Among the best universities in Latin America, Chilean universities are on their way to becoming the institutions with the greatest international projection in the Latin American region, according to the latest Times Higher Education Latin America University Rankings 2023.
The 2023 ranking of the best universities in Latin America includes 197 institutions in 15 countries, up from 13 countries last year. The ranking is headed in first place by the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile for the fifth consecutive year, while the Brazilian universities of São Paulo and Campinas maintain second and third place respectively. Mexico’s Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey moves up one position to fourth place.
Paraguay enters the ranking with the National University of Asunción in joint 82nd place. Similarly, Bolivia makes its debut with the Universidad Mayor de San Simón, which is ranked 126-150.
Brazil remains the most represented country in the ranking, with 65 institutions, followed by Colombia, which now has 36 institutions ranked, compared to 29 last year. Chilean universities are increasingly looking abroad, and this time they are less dominant in the overall ranking, falling to third place.
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The 5 best universities in Latin America
1. Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Chile
The Pontifical Catholic University of Chile is one of the six private Catholic institutions within the Chilean university system and is one of the two pontifical universities in the country.
Initially, the university offered courses in Law, Mathematics, Juridical Sciences and Physical Sciences. However, in 1935 the Faculty of Theology was established, thus expanding its academic offering to include disciplines such as philosophy, commerce and technology.
The university has four campuses located in Santiago, the capital of Chile, which is recognized as the cultural, political and financial epicenter of the country, housing the headquarters of various multinational companies. The fifth campus is located in Villarrica, near the city’s lake.
2. University of São Paulo, Brazil
It is no surprise that the University of São Paulo (USP) is ranked second among the best universities in Latin America in the 2023 World University Rankings. It also holds the title of the most prestigious academic institution in the region, according to a survey conducted among leading academics, and is ranked second overall in Latin America.
As the largest public higher education institution in Brazil and one of the largest in South America, USP currently has approximately 83,000 students spread across 11 campuses, four of which are located in São Paulo.
Graduates of this university have a remarkable track record of ascending to leadership roles in some of the world’s leading companies. Twelve Brazilian presidents have earned their degrees from USP. Since its founding in 1934, the university has attracted prominent international professors and set a new standard in teaching and research in the country.
The academic offering includes more than 200 undergraduate and 200 graduate programs covering a wide range of disciplines. In addition to its faculties, the university runs four hospitals and has 24 museums and galleries on its various campuses.
3. University of Campinas, Brazil
The University of Campinas, better known as Unicamp, is a public research-focused institution located in the state of São Paulo, Brazil.
Founded in 1966, despite being one of the newest institutions in Brazil, Unicamp has consolidated its position as a leading center for medical and scientific research.
The campus layout is distinctive, with the main library, student services and dining hall located in a circular central plaza, while most of the academic buildings are arranged in blocks extending out from the centre. The university offers 70 undergraduate and 153 graduate programmes in four main areas: exact sciences, human sciences, biological sciences and technologies.
4. Monterrey Institute of Technology, Mexico
It is a private university system that was established in 1943 in Monterrey, Mexico. It offers a wide range of academic programs, including bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees, in disciplines that cover engineering, management, social sciences, arts, sciences and medicine. Currently, it has 31 campuses distributed in 25 cities in Mexico.
The outstanding reputation of Tecnológico de Monterrey, which dates back to its founding, is due to the culture of entrepreneurship, work, efficiency and responsibility it promotes among its students. This prestige motivates graduates, from various regions of Mexico, to promote the presence of Tecnológico de Monterrey in their hometowns.
The university actively encourages students to undertake study periods abroad. Diversity is a distinctive feature, with students representing over 70 nationalities on campus.
5. Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), Brazil
The fifth place of the best universities in Latin America is occupied by the Federal University of São Paulo, known in Portuguese as Universidade Federal De São Paulo or UNIFESP, is a public university in Brazil.
From its foundation until 2005, UNIFESP was a university specialized in health sciences. Its mission was to turn students into health professionals and contribute to medical research.
The original nucleus of the university was the Paulista School of Medicine, which dates back to 1933. In 1994 it was converted from a private institution to a federal one. The university’s headquarters are located in Vila Clementino, São Paulo.
In 2005, the university expanded outside of São Paulo, establishing campuses in Santos, Diadema, Guarulhos, São José dos Campos, and Osasco. Several of these campuses offer courses in academic fields beyond UNIFESP’s traditional medical training, such as philosophy, history, and economics.
São Paulo is considered one of the most populous cities on the planet. Its 11 million inhabitants work hard and play hard, with 24-hour bars and the most productive economy in Brazil. As the capital of the state of São Paulo, the city is an hour’s drive from the Costa Paulista, with its stunning beaches and abundant seafood.
List of the 10 best universities in Latin America
- Pontifical Catholic University of Chile – Chile
- University of São Paulo – Brazil
- University of Campinas – Brazil
- Monterrey Institute of Technology – Mexico
- Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP) – Brazil
- Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul – Brazil
- Federal University of Minas Gerais – Brazil
- Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio) – Brazil
- University of Chile – Chile
- São Paulo State University (Unesp) – Brazil
By choosing to study at one of these Latin American universities, you will be immersed in an environment that combines rich cultural diversity with top-notch academic quality. We encourage you to explore the options available to you and choose the university that best suits your goals and aspirations.
