The Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María (UTFSM, also USM) is an engineering and science university with its main house in Valparaíso. The Federico Santa María Foundation was created on 27 April 1926, and academic activities began at the beginning of 1932.[1] In the QS World University Rankings 2027 it is in the band 1001–1200, tied for eighth among Chilean universities.[2]
For the 2027 intake, annual tuition for daytime undergraduate programmes ranges from CLP 3,460,000 (university technician programmes) to CLP 7,540,000 (most civil engineering degrees), plus a basic enrolment fee of CLP 145,000 per semester.[3] People who completed secondary school abroad apply through a special admission process with documents validated by the Chilean Ministry of Education.[4]
Key facts
| Official name | Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María (UTFSM, USM) |
| Location | Valparaíso, Chile (Casa Central: Avenida España 1680)[5] |
| Type | Private traditional technical university[6] |
| Founded | 27 April 1926, creation of the Federico Santa María Foundation; academic activities from the beginning of 1932; university status in the mid-1930s (Supreme Decree No. 3048)[1] |
| Campuses | Casa Central (Valparaíso), San Joaquín and Vitacura (Santiago), Viña del Mar and Concepción[5] |
| Graduates | More than 48,000[7] |
| Students | 19,291 in 2020, as listed on Wikipedia; the university’s own page gives no total[6] |
| Postgraduate programmes | 8 doctorates and 19 master’s programmes (including an MBA)[7] |
| Accreditation | Accredited in all areas[7] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | Band 1001–1200 (unchanged from 2026)[2] |
| Tuition 2027, annual (daytime undergraduate) | CLP 3,460,000 to CLP 7,540,000 by programme[3] |
| Basic enrolment fee 2027, new students | CLP 145,000 per semester[3] |
| Special route for secondary studies abroad | Admission by assessment of documents, validated by the Ministry of Education[4] |
| Official website | usm.cl |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 7 November 2026.
About the Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María
The university began with the will that Federico Santa María wrote in Paris in 1920. On 27 April 1926 the Foundation that bears his name was created and the setting up of a university was decided. Karl Laudien, hired in Germany, became the first rector. The doors of the School of Arts and Crafts and of the José Miguel Carrera College of Engineers opened at the beginning of 1932, and in the mid-1930s the Foundation became a higher-education institution and took the name Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María.[1]
It has five sites: Casa Central in Valparaíso, Campus San Joaquín and Campus Vitacura in Santiago, Sede Viña del Mar and Sede Concepción.[5] Wikipedia classes it as a private traditional technical university and gives 20 December 1931 as the founding date.[6] The university’s own page reports more than 48,000 graduates and says it is accredited in all areas.[7]
How is the Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María ranked?
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, the university is in the 1001–1200 band, the same as in the 2026 edition. It shares eighth place among Chilean universities with the Universidad Andrés Bello and the Universidad Austral de Chile; QS does not publish an exact position inside the band.[2][8]
The university’s own page also states that it is the first Chilean university in engineering in the U.S. News Best Global Universities ranking.[7] Rankings differ by publisher and year. How we compile rankings. See the full table on our Chile page.
What can you study at UTFSM?
The daytime undergraduate offer is built around civil engineering degrees, Commercial Engineering, science degrees (Astrophysics, Physics, Chemistry) and university technician programmes. Eight evening programmes exist as well, among them Commercial Engineering and Industrial Civil Engineering.[7] The 2027 tuition page also lists Architecture, Civil Construction, Product Design, Biotechnology Engineering and Aeronautical Maintenance.[3] At postgraduate level there are 8 doctorates and 19 master’s programmes.[7]
How much does UTFSM cost for the 2027 intake?
