The Central University of Venezuela (Universidad Central de Venezuela, UCV) is a public university in Caracas. It dates its creation to 22 December 1721, when the Colegio Seminario de Santa Rosa de Lima was raised to the Royal University of Caracas.[1] In the QS World University Rankings 2027 it is placed in the 801–850 band,[2] and in the QS Latin America & the Caribbean ranking 2027 it is 38th, the highest of the Venezuelan universities in that table.[3]
We found no tuition rate. Venezuela’s constitution says education at State institutions is free of charge up to the undergraduate university level,[4] but we did not find a UCV page that explains how this applies to foreign students. Undergraduate admission runs through several routes of the university plus the national assignment system CNU-OPSU.[5] The pages we read are in Spanish.[5]
Key facts
| Official name | Universidad Central de Venezuela (UCV) |
| Location | Caracas, Venezuela (Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas, Los Chaguaramos; postal code 1050)[6] |
| Type | Public university[7] |
| Founded | 22 December 1721, as the Royal University of Caracas (later also “Pontifical”, by a papal bull of 1722); it grew out of the Colegio Seminario de Santa Rosa de Lima[1] |
| Faculties | 11: Agronomy; Architecture and Urban Planning; Sciences; Economic and Social Sciences; Legal and Political Sciences; Veterinary Sciences; Pharmacy; Humanities and Education; Engineering; Medicine; Dentistry[6] |
| Other sites | The official site lists student services at a Maracay campus; Wikipedia names Maracay and Barquisimeto[7][6] |
| World Heritage Site | UNESCO inscribed the Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas on 2 December 2000[6] |
| Students | No current official figure found. Wikipedia’s infobox gives 41,059 (cited to a 2015 source); an aggregator shows 27,604 full-time equivalents (Times Higher Education 2026)[2][7] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | 801–850 (band, not a single rank)[2] |
| QS Latin America & Caribbean 2027 | 38th (edition published 1 October 2026)[3] |
| Tuition | No rate found on the pages read. Constitution: education at State institutions is free of charge up to the undergraduate university level[4] |
| Undergraduate admission | Several routes of the university (SIMADI, Samuel Robinson programme, agreements, sport and culture) plus the national CNU-OPSU assignment[5] |
| Language of the pages read | Spanish; no English-taught programme or language certificate found[5] |
| Official website | ucv.ve |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 7 November 2026.
About the Central University of Venezuela
The Central University of Venezuela (UCV) is a public university in Caracas.[7] Its own history page traces it to the Colegio Seminario de Santa Rosa de Lima, which King Philip V of Spain approved as the Royal University of Caracas on 22 December 1721; a papal bull of Innocent XIII in 1722 made it pontifical as well.[1] Wikipedia adds that the seminary was founded in 1673 and calls UCV the oldest university in Venezuela.[7]
The main campus, the Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas in the Los Chaguaramos district, was designed by the architect Carlos Raúl Villanueva.[7] The university says UNESCO inscribed it on the World Heritage List on 2 December 2000.[6]
How is the Central University of Venezuela ranked?
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, UCV is placed in the 801–850 band. QS publishes bands, not single ranks, at this level; we read the band on an aggregator profile because topuniversities.com blocks automated access.[2]
In the QS Latin America & the Caribbean ranking 2027, published on 1 October 2026, UCV is 38th. The same report puts the Universidad Católica Andrés Bello 81st, Simón Bolívar University 84th, the University of the Andes 95th and the University of Zulia 145th.[3] Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at the Central University of Venezuela?
UCV’s website lists 11 faculties:[6]
- Agronomy
- Architecture and Urban Planning
- Sciences
- Economic and Social Sciences
- Legal and Political Sciences
- Veterinary Sciences
- Pharmacy
- Humanities and Education
- Engineering
- Medicine
- Dentistry
The site also has pages for undergraduate and postgraduate studies and for distance education. We could not read the course lists themselves, so check the faculty pages for the exact degrees.[6] The home page we read still shows a banner from the 2023 student elections, so parts of the site may be out of date.[6]
How much does the Central University of Venezuela cost?
We did not find a tuition rate for any academic year on the UCV pages we could read, and we do not state one. Article 103 of the Venezuelan constitution (English translation, Constitute Project) reads: “Education offered at State institutions is free of charge up to the undergraduate university level.”[4] UCV is a public university,[7] but we found no UCV page that says how this rule applies to foreign students or to postgraduate programmes.
The Secretaría’s menu lists a tariff page for its certificates and services (“Aranceles de la Secretaría”). We did not read it, and these are service charges, not tuition.[5] Ask the faculty or the Secretaría for the current position before you plan a budget. For living costs see our Venezuela guide.
How do you apply to the Central University of Venezuela?
For undergraduate programmes the Secretaría runs several entry routes under the university’s admission regulation. Its page names the Sistema de Ingreso por Mérito Académico y Diagnóstico Integral (SIMADI), the Programa Integral Samuel Robinson, entry by sporting or cultural competence (article 25), diplomatic agreements and entry by “Acta Convenio”. On top of these, the national system CNU-OPSU assigns new students every year.[5]
The menu also has entries for “Convenios culturales para estudiantes extranjeros” (cultural agreements for foreign students) and for equivalences and recognition of degrees from foreign universities. The detail pages we tried to open did not load, so we cannot describe the requirements for foreign applicants.[5] Postgraduate admission is handled by a separate postgraduate office with its own calls.[6]
We give no dates because they change every year and differ by route. Contact the Secretaría before you start.
Which language do you need?
The admission pages and the university site we read are in Spanish.[5] We found no English-taught programme and no statement about a Spanish certificate. If you do not speak Spanish, ask the faculty whether you need proof of language level before you apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Central University of Venezuela free?
We found no tuition rate. The constitution says education at State institutions is free of charge up to the undergraduate university level.[4] We did not find a UCV page that confirms how this applies to foreign students, so ask the Secretaría.
How is the Central University of Venezuela ranked?
How do I apply as an undergraduate?
The university offers several entry routes, and the national system CNU-OPSU also assigns places every year.[5] Which route fits you depends on your school-leaving certificate and nationality; ask the Secretaría.
Do I need Spanish to study at UCV?
The pages we read are in Spanish and we found no English-taught programme.[5] Ask your faculty about the language requirement.
More about studying in Venezuela
- Venezuela: best universities
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in Venezuela
Sources
[1] Universidad Central de Venezuela: Reseña histórica (page without a date)
[2] xuanxiao.org: Central University of Venezuela (aggregator profile with QS 2027 band; QS publishes the ranking at topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access) (page without a date; lists the QS 2027 edition)
[3] elDiario: Ranking QS 2027, cuatro universidades de Venezuela entre las 100 mejores de América Latina (article of 1 Oct 2026; QS Latin America & Caribbean edition published 1 Oct 2026)
[4] Constitute Project: Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) constitution 1999, rev. 2009, article 103 (English translation) (text of the constitution as revised in 2009)
[5] Universidad Central de Venezuela, Secretaría: Admisión de estudiantes de pregrado (page without a date; menu mentions admissions 2025 and 2026)
[6] Universidad Central de Venezuela: home page (faculties, address, UNESCO note) (page without a date; still shows a 2023 election banner)
[7] Wikipedia: Central University of Venezuela (page revised 4 Oct 2026; history, campus, infobox)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.