Universidad Mayor de San Simón (UMSS) is a public, autonomous university in Cochabamba, Bolivia, created by law on 5 November 1832.[1] Its own “About” page describes it as “pública, autónoma y gratuita” (public, autonomous and free of charge), and its faculty directory lists 14 faculties.[1][2] In the QS Latin America and the Caribbean ranking 2027 it is in the 201–250 band; a QS World University Rankings 2027 placement could not be confirmed.[3]
Entry is through the PSA exam, a pre-university course or a special-admission route; the pass mark for the PSA and the course is 51 out of 100.[4] Foreign applicants have no direct entry because of their nationality: they follow the faculty’s regular process and need a legalised bachillerato diploma, a legalised birth certificate and a student visa.[5] The pages we read list no fee amounts.
Key facts
| Official name | Universidad Mayor de San Simón (UMSS)[1] |
| Location | Cochabamba, Bolivia (Av. Oquendo y Calle Sucre, according to uniRank; the university’s own pages give no street address)[6] |
| Type | Public and autonomous; describes itself as free of charge (“gratuita”); part of the Bolivian university system[1] |
| Founded | 5 November 1832, by law, under President Andrés de Santa Cruz[1] |
| Autonomy | Approved in reforms backed by a referendum of 11 January 1931; the State intervened in 1955, 1971 and 1980[7] |
| Faculties | 14 in the university’s faculty directory (listed below); Wikipedia gives 18, so the counts differ[2] |
| Undergraduate careers | More than 80 (Los Tiempos, March 2024); Wikipedia mentions 99[8] |
| Students | No total published on the pages read; Law had 11,323 students enrolled in 2023 among the annual programmes[8] |
| QS Latin America & Caribbean 2027 | 201–250 (edition published 1 October 2026)[3] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | Not confirmed |
| Entrance routes | PSA exam, pre-university course, or special admission; pass mark 51/100[4] |
| Foreign applicants | Regular faculty process; legalised bachillerato diploma and birth certificate, student visa and valid passport required[5] |
| Phone | +591 (4) 4525161[1] |
| Official website | umss.edu.bo |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 7 November 2026.
What is Universidad Mayor de San Simón?
UMSS was founded by law on 5 November 1832, during the presidency of Andrés de Santa Cruz.[1] The university’s history page says it started as an academy of legal practitioners.[7] Autonomy was approved in reforms backed by a referendum of 11 January 1931 and written into the Constitution by a decree of February 1931. The State intervened in 1955 (for a few months), 1971 (seven years) and 1980 (two years); after each intervention the university movement recovered autonomy.[7]
The university describes itself as public, autonomous and free of charge, as the highest institution of higher education in the department of Cochabamba and as part of the Bolivian university system. It is governed by joint teacher and student representation (“cogobierno paritario”).[1] Besides the metropolitan campuses it runs a campus for agronomy and decentralised units in the Valle Alto and the Trópico regions.[9]
How is UMSS ranked?
In the QS Latin America and the Caribbean ranking 2027, published on 1 October 2026 with 517 universities from 27 countries, UMSS is in the 201–250 band.[3][10] On our Bolivia list, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés is in a higher band (161–170) and Universidad Privada Boliviana is in 191–200;[11] Universidad Católica Boliviana “San Pablo” is lower (251–300).[12]
We could not confirm a position in the QS World University Rankings 2027. Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one band as one view. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at UMSS?
The faculty directory lists 14 faculties:[2]
- Arquitectura y Ciencias del Hábitat (Architecture and Habitat Sciences)
- Ciencias Agrícolas, Pecuarias y Forestales (Agricultural, Livestock and Forestry Sciences)
- Ciencias Económicas (Economic Sciences)
- Ciencias Farmacéuticas y Bioquímicas (Pharmaceutical and Biochemical Sciences)
- Ciencias Jurídicas y Políticas (Legal and Political Sciences)
- Ciencias Sociales (Social Sciences)
- Ciencias y Tecnología (Science and Technology)
- Ciencias Veterinarias (Veterinary Sciences)
- Desarrollo Rural y Territorial (Rural and Territorial Development)
- Enfermería (Nursing)
- Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educación (Humanities and Education Sciences)
- Medicina (Medicine)
- Odontología (Dentistry)
- Politécnica del Valle Alto (Valle Alto Polytechnic)
Los Tiempos reported in March 2024 that UMSS offers more than 80 undergraduate careers in Cochabamba; Wikipedia counts 99 programmes in 18 faculties, so the figures differ by source and date.[8][13] The faculties have autonomy in managing their own calendars and admission modalities.[5] Since 2007 the university has also had a faculty and several careers in the provinces of the Cochabamba region.[7]
How much does UMSS cost?