| Programmes (daytime, admission 2027) | Annual tuition (CLP) |
|---|---|
| University technician programmes (Viña del Mar, Concepción, some Vitacura) | 3,460,000 |
| University Technician in Aeronautical Maintenance (San Joaquín) | 4,490,000 |
| Biotechnology Engineering, Industrial Manufacturing and Design, Computing, Industrial Maintenance and Risk Prevention (Viña del Mar, Concepción) | 5,500,000 |
| Licenciaturas in Astrophysics, Physics and Chemistry | 5,340,000 |
| Civil Construction, Product Design Engineering, Chemist (Casa Central) | 6,370,000 |
| Architecture (Casa Central, San Joaquín) | 6,920,000 |
| Most civil engineering degrees, Commercial Engineering (Casa Central, Vitacura) | 7,540,000 |
These are the amounts on the university’s page “Aranceles y derecho de matrícula, admisión 2027”, which cites decrees 605, 606 and 607 of 2026. The page says the values apply to 2027 and may be paid in up to ten monthly instalments from March 2027.[3] The basic enrolment fee for new students is CLP 145,000 per semester.[3] The page has no separate information on foreign students and does not cover evening programmes or postgraduate fees.[3]
Exchange and independent foreign students
The international office says independent foreign students without a bilateral agreement are welcome but pay tuition plus a fee per credit (SCT); it gives no amounts. Its estimate of monthly living costs in Chile is CLP 540,000 on a small budget and CLP 850,000 on a standard budget.[9]
How do you apply to UTFSM as a foreign student?
UTFSM takes part in the national access system (PAES).[10] For people who finished secondary school abroad it offers a special admission process to any of its programmes, decided on the basis of the documents submitted.[4]
- Documents for the route: national ID card on both sides or passport; transcripts and a proof of completion of secondary school (or equivalent), both validated by the Chilean Ministry of Education; and a certificate with the grading scale of the country of origin and its equivalence to Chilean grades. The page lists no entrance test for this route and no language requirement.[4]
- PAES route: a foreign applicant who completed secondary school entirely abroad can sit the PAES after the Ministry has recognised the studies; foreign grades are not used in the weighted score.[11]
- Visa: all foreign students need a visa to study in Chile; the international office advises applying at a Chilean embassy or consulate before travelling.[9]
The special-admission page covers the 2026 process and a calendar for the 2027 cycle. We give no dates because they change; the page notes that requirements can change between periods.[4]
Which language do you need?
The special-admission page names no language level.[4] For exchange students the international office asks for Spanish at B1 on the CEFR scale (the European scale from A1 to C2; B1 is intermediate). Applicants at A2 may be admitted conditionally and then take the Intensive Spanish Course; the university recommends at least three semesters of certified Spanish.[9] That rule is for exchange, so ask the admissions office what applies to degree studies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is UTFSM a public university?
How much is tuition at UTFSM for 2027?
Annual tuition for daytime undergraduate programmes runs from CLP 3,460,000 (university technician programmes) to CLP 7,540,000 (most civil engineering degrees), plus CLP 145,000 enrolment fee per semester for new students.[3]
How can I apply with a foreign school certificate?
Through the special admission process for people who finished secondary school abroad. You send a transcript and a proof of completion validated by the Chilean Ministry of Education, and a certificate of the grading scale.[4]
What Spanish level does UTFSM require?
How is UTFSM ranked?
It is in the 1001–1200 band of the QS World University Rankings 2027, unchanged from 2026.[2]
More about studying in Chile
- Chile: best universities
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in Chile
Sources
[1] Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María: Our history (page without a date)
[2] Emol: Chilean universities in the QS ranking 2027 (QS publishes the ranking at topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access) (article of 18 Jun 2026)
[3] Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María: Aranceles y derecho de matrícula, admisión 2027 (page without a date; admission 2027)
[4] Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María: Admisión especial (page without a date; special admission 2026 and calendar 2027)
[5] Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María: Campus y sedes (page without a date)
[6] Wikipedia: Federico Santa María Technical University (type, founding date and 2020 student number; secondary source)
[7] Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María: Conócenos (page without a date; latest news item 6 Nov 2026)
[8] Cooperativa: QS Ranking 2027, Chilean universities (article of 18 Jun 2026)
[9] UTFSM International Affairs: Frequently asked questions (page without a date; mainly for exchange students)
[10] DEMRE: Universities of the Access System (page without a date; admission process 2027 menu)
[11] DEMRE: Foreign applicants without NEM (page without a date; admission process 2027)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.