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Universities in South America may not be as enticing as their counterparts in Northern America and Europe, but they still attract many international students yearly. Suppose you have wondered why people travel to South America to study. In that case, it is mainly due to the rich cultural experience that most countries offer and the personalized teaching experiences that create room for learning new languages and becoming part of a new society.
The primary language of communication and instruction in Southern America is Portuguese or Spanish, but that does not diminish the outstanding opportunities you can benefit from, as the region has a diverse palate of countries to choose from for those wishing to have the ‘study or live abroad’ experience.
Why Study in South America?
South America, also known as Latin America, is home to many world-renowned universities and academic institutions. In the latest QS World University Rankings, 192 higher education institutions on this continent are ranked.
Universities in the region offer diverse approaches to teaching and research. One quality that particularly sets them apart from other continents is their prioritization of social justice and community engagement in their academic programs.
If you study in South America, you can absorb enormous richness in history and cultural heritage. The ancient civilizations of the Aztecs and Incas and the colonial legacy of the Spanish and Portuguese empires all make for a fulfilling experience.
Although most universities offer programs in Spanish or Portuguese, many also teach in English because they recognize the importance of bilingualism in a globalized world.
Some Latin American universities have partnerships with institutions worldwide, enabling them to provide students and faculty with opportunities to collaborate with colleagues from different countries and cultures.
If you are an international student searching for places to study in Southern America, here are the top 10 universities according to Times Higher Education, listed in ascending order.
1. University of São Paulo, Brazil
The University of São Paulo is the largest higher institution in Brazil. Around 83,000 students are currently enrolled across 11 campuses, four of which are in São Paulo.
Founded in 1934, it is also the most prestigious Latin American university, according to a survey of top scholars. The university offers over 200 undergraduate and 200 postgraduate programs across different disciplines.
Apart from its numerous faculties, the university operates four hospitals and 24 museums and galleries on its campuses. Important alumni include twelve Brazilian presidents.
2. University of Campinas, Brazil
The University of Campinas(Unicamp) is in São Paulo, Brazil. Established in 1966, the campus has a unique design: the main library, student service buildings, and restaurant are all located in a central circular plaza, while most of the academic buildings radiate out from the center.
Although this is one of Brazil’s younger higher institutes of learning, the University of Campinas established itself as a primary medical and scientific research center.
3. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile is one of six private Catholic institutions in the country. Its roots date back to 1888, making it one of the oldest in Chile.
It has four campuses in Santiago and one in Villarrica. When Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile was first established, it offered law, mathematics, legal sciences, and physical sciences courses. Since then, the 136-year-old university has expanded, and today, it offers courses across a wide range of academic fields, such as engineering, architecture, and philosophy.
4. Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp)
Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), also called São Paulo State University, is one of three public universities run by the government of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The institution has a student population of about 45,000 spread among its 23 campuses, which are mostly located in smaller cities, while one campus is in the capital, São Paulo.
The first campus is the Araraquara Pharmacy and Odontology Faculty, founded in 1923 and incorporated by São Paulo in 1956. Universidade Estadual Paulista offers courses in theoretical and experimental sciences, such as Engineering, Health, Communications, Humanities, Social Sciences, Arts, etc.
Listed among the three largest and most important Brazilian universities, UNESP offers quality education while developing strategic research and interacting with society through the provision of community services.
5. Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (UFRJ) was established at the beginning of the 19th century. It is characterized by remarkable scientific, cultural, and artistic accomplishments and is currently the third-best university in Brazil.
It has campuses and faculties scattered around Rio de Janeiro State, comprising schools, faculties, and institutes. UFRJ is also known for building museums and hospitals and is the third-largest ocean basin in the world for research on offshore oil exploitation. Federal University of Rio de Janeiro has partnerships with several national and multinational enterprises, some of which have facilities on its campus.
UFRJ has partnered with over 200 international institutions worldwide, and it offers undergraduate, master’s, and PhD programs taught in Portuguese. However, free Portuguese conversation classes are offered to all undergraduate exchange students.
6. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul Brazil
The Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) is located in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil,, and has most of its campuses in the state capital of Porto Alegre. It was established in 1895 as a collection of schools; with time, they gradually united and became the University of Rio Grande do Sul in 1947.
Three former presidents of Brazil, Getúlio Vargas, João Goulart, and Dilma Rousseff, are all graduates of the tertiary institution. One of UFRGS’ campuses is known as the international campus, and it is the focal point for cooperation with foreign researchers, academics, and students. The university offers lectures in Portuguese, but English-speaking students can enroll for Portuguese as a foreign language.
One of the campuses, Olimpico, offers students free sports classes supervised by professors. Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul created Zenit, its Scientific and Technological Park, in 2012 to promote research, innovation, and entrepreneurship within the university.
7. University of the Andes, Colombia
The University of the Andes, also known as Uniandes, was established in 1948 as an independent private institution with just seven programmes and a handful of students and teachers. It is located in Bogotá, and it is well connected to transport routes and the country’s financial hub.
It has nine academic disciplines: medicine, Law, Economics, Science, Engineering, Social Science, Arts and Humanities, Business Administration, and Architecture and Design. The University of the Andes is an innovation and research-led university with 163 laboratories and a wide-ranging capacity that attracts students from different countries.
Former President of Colombia, César Gaviria, is one of the most renowned alumni of the university. The university’s curriculum flexibility allows students to shape their studies in line with their areas of interest.
8. University of Chile
The University of Chile is a national and public university founded in 1842 and inaugurated on September 17, 1843. It is the country’s oldest and most prestigious higher education institution, located in Santiago Chile.
The university was established as the continuation of the former colonial Royal University of San Felipe (1738) and has a rich history in academic, scientific, and social outreach. It is also known for its leadership and innovation in science, technology, social sciences, and arts. The institution’s graduates include two Nobel laureates (Pablo Neruda and Gabriela Mistral) and twenty Chilean presidents.
9. University of la Costa Colombia
Universidad de la Costa CUC is a private university located in Barranquilla, the largest city on Colombia’s northern coast. It has about 13,000 students, 90 percent of whom are undergraduates.
The university, established in 1970, has 705 faculty members. Interestingly, it only gained official university status from the Colombian government in 2012, which allowed the university to begin offering master’s programs in 2013.
CUC has published five different scientific journals since it launched a publishing house named EDUCOSTA in 2004. The CUC is known for hosting an annual event to promote good governance. It invites notable political guest speakers and participants, such as Iván Duque Márquez, before he was elected Colombian President, and Carlos Valderrama, a Colombian football star.
10. Federal University of Minas Gerais Brazil
The first higher education institution in Minas Gerais, Brazil, was created in 1839, but the current Federal University of Minas Gerais, UMG, was founded in 1927. After its establishment, UMG became a combination of different schools of law, medicine, and engineering. It is located east of Belo Horizonte, a city with a strong footballing culture, to the point that it was a host city in the 1950 and 2014 World Cups.
The university organizes a “Knowledge Week” on campus every year to share information and developments across its different academic branches. The Federal University of Minas Gerais produced notable alumni, including former Brazilian prime minister Tancredo Neves, President Dilma Rousseff, and musician Samuel Rosa.
