Top 5 Universities in Chile for International Students

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Occupying a long and narrow strip of land on the west coast of South America, Chile is one of the most developed countries in the continent. It has a very high quality of life, and the great outdoors ranging from dense forests to deserts, make it an attractive option for tourists, and a growing number of international students.

There are places and universities that can fit every student’s needs, from coastal towns with top-notch higher education institutions to large cities with a population of a few million, there is no shortage of options for international students when it comes to finding an ideal place to study in Chile. In this article, we will be looking at the best universities in Chile for international students.

How satisfied are international students studying in Chile?

Chile has some of the best high education institutions in Latin America, so students from other countries of the continent feel delighted to be able to not only study at a high-quality university but also be relatively close to home.

Recently, students from other continents are beginning to come to Chile in larger numbers, and they all have nothing but nice things to say about life in Chile, primarily the vast variety of outdoors, and the warm nature of Chilean people and colleagues from all over Latin America.

What are the most popular programs in Chile for International Students?

Universities in Chile are very famous for their programs in the fields of agriculture. For international students that don’t have a solid grasp of the Spanish language, there are a few programs available in English that are very popular, though it is recommended for everyone who chooses to study in Chile to attend Spanish classes.‘

How many international students study in Chile?

The number of international students in Chile currently sits around 20.000 students. That number has been rising consistently since 2015 and should continue to rise in the future. Most of these students come from Latin America (76%), and primarily from neighboring countries such as Peru.

What is the most prestigious university in Chile?

Universidad de Chile is the country’s most prestigious university, and one of the most prestigious on the continent. It is also the oldest university in Chile, as it was founded in 1842.

The university is ranked among the top 500 higher education establishments in the world.

The University of Chile has had a huge impact on the development of the country, as it has produced 20 of its presidents, as well as 2 Nobel prize winners and winners of nearly 200 national awards.

Best Universities in Chile for International Students

1. University of Chile

Located in the capital – Santiago, the University of Chile, or Universidad de Chile is the best university in Chile for international students and has over 40.000 students who attend various programs within one of the 14 faculties. International students are more than welcome, and there are usually quite a few of them attending there each year, so they can not only enjoy a world-class higher education experience but also live in one of the most prosperous cities in South America.

However, there is a Spanish language requirement to be able to attend, as you have to provide evidence that your Spanish is of at least B1. Tuition ranges from around $3,000 to $8,000.

2. Pontifical Catholic University of Chile

  • International Student Admissions Page
  • Number of International Students: 1.400
  • Percentage of International Students: 4.5%

The Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, or UC in short, is the best private university in the country. It was founded in 1888 and is now a leading research institution for Chile, and widely recognized across Latin America and the world, as its Faculty of Law, and Faculty of Education are ranked 44th and 21st worldwide, respectively. It is also located in Santiago and provides plenty of exchange and mobility programs to entice international students to come there.

Despite being a private university, the tuition fees are only a little bit higher than its public counterparts. UC also offers plenty of services for its international students including libraries, computer labs, and extracurricular activities involving volunteer work, sports, and more.

3. Federico Santa Maria Technical University

Next on our list of best universities in Chile for international students is Federico Santa Maria Technical University. This university is located in one of the most beautiful cities in South America, called Valparaiso, which sits on the coast of Chie and is widely known as the San Francisco of Latin America. As such, It attracts plenty of international students, and no other institution in the city is more renowned than the Federico Santa Maria Technical University.

The university has been recognized as one of the best in South America when it comes to engineering and information technologies, and its campus was voted as the second most beautiful in the continent. There are currently 20.000 students enrolled, with a growing number of international, as well as exchange students from some top universities in the world. The university mainly focuses on bachelor’s studies as 95% of the courses are for that level, but there are a few options for Master’s and Ph.D. students as well.

4. University of Santiago, Chile

As yet another top university in the capital, the University of Santiago, Chile, or USACH is one of the country’s oldest and most popular universities. This university offers a broad range of degrees, however, they are all in Spanish, so most of the international students come from other countries in South America. But, since Spanish is widely spoken around the world, it is also an attractive option for students from further out, as it is a world-class institution, that had some of the finest individuals in Chile and beyond come through its ranks.

Admissions to the University of Santiago, Chile are fairly straightforward, and anyone in the world is eligible to apply, however, acceptance is not guaranteed and largely depends on the applicant’s grades in secondary school, as well as the course that they’re applying for.

5. Andrés Bello University (UNAB)

Spread across three important cities in Chile: the capital Santiago, Vina del Mar, and Concepcion, the Andres Bello University is one of the largest in Chile with around 40.000 students, of which nearly 1.000 are foreign nationals. As a top university in Chile for international students, UNAB is most famous for its medical research and study programs, but there are also programs in pretty much every other field, that can fit the taste of every student.

The university also offers several scholarships including sports and state scholarships, depending on your grades, nationality, and previous achievements.

 

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