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Gain insights into the Chile higher education framework, academic culture, teaching methods, and grading system to prepare for your studies.
4 to 6 semesters (a semester is half a year), so 2 to 3 years
A job-focused course. You can work as an assistant to a professional, or for yourself.
8 to 10 semesters (4 to 5 years) at universities. Usually 8 semesters (4 years) at professional institutes.
A degree for one job, such as engineer.
At Pontificia Universidad CatĂłlica de Chile (UC): master's about 2 years, PhD 3 to 4 years
Only universities can award academic degrees.
Chile has universities, professional institutes (IP) and technical training centres (CFT). Only universities award bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees.
Chile's higher education has universities, professional institutes and technical training centres.
Chile has 58 universities. 30 belong to the Council of Rectors (CRUCH), a group of universities, and 28 are private.
•The only institutions that can award all academic degrees.
•18 of the 58 are state universities created by law.
They give professional and higher technician titles.
•They cannot award academic degrees.
They give higher technician titles.
Given by universities, professional institutes and technical centres.
A general and scientific education for a profession.
An academic degree. Only universities award it.
Specialised advanced study.
Advanced research training.
Chile marks on a scale from 1 to 7.
To get a PhD scholarship from ANID (Chile's national research and development agency), your final degree average must be at least 5.0 out of 7.0, or the same level on your own scale.
Each university changes foreign marks its own way.
Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH) asks your home university to write your marks on the 1 to 7 scale and certify it.
Universidad de Chile (UChile) changes your marks to the 1 to 7 scale. It uses grading scales it already has, unless you send yours.
At Universidad de Chile (UChile), the year has two semesters.
March to July
New students start here.
Late July to December
Some UC programmes also take new students in August. UChile does not.
The National Accreditation Commission (CNA) checks the quality of universities, professional institutes and technical training centres.
Under Chile's Law 21.091, every institution must be accredited. More years of accreditation mean stronger quality checks and results.
Accreditation checks resources, processes and results.
New students at accredited institutions can get state funding. Check the rules for foreign students.
Students of accredited master's and PhD programmes can apply for state scholarships.
Required for every institution. The CNA accredits an institution for 3 to 7 years.
Major Regional Accreditors:
Bachelor's programmes in Medicine, Dentistry and all teaching degrees must be accredited. Master's and PhD programmes can also be accredited.
Use Chile's official study portal.
The Ministry of Education's study portal (in Spanish).
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