The University of Chile (Universidad de Chile) is a public university in Santiago founded in 1842, with 46,120 students across all levels.[1] It is ranked 185th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, second among Chilean universities.[2]
For students who enter in 2026 the annual tuition ranges, in the examples we read, from CLP 4,606,900 (Philosophy) to CLP 9,468,300 (Medicine), plus a basic enrolment fee of CLP 217,600.[3] People who finished secondary school abroad apply through a special route with entrance tests in Santiago; all teaching is in Spanish.[4]
Key facts
| Official name | Universidad de Chile |
| Location | Santiago, Chile (Casa Central: Av. Libertador Bernardo O’Higgins 1058)[5] |
| Type | Public university (the university describes itself as having a public character and as a national university)[5] |
| Founded | 1842; Wikipedia gives the law of 19 November 1842 and the opening ceremony of 17 September 1843[6] |
| First rector | Andrés Bello[5] |
| Students | 46,120 (undergraduate and postgraduate)[1] |
| Faculties | 16 faculties and 3 institutes according to the university’s facts page; Wikipedia counts 19 faculties and four interdisciplinary institutes[1] |
| Postgraduate programmes | 121 master’s programmes and 43 doctorates[1] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | 185th (173rd in the 2026 edition)[2] |
| Tuition 2026 for new students, annual | CLP 4,606,900 (Philosophy) to CLP 9,468,300 (Medicine) in the examples read[3] |
| Basic enrolment fee 2026 | CLP 217,600, paid by everyone entering[3] |
| Route for school-leavers from abroad | Special admission (SIEXT) with tests in Santiago; application fee CLP 40,000 or US$ 50 if paid from abroad[4] |
| Language of teaching | Spanish only (stated for the SIEXT route)[4] |
| Official website | uchile.cl |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 7 November 2026.
About the University of Chile
The University of Chile was created in 1842, and Andrés Bello was its first rector.[5] Wikipedia gives the founding law as 19 November 1842 and the opening ceremony as 17 September 1843.[6] The university presents itself as a public, national institution.[5] The Casa Central stands on the Alameda in central Santiago at Av. Libertador Bernardo O’Higgins 1058.[5]
Its facts page, last updated on 22 January 2026, reports 46,120 students, 121 master’s programmes and 43 doctorates, and 16 faculties and 3 institutes.[1] Wikipedia counts 19 faculties and four interdisciplinary institutes, so the faculty count depends on how units are grouped.[6]
How is the University of Chile ranked?
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, the University of Chile is 185th in the world. The 2026 edition placed it 173rd. Two Chilean universities are in the top 200: the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile (119th) and the University of Chile.[2][7]
Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings. See the full table on our Chile page.
What can you study at the University of Chile?
The 2026 tuition table is organised by faculty and programme. It includes Architecture, Law, Commercial Engineering, Philosophy, Medicine and Dentistry, among others.[3] At postgraduate level the university lists 121 master’s programmes and 43 doctorates.[1]
The special route for school-leavers from abroad covers professional, daytime programmes only, not technical ones.[4]
How much does the University of Chile cost in 2026?
| Programme (new students 2026) | Annual tuition (CLP) |
|---|---|
| Licenciatura en Filosofía | 4,606,900 |
| Architecture | 6,197,700 |
| Law | 6,964,300 |
| Commercial Engineering | 7,967,800 |
| Dentistry | 9,307,000 |
| Medicine | 9,468,300 |
The university’s page “Valor de aranceles 2026 para estudiantes nuevos” lists one annual amount per programme, written as plain numbers; the basic enrolment fee on the same page is given in Chilean pesos.[3] Everyone entering also pays the Derecho Básico de Matrícula Anual of CLP 217,600 when enrolling.[3] The page does not state a different tuition for foreign students. Its sidebar for foreigners links to recognition of degrees, the student mobility programme and Spanish courses.[3]
Application fee for the foreign school-leaver route
The SIEXT route charges an application fee of CLP 40,000, or US$ 50 if you pay from abroad by bank transfer. One fee covers the whole process, however many programmes or tests you choose, and it is not refunded.[4]
Gratuidad and state aid
The ministry names Chilean nationality or permanent or temporary residence as the condition for Gratuidad (state-funded tuition). With temporary residence, upper secondary school must have been completed in Chile.[8] Check your own status with the ministry.
