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Last Updated: April 14, 2022

Study in Chile

Chile is one of the few popular study destinations in Latin America with a wide variety of learning options for students. Immersing oneself in Chilean culture would imply learning Spanish and knowing more about indigenous cultures that one wouldn’t otherwise be familiar with. Students will be able to learn subjects like Astronomy, Geology, Sustainable Development, etc.

There are over 61 educational institutions in the country with 25 of them being traditional/state universities. Students will be able to study in most universities by giving the University Selection Examination. Some other universities provide admission based on transcripts and other qualifying documents.

Popular Programs in Chile

A few of the popular programs in this country include-

Major Universities in Chile

There are 61 educational institutions in the country with a majority of them being privately funded. 25 of these universities are state funded and are called traditional universities out of which 8 are the oldest universities in the country. The universities here take in only the most qualified students who can crack the University Selection Examination with a few private universities being an exception. The best universities in the country include-

Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile

This university was established in the year 1888 and is one of the oldest private educational institutions in the country. It has a student population of around 34,000 along with over 1,600 academic staff. Out of these, around 2,000 are international students. It has been ranked as the best university in Chile and the 3rd best university in Latin America.

University of Chile

This university was established in the year 1842 and is the oldest educational institution in the country that is publicly funded. It has a student population of around 43,000 along with over 3,600 academic staff. There are over 1,700 international students at this university. It has been ranked as the second-best university in the country and the 5th best in Latin America. The best subjects offered here include space science, mathematics, geosciences, etc.

Universidad Tecnica Federico Santa Maria

This university was established in the year 1926 and is a privately funded traditional university. It has a student population of 20,000 along with over 600 academic staff. This university has been ranked as the 3rd best in the country and it is the 15th best in Latin America. The best programs offered here are in the fields of engineering and physics.

University of Concepcion

This university was established in the year 1919 and is a traditional private university. It has a student population of 28,000 along with over 1,100 academic staff. It is the 4th best university in the country with departments for agronomy, medicine, dentistry, forestry, nursing, environmental sciences, etc. The best-ranked programs are in subjects like geosciences, space science, plant & animal science, etc.

University Diego Portales

This university was established in the year 1982 and is a private university. It has a student population of 17,000 along with over 1,300 academic staff. It has been ranked as the 5th best university in the country and ranks within the first 30 global universities in Latin America. The best program offered here is in space science.

Universidad Autonoma de Chile

This university was established in the year 1989 and is a private institution known for the programs offered in clinical medicine. It has a student population of 25,000. It has been ranked as the 6th best university in the country. The faculties here include health sciences, architecture, business, law, education, engineering, social sciences, etc.

Universidad Austral de Chile

This university was established in the year 1954 and is a traditional university. It has a student population of 17,000 along with over 700 administrative staff. It is the 7th best university in the country and has been listed among the top 50 global universities in Latin America. The best programs offered here are in the fields of plant & animal science, and environmental studies.

Universidad de Santiago de Chile

This university was established in the year 1849 and is a public university. It has a student population of around 21,000 along with over 2,700 academic staff. It is the 8th best university in the country and has been listed among the top 50 global universities in Latin America. The best subject offered here is chemistry.

Universidad Andres Bello

This university was established in the year 1988 and is a private institution. It has a student population of around 56,000. This university has been ranked as the 9th best in the country. The best program offered here is in the field of space science.

Student Visa in Chile

Student visas are provided to international students in Chile based on their nationality and the duration of the course they have applied to. For programs that have a duration of fewer than 90 days, students will have to get a Chile tourist visa unless they are an EU or US national. This is because these two places are exempt from visa requirements in the country.

For programs that have a duration of more than 90 days, students will have to take a Chile student visa which is valid for a maximum of 1 year. Students will be able to renew the same until the completion of their course.

Working While Studying in Chile

Students who have a Chile student visa are not allowed to work while studying unless they obtain an Authorization to work for foreigners with a student visa. This authorization is issued by the Immigration Department in Chile and it is provided only for candidates who wish to do internships within their field of study or if they require finances to pay for their education.

To get the authorization one will have to provide an offer letter along with the reason why they have to work while studying in the country.

Career Options in Chile

It is generally not easy for a foreign national to get employed in Chile due to the language barriers and visa procedure requirements one will have to fulfill. Students will require a work visa to enter the career domain in the country since their student visa will only be valid for the duration of their course. If they wish to stay in the country for longer than 90 days, they will have to get one of the many residence permits offered by the country.

The most popular career option in the country for foreign nationals is teaching English. But at the same time, candidates must know and speak Chilean Spanish to get better job opportunities.

Major Cities for Studying in Chile

A few of the major student cities in Chile include-

Concepcion

This city is home to 5 prominent universities in the country including the University of Concepcion, Catholic University of the Holy Concepcion, San Marcos Regional University, and the University of Bio. With a student population of over 30,000, the city can be considered to be a college town. The city also offers great internship opportunities in various industries.

Santiago

Santiago is the largest city in Chile and is also the capital of the country with over 31 educational institutions. Around 9 institutions in the city are highly ranked as global universities including the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, University of Chile, Diego Portales University, Andres Bello University, etc.

Temuco

Temuco is a city with 4 higher education institutions including the Catholic University of Temuco, Autonomous University of Chile, and the Catholic University of Temuco. It is located in the southern part of Chile.

Cost of Studying in Chile

The cost of studying in Chile is comparatively higher than in most countries in South America. But at the same time, the cost is lower than that of places like the US, EU, Australia, etc. The amount one will require depends on the location they are living in and the university they go to. When public universities have lower tuition for most programs, private universities can seem expensive in the country.

The average cost of living in the country is estimated to be around 500,000CL$ without calculating rent.

Tuition Cost

The tuition fee that students have to pay depends on the university they are going to and the program they have chosen. Public and private universities have the power of setting their tuition fee which is one of the reasons why the fee varies greatly from place to place. The tuition here is considered to be expensive and at par with other OECD countries. The fee can range from 2,000,000CL$ to 6,000,000CL$ per year.

Accommodation Cost

Accommodation costs in the country are dependent on the city one has chosen to live in. Student cities are generally cheaper when compared to other places. One will be able to stay in shared apartments, dormitories, and other housing options based on their choice. The cost of apartments increases based on how close it is to the city center. The rent one has to pay per month ranges between 285,000CL$ to 335,000CL$.

Grocery Cost

The price for basic grocery items is-

Transportation Cost

The most favored means of travel in Chile is the local bus service which is both affordable and easily accessible. Since most people get around the country in buses, bus companies offer different promotions and rates for traveling on different routes. Buses also have different classes based on which the rate of the ticket varies. In the public transport system, the cost for a one-way ticket is 700CL$. Candidates will also be able to purchase a monthly card called bip! for an amount of 34,891CL$. One will also be able to take the train and metro to navigate through very specific routes.


Study in South America