ESPOL (Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral) is a public university in Guayaquil, founded in 1958, with two campuses in the city and eight faculties.[1] In 2024 it had 9,068 undergraduate students, 121 of them international.[2] In the QS World University Rankings 2027 it is in the 901–950 band, up from 951–1000.[3]
Entry runs through the national system: an entrance exam, a levelling course and a place by application score, which is 50% exam and 50% school record.[4] The first enrolment in the levelling course is free of charge.[5] We found no published tuition scale for foreign degree students.
Key facts
| Official name | Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (ESPOL) |
| Location | Campus Gustavo Galindo Velasco, Km 30.5 Vía Perimetral, Guayaquil; a second campus, Las Peñas, houses the business school ESPAE[1] |
| Type | Public higher-education institution[1] |
| Founded | 1958; Wikipedia gives Executive Decree 1664 of 24 October 1958[6][1] |
| Faculties | Eight, on the Gustavo Galindo campus[1] |
| Programmes | 32 degree programmes and 68 postgraduate programmes[1] |
| Undergraduates 2024 | 9,068, of whom 121 international; 1,722 entered in 2024[2] |
| Degrees awarded 2024 | 1,369 graduates of degree programmes[2] |
| International accreditation | 20 engineering programmes accredited by EUR-ACE and Biology accredited by the Royal Society of Biology[2] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | 901–950 band (previous edition 951–1000), shared with UEES[3] |
| QS Latin America 2025 | 50th, the first Ecuadorian public university in the top 50[2] |
| Cost of first levelling enrolment | Free (first enrolment in the levelling course)[5] |
| Language | Spanish[6] |
| Official website | espol.edu.ec |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 9 November 2026.
About ESPOL
ESPOL is a public institution founded in 1958. It has two campuses in Guayaquil: Gustavo Galindo, which hosts its eight faculties, and Las Peñas, home of the business school ESPAE.[1] Wikipedia gives Executive Decree 1664, signed on 24 October 1958 (its infobox says 29 October), and classes beginning in May 1959.[6] The accountability report for 2024 also mentions a student residence system on the Gustavo Galindo campus, whose second stage added housing for 46 more students.[2]
How is ESPOL ranked?
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, ESPOL shares the 901–950 band with Universidad de Especialidades Espíritu Santo (UEES); both rose from 951–1000. Among Ecuadorian institutions only USFQ (771–780) is placed higher.[3][7]
The university’s 2024 accountability report lists further positions: 50th in QS Latin America University Rankings 2025 (the first Ecuadorian public university in the top 50), 78th in the Times Higher Education Latin America ranking 2024, 121st in UI GreenMetric 2024, 756th in the QS Sustainability ranking 2025 and the 201–300 band in the THE Impact Rankings 2024 (world).[2] These are the university’s own figures. Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings; see also universities in Ecuador.
What can you study at ESPOL?
ESPOL offers 32 degree programmes and 68 postgraduate programmes.[1] The 2024 report lists current degrees by faculty:[2]
- Art, Design and Audiovisual Communication (FADCOM): Product Design, Graphic Design, Media Production.
- Natural Sciences and Mathematics (FCNM): Statistics, Chemical Engineering, Logistics and Transport, Mathematics.
- Social Sciences and Humanities (FCSH): Business Administration, Archaeology, Auditing and Management Control, Economics, Tourism.
- Life Sciences (FCV): Biology, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Nutrition and Dietetics.
- Earth Sciences Engineering (FICT): Geology, Civil Engineering, Mining, Petroleum.
- Electrical and Computer Engineering (FIEC): Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, Computing, Electricity, Electronics and Automation, Telecommunications, Telematics.
- Maritime Engineering and Marine Sciences (FIMCM): Aquaculture, Naval Engineering, Oceanography, plus a higher technology programme in Port Logistics.
- Mechanical Engineering and Production Sciences (FIMCP): Materials, Food, Industrial, Mechanical, Mechatronics, plus a higher technology programme in Mechatronics.
