Study and find schools in Honduras

Studying in Honduras

Honduras is a Spanish-speaking country in Central America, with coasts on both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific. Its capital is Tegucigalpa, and San Pedro Sula in the north is its main business centre. For international students, Honduras is above all a place to learn Spanish in a real Latin American setting, at low cost, and a place to study agriculture and tropical sciences, which are long-standing strengths of its universities. The National Statistics Institute (INE) is preparing a new population and housing census for 2026.

Our directory lists four schools in Honduras: two universities, listed in San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa, and two Spanish language schools in La Ceiba, on the Caribbean coast.

The education system

Higher education in Honduras is coordinated by the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras (UNAH) through its Dirección de Educación Superior (DES), which supports the Consejo de Educación Superior and keeps the registers of public and private institutions. UNAH itself is the country's oldest university: it was inaugurated on 19 September 1847 in Tegucigalpa.

Alongside the public universities there is a large private sector. The Universidad de San Pedro Sula (USAP), founded on 15 November 1977, describes itself as the first private university in Honduras. It offers 32 programmes, mainly in engineering, technology and business, and through its partnership with Arizona State University it offers dual-degree programmes. The Escuela Agrícola Panamericana Zamorano is a university specialising in agriculture, food and agribusiness.

Teaching is in Spanish, although some private universities include English in their programmes. University programmes are measured in academic credits, and the DES publishes a credit calculator for students who need to convert their studies.

Admission and recognition

Each university sets its own admission process. Private universities such as USAP accept online applications for first-year students and also admit transfer students from other universities. Contact the admissions office of your chosen university to find out which documents you need, whether your secondary diploma must be legalised or apostilled, and whether there is an entrance test.

If you have studied abroad and want your degree recognised in Honduras, the DES handles the validation of foreign studies and degrees. If you plan to use a Honduran degree in Spain or another Latin American country, check the recognition procedure in that country before you enrol.

Entry and residence

According to the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Spanish citizens do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days. Everyone entering or leaving Honduras must complete the Regional Traveller Declaration online. For longer stays, such as a full degree, you can apply for residence in Honduras without leaving the country; while the application is processed, the permit to stay must be renewed every 30 days at a cost of about US$20 each time. Overstaying without having started the residence procedure leads to a fine from the first day. Citizens of other countries should check the rules with the Instituto Nacional de Migración or a Honduran embassy before travelling.

Costs

There are no official figures on living costs for students. Spanish courses are inexpensive: Honduras Spanish School charges US$15 per hour in 2026 for one-to-one lessons. For university fees, ask the institution directly; USAP awards scholarships for academic merit and for sporting or artistic talent.

Where to study

• La Ceiba: a port town on the Caribbean coast with two language schools in our directory. Honduras Spanish School teaches one-to-one, 20 hours a week (4 hours a day), with a capacity of 10 students, and places students with host families who provide a private room and bathroom and three meals a day except on Sundays
• Tegucigalpa: the capital and home of UNAH. Honduras Spanish School also teaches here, but without homestays. The Zamorano agricultural university is in our directory under Tegucigalpa
• San Pedro Sula: the industrial and business centre of the north, home of USAP, whose schools include agronomy, tourism and foreign languages, law, communication, architecture and health sciences

Culture and practical life

• Safety: the Spanish government advises foreigners to take extreme precautions, especially in the large cities of Tegucigalpa, La Ceiba and San Pedro Sula, and advises against using public transport within cities. Use taxis recommended by your school or accommodation
• Health: dengue cases have risen sharply since 2019. No vaccines are compulsory if you travel directly from Spain, but a yellow fever vaccination is required if you arrive from a country where the disease is endemic. Health care in the capital is adequate, but not in the interior, so take out full health insurance
• Climate: tropical; during the rainy season in the second half of the year there can be hurricanes and heavy storms
• Work: there are no published rules on work for international students; check with the Instituto Nacional de Migración before taking a job

Frequently asked questions

Is Honduras a good place to learn Spanish?

Honduras offers immersion in a Spanish-speaking country at a low cost, with one-to-one lessons and homestays. Honduras Spanish School, for example, charges US$15 per hour in 2026 and places students with local families in La Ceiba.

Do I need a visa to study in Honduras?

Spanish citizens can stay up to 90 days without a visa. For a longer course of study you need a residence permit, which can be requested in Honduras; check the rules for your nationality with the Instituto Nacional de Migración.

Which is the oldest university in Honduras?

The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras (UNAH), inaugurated in Tegucigalpa on 19 September 1847. The Universidad de San Pedro Sula, founded in 1977, describes itself as the first private university in the country.

Is Honduras safe for international students?

Crime levels are high, especially in the big cities. The Spanish government recommends extreme caution, avoiding walking around city centres and using trusted taxis instead of public transport.