Simón Bolívar University (Universidad Simón Bolívar, USB) is a public university focused on science, technology and engineering. Its main campus is in the Sartenejas valley, Baruta, south of Caracas, and a second campus is at Camurí Grande on the coast.[1] It is in the 1001–1200 band of the QS World University Rankings 2027[2] and 84th in the QS Latin America & the Caribbean ranking 2027.[3]
The admissions office lists 20 long degree programmes (5 years) and 10 short ones (3 years).[4] We found no tuition rate; Venezuela’s constitution says education at State institutions is free of charge up to the undergraduate university level,[5] but we found no USB page on how this applies to foreign students. The admissions pages are in Spanish, and the university’s own entrance exam and pre-registration are marked as postponed or suspended.[4]
Key facts
| Official name | Universidad Simón Bolívar (USB) |
| Location | Sede Sartenejas, Baruta, Estado Miranda (south of Caracas); second campus in Camurí Grande, Naiguatá parish, Vargas state[6] |
| Type | Public university focused on science, technology and engineering[1] |
| Founded | Decree No. 878 of 18 July 1967 (as the Instituto Experimental de Educación Superior, named Universidad de Caracas); renamed Universidad Experimental Simón Bolívar by decree of 9 July 1969; classes began 19 January 1970[1] |
| Autonomy | Operated as an “experimental university” until 18 July 1995, when it was granted full autonomy by presidential decree[1] |
| Study programmes | 20 long programmes (5 years) and 10 short programmes (3 years, Técnico Superior Universitario); postgraduate specialisations, master’s and doctorates[4] |
| Students | 15,415 in 2016 (6,435 undergraduate, 8,980 postgraduate); no current figure found[1] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | 1001–1200 (band, not a single rank)[2] |
| QS Latin America & Caribbean 2027 | 84th (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[5] |
| Admission routes | Own entrance exam (suspended), MECE diagnostic, national OPSU system, CIU bridge cycle (suspended)[4] |
| Language of the pages read | Spanish; no English-taught programme or language certificate found[4] |
| Official website | usb.ve |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 7 November 2026.
About Simón Bolívar University
Simón Bolívar University was created by presidential decree No. 878 on 18 July 1967 under the name Universidad de Caracas. On 9 July 1969 a new decree renamed it Universidad Experimental Simón Bolívar, and classes started on 19 January 1970 on the grounds of the former Sartenejas ranch.[1] A second campus opened in 1977 at Camurí Grande on the Caribbean coast.[1] It was an “experimental university” under government oversight until it received full autonomy on 18 July 1995.[1]
The admissions office gives the addresses of both campuses: Sartenejas in Baruta, Miranda state, and Litoral at Camurí Grande, Naiguatá parish, Vargas state.[6] Wikipedia says that since the 2010s USB has been affected by Venezuela’s economic and political crisis, with faculty departures and deteriorating infrastructure.[1]
How is Simón Bolívar University ranked?
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, USB is in the 1001–1200 band. At this level QS publishes bands, not single ranks. 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, USB is 84th, behind the Central University of Venezuela (38th) and the Universidad Católica Andrés Bello (81st) and ahead of 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 Simón Bolívar University?
The admissions office lists 20 long programmes of 5 years and 10 short programmes of 3 years.[4] The long programmes include engineering and science degrees, architecture, urban planning and hospitality management; the short ones lead to the title Técnico Superior Universitario.[4] Wikipedia describes the offer as engineering, the sciences, architecture, urban planning and the humanities.[1]
The Litoral campus began with technical and associate-degree programmes.[1] Postgraduate studies lead to specialisation, master’s and doctoral degrees, and the postgraduate deanery handles admission to them.[4] We could not read the full programme lists, so check the course pages of the university for the exact degrees.
How much does Simón Bolívar University cost?
We did not find a tuition rate for any academic year on the USB 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.”[5] USB is a public university,[1] but we found no USB page that says how this rule applies to foreign students or to postgraduate programmes.
Ask the admissions office (DACE) or the programme for the current position before you plan a budget. For living costs see our Venezuela guide.
How do you apply to Simón Bolívar University?
The admissions office (DACE) lists these entry routes:[4]
- Entrance exam: the university’s own exam for final-year school students, in three stages (pre-registration, exam, enrolment). The page says pre-registration is postponed and the exam process is suspended until further notice.
- MECE: the Mechanism for the Empowerment of Educational Competencies, with online registration on mece.usb.ve, a placement diagnostic and in-person enrolment.
- National system (OPSU): places are assigned through the Sistema Nacional de Ingreso run by the Oficina de Planificación del Sector Universitario; the selected students then enrol in person.
- CIU: a bridge cycle (Ciclo de Iniciación Universitaria) for applicants just below the pass mark; it is also marked as suspended.
- Transfers: validation of studies (reválida), equivalences and re-entry have their own instructions, and those who ask for validation or equivalence into architecture must hand in a design portfolio.
A person admitted can be placed in any campus that has a free place in a programme.[4] The page does not describe a separate route for foreign applicants. We give no dates because they change every year; check the DACE pages before you start.
Which language do you need?
The admissions pages we read are in Spanish.[4] We found no English-taught programme and no statement about a language certificate. If you do not speak Spanish, ask the admissions office whether proof of language level is required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Simón Bolívar University free?
We found no tuition rate. The constitution says education at State institutions is free of charge up to the undergraduate university level.[5] We found no USB page on how this applies to foreign students, so ask the admissions office.
How is Simón Bolívar University ranked?
Is Simón Bolívar University in Caracas?
The main campus is in the Sartenejas valley in Baruta, Miranda state, south of Caracas; the second campus is on the coast at Camurí Grande, Vargas state.[6]
How do I apply to Simón Bolívar University?
Is it the same as the Simón Bolívar universities in Colombia or Mexico?
No. They are separate institutions with the same name.[7] This page covers the Venezuelan university in Sartenejas.
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] Wikipedia: Simón Bolívar University (Venezuela) (page revised 14 Oct 2026; history, campuses, 2016 student figures)
[2] xuanxiao.org: Simón Bolívar University (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] Universidad Simón Bolívar, DACE: Mecanismos de ingreso (page without a date)
[5] Constitute Project: Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) constitution 1999, rev. 2009, article 103 (English translation) (text of the constitution as revised in 2009)
[6] Universidad Simón Bolívar, DACE: home page (campus addresses) (page without a date)
[7] Wikipedia: Simón Bolívar University (disambiguation) (lists the Venezuelan, Colombian and Mexican universities of this name)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.