Of the 9,068 undergraduates in 2024, FCSH had the largest share (21%, 1,912 students), followed by FIEC (20%, 1,808).[2]
How much does ESPOL cost?
ESPOL is public and its first enrolment in the levelling course carries no cost, under article 50 of its access and levelling regulation.[5] A press report of January 2026 also says the university offers free studies.[8] In general, public higher education in Ecuador is tuition-free up to the first degree. A press explainer of 8 June 2026 says that foreigners have the same rights but must join the admission process, enrol as regular students, enrol in at least 60% of the credits each period, hold valid identification and regular immigration status, and have foreign documents recognised; gratuity ends after failing 30% of cumulative subjects and does not cover second or third enrolments.[9]
The ESPOL fee regulation and the university website could not be opened when we checked (server errors and refused connections), so we do not state amounts for students who lose gratuity or for second degrees. In 2024 ESPOL granted 1,450 scholarships and 1,561 financial aids to students.[2] For living costs see the Ecuador guide.
How do you apply to ESPOL?
Degree admission follows these steps: an entrance exam, a levelling course (Curso de Nivelación de Carrera), and the assignment of a place by application score.[4][5]
- Entrance exam: in January 2026 the exam took place in ESPOL’s admission building in Guayaquil, lasted about 1 hour 45 minutes and covered mathematics, chemistry, physics and, for art programmes, science for art. About 13,500 people had completed the previous registration stage for more than 4,000 places in the levelling course.[8]
- Application score: out of 1,000 points; 50% exam, 50% school record, plus affirmative-action points. ESPOL sets no minimum score; places are allocated by merit.[4]
- Applying and accepting: you rank programmes in the ESPOL admissions system and accept a place on the SENESCYT unified acceptance platform. Taking part in every stage is mandatory.[4]
- Levelling course: you enrol with the same ESPOL admissions account you used for the exam.[5]
- Results in 2024: 6,167 people registered for the three levelling courses and 1,653 passed (27%).[2]
We found no ESPOL page describing a separate route or documents for foreign applicants. In 2024 ESPOL had 121 international undergraduates and received 181 international students including visiting ones in person and virtually, so foreign students do study there.[2] Ask the admissions office before you start. We give no deadlines because they change every period.
Which language level do you need?
ESPOL is a Spanish-language institution, and its admission guides and exam materials are in Spanish.[6][4] The guides we read set no language certificate and no minimum level. Ask the admissions office what is expected of applicants who did not study in Spanish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ESPOL a public university?
What is ESPOL’s QS ranking?
How do I get into ESPOL?
How many students does ESPOL have?
It had 9,068 undergraduate students in 2024, of whom 121 were international.[2]
More about studying in Ecuador
- Ecuador: best universities
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in Ecuador
- Central University of Ecuador (UCE)
- Escuela Politécnica Nacional (EPN)
- Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ)
Sources
[1] ESPOL: ESPOL y su investigación (Decanato de Investigación) (publication from the 2026 research folder; no date inside)
[2] ESPOL: Rendición de cuentas 2024 (report on 2024; file name dated 5 Aug 2025)
[3] El Comercio: Así quedaron las universidades de Ecuador en el nuevo ranking mundial QS 2027 (page shows inconsistent dates; QS edition released June 2026)
[4] ESPOL Admisiones: Proceso de postulación y aceptación de cupo (convocatoria 1P2026) (guide for the first period of 2026)
[5] ESPOL Admisiones: Guía de matriculación al curso de nivelación (convocatoria 1P2026) (guide for the first period of 2026)
[6] Wikipedia: Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (secondary source; decree date and language)
[7] El Mercurio: Cuáles son las seis mejores universidades de Ecuador, QS Rankings 2027 (article of 22 Jun 2026; QS publishes at topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access)
[8] Expreso: Pruebas de admisión ESPOL 2026 en Guayaquil (article of 12 Jan 2026)
[9] El Diario: La educación superior en Ecuador es gratuita para extranjeros, esto dice la ley (article of 8 Jun 2026; press explainer of Constitution art. 356 and LOES art. 80)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.