UMSS describes itself as “gratuita”, free of charge.[1] The pages we read do not say whether this applies in the same way to foreign students, and they list no fee amounts for the PSA exam or the pre-university course.[4] One exception is stated: professionals who enter through second-degree admission pay a differentiated tuition fee.[4]
The admission page for foreign students links to a guide with an “estimated budget” for food, transport and services, but gives no figures.[5] For general costs see our Bolivia guide. We give no tuition figure for UMSS because none is published on the pages we read.
How do you apply to UMSS?
The university lists three admission modalities:[4]
- Prueba de Suficiencia Académica (PSA): a knowledge test and a psychotechnical aptitude assessment, depending on the career area. Minimum score 51/100.
- Curso Preuniversitario: a levelling course (in person, blended or online). Minimum 51/100 in each subject, based on two partial tests and a final exam.
- Special admission (exempt from the PSA and the course): second degree for professionals, people with disabilities who are Bolivian nationals, agreements with social organisations, and merit routes such as top school graduates of the department and winners of science olympiads. Health careers (Medicine, Dentistry, Biochemistry, Nursing, Physiotherapy, Nutrition) are excluded.
Some careers add their own test: Psychology and Social Work a personality test, Music an audition, Physical Activity and Sports Sciences a fitness test.[4] After admission you hand in your bachillerato diploma, ID card, birth certificate and photographs.[4]
Foreign applicants
There is no direct entry for foreign nationals, except under specific agreements. You follow the process of your faculty (entrance exam or preparatory course) and need: the bachillerato diploma, original or a copy legalised by the Foreign Ministry or with an Apostille; a birth certificate, apostilled or legalised by a consulate; a valid passport or foreigner’s ID; and a student visa from the migration authority.[5] Exchange students apply through the International Relations and Agreements Office (DRIC), which handles programmes such as PME (CRISCOS), AUGM (Escala) and ICM (Erasmus+).[5] We give no dates because each faculty sets its own calendar.
Which language do you need for UMSS?
The university’s pages are in Spanish. The admission and foreign-student pages we read name no language certificate and no English-taught programme, so plan on Spanish and ask the faculty if you need details.[4][5]
Frequently Asked Questions
Is UMSS free?
Can foreign students apply to UMSS?
Yes, but not by direct entry: they follow the regular process of the faculty and need a legalised diploma and birth certificate, a valid passport and a student visa.[5]
What is the pass mark for the entrance exam?
51 out of 100 for the PSA and for each subject of the pre-university course.[4]
How is UMSS ranked?
It is in the 201–250 band of the QS Latin America and the Caribbean ranking 2027.[3] A QS World University Rankings 2027 placement could not be confirmed.
What is the difference between UMSS and UMSA?
They are separate public universities. UMSS is in Cochabamba[1] and UMSA in La Paz, each with its own admission calls.
More about studying in Bolivia
- Bolivia: best universities
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in Bolivia
- Universidad Católica Boliviana “San Pablo”
- Universidad Mayor de San Andrés
- Universidad Privada Boliviana
Sources
[1] UMSS: Nuestra Universidad (page without a date; founding law, status, governance)
[2] UMSS: Facultades (page without a date; directory of 14 faculties)
[3] xuanxiao.org: QS Latin America & The Caribbean Rankings 2027, page 5 (ranks 201–250) (edition published 1 Oct 2026; page without a date)
[4] UMSS: Modalidades de Admisión (page without a date; read 7 Nov 2026)
[5] UMSS: Estudiantes Extranjeros (page without a date; the linked guide is dated May 2026)
[6] uniRank: Higher University of San Simón (page without a date; address; secondary source)
[7] UMSS: Historia (page without a date; autonomy and State interventions)
[8] Los Tiempos: UMSS ofrece más de 80 carreras y busca transformarse con innovación curricular (article of 4 Mar 2024; enrolment figures for 2023)
[9] UMSS: Campus Universitario (page without a date; no street address given)
[10] PR Newswire (QS press release, Spanish): QS World University Rankings 2027, Latin America and the Caribbean (published 1 Oct 2026; 517 universities from 27 countries)
[11] xuanxiao.org: QS Latin America & The Caribbean Rankings 2027, page 4 (ranks 151–200; QS publishes the ranking at topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access) (edition published 1 Oct 2026; page without a date)
[12] xuanxiao.org: QS Latin America & The Caribbean Rankings 2027, page 6 (ranks 251–300) (edition published 1 Oct 2026; page without a date)
[13] Wikipedia: Universidad Mayor de San Simón (secondary source; counts of faculties and programmes)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.