interviews as well. This is especially the case for those who wish to study Human Medicine or Psychology.

The university offers 4 types of scholarships.

5. Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos

  • Estimated Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: 16,038 PEN ($4,496) a year
  • Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: 25,800 to 44,800 PEN ($7,358 to $12,558) a year
  • Tuition Fee Link (graduate)

Next in our list of cheap universities in Peru is the National University of San Marcos (UNMSM), a public research institution founded in 1551. Known to many as the University of Peru and the Dean University of the Americas, it is the oldest continuously operating university in the region.

It is one of Peru’s more globalized universities, having its own office for international cooperation.

Its various schools include the Faculties of Health Science, Basic Science, Engineering, Economic & Business Science, and Humanities, Law & Legal Science.

6. Universidad de Ingeniería y Tecnología

  • Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: 26,250 PEN ($7,358) a year
  • Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: 26,250 PEN ($7,358) a year
  • Tuition Fee Link

Also known as the University of Engineering and Technology, UTEC is an institution founded in 2011. It is housed in an award-winning campus in Lina, the likes of which were designed by acclaimed Irish architects.

True to its specialization, UTEC offers undergraduate courses in Civil, Industrial, Energy, Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical, Environmental, Mechatronics, and Bioengineering. It also offers specialization and research masteries in Computer Science, Civil Engineering, and Collective Management.

International Baccalaureate holders need to demonstrate high scores in the sciences (Chemistry, Physics) to be admitted. An entrance test is also required.

7. Universidad ESAN

  • Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: N/A (Graduate programs only)
  • Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: 26,250 PEN to 160,536 PEN ($7,358 to $45,000) a year
  • Tuition Fee Link (according to course)

Esan University is a private university based in Santiago de Surco, Lima. Founded in 1963, this affordable university in Peru has earned the distinction of being the first Graduate School of Business in Latin America. Its postgraduate degrees are delivered through the 3 schools of Economics & Management, Engineering, and Law.

Apart from its world-renowned MBA degree, Esan also offers postgraduate programs in Energy Management, Finance, Project Management, Health Services Management, and Supply Chain Management, to name a few.

8. University of Silvaner

  • Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: $7,900 a year
  • Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: $11,200 to $15,400 a year

The University of Silvaner is an educational institution that specializes in online learning. It is based in San Isidro, Peru.

It offers a lone Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, which is an online-exclusive program. It runs for 8 to 12 weeks per term.

It also offers Master’s degrees in Business Administration, Information Science, and Virtual Reality. Doctorates in Philosophy and Business Administration are open for admission as well.

Requirements for international applicants include a completed application form, curriculum vitae, school credentials, and proof of English proficiency. A goal statement is also needed for postgraduate applicants.

9. Universidad del Pacifico

  • Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: 31,050 PEN ($8,703) a year
  • Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: 31,050 PEN ($8,703) a year
  • Tuition Fee Link

The Universidad del Pacifico (UP) is a private university headquartered in Lima, Peru. Founded in 1962, this cheap university in Peru is supported by the Jesuit Society and several Peruvian entrepreneurs.

The university specializes in Business Management, Law, Engineering, and Economics.

UP has quite a long list of requirements for enrollees. Interested applicants need to submit a valid passport, secondary school report card, personal statement, certification of extracurricular activities, and academic performance certificate, to name a few.

10. Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú

  • Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: $8,400 a year
  • Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: $8,400 a year
  • Tuition Fee Link

We end our list of cheapest universities in Peru with the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, which was founded in 1917 with support from the Catholic Church. As the country’s first non-state educational institution, it is considered as one of the best in the nation.

While PUCP is open to international students, all of its courses are only taught in Spanish. As such, applicants need to have intermediate to advanced knowledge of the language.

Foreign enrollees are free to take a variety of courses, including that of Engineering, Political Science, Communications, Accounting, Education, and Sculpture, to name a few.

 

I hope that this article was helpful. If you are interested, visit the Scholarships Page.