How do you apply to the University of Chile as a foreign student?
The university takes part in the national access system,[9] and has a separate route called SIEXT for people with secondary studies abroad.[4]
- SIEXT (secondary studies abroad): you must have studied at least the last two years of upper secondary school abroad (three years abroad if the last year was completed in Chile). You may not apply through the centralised access system in the same process, and you may be admitted only for the semester that starts in March.[4] The steps are an online form with documents, entrance tests in person in Santiago, the delivery of documents after the first test, a choice of up to four programmes, and a ranking by weighted score.[4]
- Tests: the Special Mathematics Test and the Reading Competence Test are compulsory, with at least 40 of 100 points in each, plus programme-specific tests in biology, physics, chemistry or history and social sciences where required. A weighted score of at least 50 is needed for each programme you choose, and every programme has at least 3 places for this route.[4]
- Documents: secondary-school transcript, apostilled or legalised and officially translated into Spanish; passport-type photo; ID or passport; payment receipt. The Chilean secondary-school licence must be delivered before the tests, although provisional registration is possible with the school-leaving certificate of your country. Only copies legalised at a Chilean notary are accepted.[4]
- PAES route: a foreign applicant who completed secondary school entirely abroad can sit the PAES after the Ministry of Education has recognised the studies. The foreign grades are not used in the weighted score.[10]
The information we read belongs to the 2027 admission process. We give no dates because they change every year; check the SIEXT page and write to the university’s special admissions office for your own case.[4]
Which language do you need?
The curricula are taught only in Spanish. The university’s SIEXT page says that applicants accept this condition and cannot cite language reasons for academic or administrative requests.[4] The page does not name a language certificate.[4] The page itself is in Spanish, with only summary pages in English, French and Portuguese.[4]
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the University of Chile public?
Yes. The university describes itself as a public and national institution; it was founded in 1842 with Andrés Bello as first rector.[5]
How much is tuition at the University of Chile in 2026?
For new students, the annual amounts we read range from CLP 4,606,900 (Philosophy) to CLP 9,468,300 (Medicine), plus a basic enrolment fee of CLP 217,600.[3]
Can I study at the University of Chile without a Chilean school-leaving certificate?
Yes, through SIEXT, the special route for people with secondary studies abroad. It requires entrance tests in Santiago and documents that are apostilled or legalised and translated.[4]
Do I need to speak Spanish?
Yes. The programmes of the SIEXT route are taught only in Spanish.[4]
How is the University of Chile ranked?
185th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, down from 173rd in 2026; it is second in Chile.[2]
More about studying in Chile
- Chile: best universities
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in Chile
- Federico Santa María Technical University
- Pontifical Catholic University of Chile
- University of Concepción
Sources
[1] Universidad de Chile: Hechos y cifras (page updated 22 Jan 2026)
[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 de Chile: Valor de aranceles 2026 para estudiantes nuevos (page without a date; figures for 2026)
[4] Universidad de Chile: Personas con estudios medios en el extranjero (SIEXT) (page without a date; admission process 2027)
[5] Universidad de Chile: Una mirada a la historia (page without a date; footer gives the Casa Central address)
[6] Wikipedia: University of Chile (founding law and opening ceremony; secondary source)
[7] Cooperativa: QS Ranking 2027, Chilean universities (article of 18 Jun 2026)
[8] AyudaMineduc: Gratuidad en la educación superior (page without a date)
[9] DEMRE: Universities of the Access System (page without a date; admission process 2027 menu)
[10] 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.