The Central University “Marta Abreu” of Las Villas (Universidad Central “Marta Abreu” de Las Villas, UCLV) is a public university in Santa Clara, Villa Clara province. Its official founding date is 30 November 1952.[1] The Ministry of Higher Education lists 9,808 students and 66 undergraduate programmes and gives it the accreditation category “Excelencia”.[1]
The QS information conflicts. The university’s website shows “#901” in QS, without an edition,[2] while an aggregator lists it in the 1201–1400 band of the QS World University Rankings 2027.[3] Pages for foreign students describe no fee amounts or entry requirements; teaching is in Spanish.[4][5]
Key facts
| Official name | Universidad Central “Marta Abreu” de Las Villas (UCLV) |
| Location | Carretera a Camajuaní km 5½, Santa Clara, Villa Clara, Cuba[1] |
| Type | Public university under the Ministry of Higher Education (MES), accreditation category “Excelencia”[1] |
| Founded | 30 November 1952 (official date); EcuRed also gives a law of 22 November 1949 and a symbolic inauguration on 10 October 1948[6] |
| Students | 9,808 per MES; about 9,500 per the university; Wikipedia says about 7,500[1] |
| Professors | 1,732 per MES[1] |
| Undergraduate programmes | 66 per MES; 54 per the university’s own page (31 with Excellence accreditation)[7] |
| Faculties | 12 per the university; 13 per Wikipedia and EcuRed[7] |
| Postgraduate | 23 doctoral programmes, 49 master’s programmes and 5 specialties[7] |
| Campuses | Central Campus, Félix Varela Pedagogical Campus and Manuel Fajardo campus[7] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | 1201–1400 per an aggregator; the university’s site cites “#901” without an edition[3] |
| Language of teaching | Spanish (national rule on foreign students)[5] |
| Tuition fees for foreigners | No amounts published on the pages read[4] |
| Official website | uclv.edu.cu |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 8 November 2026.
About the Central University “Marta Abreu” of Las Villas
The university describes itself as founded on 30 November 1952 and as the most important higher-education centre in central Cuba. It holds “Excelencia” accreditation from 2016.[7] EcuRed gives more detail: a law of 22 November 1949 created the university, a symbolic inauguration took place on 10 October 1948, and classes began on 30 November 1952, which is the official anniversary.[6]
EcuRed also says the campus served as a command post for Ernesto “Che” Guevara during the 1958 battle of Santa Clara and was declared a National Monument on 29 September 2008.[6] The university works across three campuses: Central, the Félix Varela Pedagogical Campus and the Manuel Fajardo campus.[7]
Sources are thin and mostly state-run. This page uses the university’s website, the Ministry of Higher Education (MES), EcuRed (a Cuban online encyclopedia) and Wikipedia, and notes where they differ.
How is UCLV ranked?
Two sources give different answers. The university’s home page displays “#901 QS World University Rankings”, “#3 QS Ranking for the Caribbean” and “#131 QS Ranking for Latin America” but does not name an edition.[2] An aggregator lists UCLV in the 1201–1400 band of the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, with no score.[3]
We could not resolve the difference because QS’s own site blocks automated access. The university’s figure may belong to an earlier edition; this is our assumption, not something the page states. How we compile rankings. For the national picture, see universities in Cuba.
What can you study at UCLV?
The university states 12 faculties, 54 undergraduate programmes (31 with Excellence accreditation), 23 doctoral programmes, 49 master’s programmes and 5 specialties.[7] MES counts 66 undergraduate programmes, so the figures differ.[1] The 12 faculties are:[7]
- Engineering and sciences: Electrical Engineering; Mechanical and Industrial Engineering; Construction; Chemistry-Pharmacy; Mathematics, Physics and Computing
- Agriculture, economics and society: Agricultural Sciences; Economic Sciences; Social Sciences; Humanities
- Education and sport: Physical Culture and Sport; Early Childhood Education; Secondary Education
Wikipedia and EcuRed list 13 faculties, including Psychology, Law, and Information and Education Sciences.[8][6] Courses run as day courses and as encounter (part-time) courses, and the university also has municipal university centres in Villa Clara.[9]
How much does UCLV cost for foreign students?
We found no fee amounts for foreign students. The university’s internationalization page names a group that looks after foreign students but does not describe requirements, routes or costs.[4]
The Spanish Embassy in Havana states that Cuban universities charge no enrolment fees (“gastos de matrícula”) to foreign students and gives no information on other costs.[5] This is a national statement, not a statement by UCLV. The university’s scholarship page describes only a French-embassy fund for joint research projects, not student scholarships.[10] Ask the international office before you budget.
How do you apply to UCLV as a foreigner?
The university’s admission page describes the routes for Cuban applicants: entrance exams for day courses and no entrance exam for encounter courses. It does not mention foreign students.[9] The internationalization page refers foreign applicants to its foreign-student support group and to the admission section.[4]
The Spanish Embassy summarises the national rules for foreigners (Law 122 of 1995, MES Resolution 133/2001): a secondary-school diploma or equivalent, an admission exam taken at home or in Cuba, adequate Spanish, a certificate of good conduct and a medical certificate.[5] General university contact: uclvcontacto@uclv.cu.[2] We give no deadlines because they change every year.
Which language do you need?
Studies in Cuba are in Spanish, and the Spanish Embassy lists adequate Spanish proficiency among the national requirements for foreign students.[5] UCLV’s pages did not state a required level or test.[4]
Frequently Asked Questions
Is UCLV free for international students?
How is UCLV ranked?
Is it the same as the Central University of Las Villas?
Yes. The table on our Cuba page uses the short name; the official name is Universidad Central “Marta Abreu” de Las Villas.[1]
Do I need Spanish to study at UCLV?
Yes. Studies in Cuba are in Spanish and the national rules require adequate Spanish.[5]
More about studying in Cuba
- Cuba: best universities
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in Cuba
Sources
[1] Ministerio de Educación Superior (MES): Universidad Central Marta Abreu de Las Villas (page shows 5 Nov 2026; Cuban state source)
[2] Universidad Central “Marta Abreu” de Las Villas: home page (read 8 Nov 2026; QS figures shown without an edition; official source)
[3] xuanxiao.org: QS World University Rankings 2027 listing, page 27 (QS blocks automated access) (aggregator, page without a date; QS edition released 18 Jun 2026)
[4] UCLV: Internacionalización (page without a date; official source)
[5] Spanish Embassy in Havana: Estudiar en Cuba (page dated 10 Mar 2025; foreign government source summarising Cuban rules)
[6] EcuRed: Universidad Central Marta Abreu de Las Villas (Cuban online encyclopedia, page without a date; secondary source)
[7] UCLV: UCLV nuestra (about the university) (page without a date; official source)
[8] Wikipedia: University “Marta Abreu” of Las Villas (faculty list and student figure; secondary source)
[9] UCLV: Ingreso a la Educación Superior (page without a date; official source)
[10] UCLV: Becas (page without a date; official source)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.