Cayetano Heredia University

Key facts

Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 8 November 2026.

About Cayetano Heredia University

UPCH grew out of the development of medicine and science research in Peru. The government officially created it on 22 September 1961, after a group of experienced medical teachers set out to build a university with high academic standards; the official inauguration followed on 18 June 1962.^[1] Wikipedia names the National University of San Marcos as the medical school these founders came from.^[8]

The university has two main campuses in Lima: San Martín de Porres (the central campus, close to hospitals used for health-science training) and La Molina, where first-year undergraduates of all programmes take their classes. Other sites include Miraflores (postgraduate classes), San Isidro (dental teaching centre) and Santa María del Mar (student welfare).^[5]

In 2007 UPCH became the first university in Peru to be accredited internationally by the IAC of CINDA; the accreditation was renewed on 7 July 2023 for five years, and 10 professional programmes hold international accreditation.^[1]

How is Cayetano Heredia ranked?

In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, UPCH is in the 1001–1200 band. Infobae calls it the third-best Peruvian university in the ranking, and RPP and La República list the same band.^[4][9][10]

The university also reports that it is number 1 in Peru in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027 for the ninth consecutive year; this is its own announcement.^[6] Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.

What can you study at Cayetano Heredia?

The admission page counts 22 professional programmes in five areas: health, science, education, engineering and management.^[3] The undergraduate list includes Business Administration, Health Administration, Biology, Education (with Early Childhood and Primary Education), Nursing, Dentistry, Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Environmental, Biomedical, Industrial and Computer Engineering, among others.^[11]

Biomedical Engineering was launched in 2017 together with PUCP, and Environmental Engineering followed in 2018.^[1] See the official programme list.

How much does Cayetano Heredia cost?

UPCH publishes teaching fees (pensión de enseñanza) by programme and payment category (A to D). The only table we could read is the one for entrants of 2024-I, in Peruvian soles (PEN). It is dated, so confirm the current scale with the university.^[2]

Education is listed for category D only (S/ 1,320), and technologist programmes such as Radiology and Clinical Laboratory run from S/ 1,410 (A) to S/ 1,200 (D). For Dentistry the document says the prices shown cover the five years.^[2]

The document does not label the period next to the table. Its payment note says that the semester teaching fee can be paid in cash or in five or six instalments, so ask the university whether the figures are per instalment or per semester. Students in categories A to E can request a change of category after enrolment; for Medicine this applies from the third semester.^[2] The pages we read do not say how a foreign applicant is assigned a category. Living costs in Lima are covered in our Peru guide.

How do you apply to Cayetano Heredia?

Applications run through the university’s admission portal in four steps: pre-register and create an account, upload the documents your adviser lists for your route and programme, pay the registration fee after the documents are checked, and receive the confirmation e-mail with the guide for your assessments.^[3]

The admission-routes page lists these modalities:^[12]

• Preferred routes: academic excellence, “Factor Excelencia” for pupils in the top third of selected schools, and Baccalaureate Diplomas (International, German, French or Italian).
• Regular routes: the general admission exam for secondary-school graduates and “Factor Quinto de Secundaria” for pupils in their last school year.
• Extraordinary routes: top-ranked pupils, qualified athletes, spouses and children of diplomats, applicants with disabilities, graduates or degree holders, people qualified by work training, and transfers or second degrees from Cayetano and other universities.

Students at partner universities abroad can apply for one semester through the international relations office (DURIN); it published an incoming call for 2027-I in October 2026.^[6] We give no deadlines here because they change every cycle; the routes page still shows some dates from earlier cycles. The pages we read do not describe visa steps or extra documents for foreign degree-seeking applicants.^[12]

Which language do you need?

The admission pages, fee table and portal are in Spanish.^[3][2] The pages we read do not state a required Spanish level or a list of accepted certificates.

Because no level is published, ask the admissions office before you book a language test.

More about studying in Peru

• Peru: best universities
• Cost of Studying Abroad
• International Student Scholarships
• University Ranking Methodology

More university profiles in Peru

• National University of San Marcos
• Pontifical Catholic University of Peru
• University of Lima