Study in Valparaiso, Chile

About Valparaiso

Valparaíso is Chile's best-known port city and the capital of the Valparaíso Region, on the Pacific coast of central Chile. The city forms one urban area, Gran Valparaíso, with Viña del Mar and the towns inland along the railway. According to the national statistics office (INE), the 2024 census counted 1,896,053 people in the Valparaíso Region, 10.3% of Chile's population, making it the second most populous region after the Región Metropolitana.

For students, Valparaíso is a university city on a human scale. Three long-established universities have their main sites here or in neighbouring Viña del Mar, teaching is in Spanish, and the city's hills, port and cultural life make it a popular choice for exchange semesters.

Studying in Valparaíso

Our directory lists three universities in Valparaíso. All three belong to the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities (Cruch), the group of 30 traditional universities among Chile's 58, according to the Ministry of Education's Mi Futuro portal.

• Universidad de Valparaíso (UV) is a public university with its Casa Central split between Valparaíso and Viña del Mar, plus campuses in San Felipe and Santiago. It has more than 17,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students. Its oldest programme, the Curso Fiscal de Leyes (law), dates from 1911, and the university was created as an independent institution by decree on 12 February 1981.
• Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (PUCV) opened on 25 March 1928 with 700 students. It has campuses and sites in Valparaíso, Viña del Mar, Quillota, Quilpué and Curauma, and since January 2022 it has held the maximum institutional accreditation of seven years from the National Accreditation Commission.
• Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María (USM) is a university focused on engineering, science and technology, based in Valparaíso.

Degree programmes are taught in Spanish. Most international students come on exchange agreements between their home university and one of these universities; check the international office of the university you are interested in for the courses open to exchange students.

Student residence permit

Students from abroad need a temporary residence permit for students (Residencia Temporal), according to Chile's National Migration Service (SERMIG; page updated 18 December 2025). The application must be made from outside Chile and requires, among other documents, a certificate of enrolment or of regular student status and proof of financial support. Holders may work up to 30 hours a week. After arrival, students register their visa and apply for a Chilean identity card.

Cost of living for students

Chilean universities charge an annual tuition fee (arancel) per programme. The Ministry of Education's Mi Futuro portal explains that the state's reference fee is usually lower than the real fee, and that the student pays the difference, so check the real fee for your programme with the university. No official figures for student rents in Valparaíso were found; housing ranges from university-arranged options to shared flats, and prices vary between Valparaíso and Viña del Mar.

Getting around and daily life

The Limache–Puerto train, run by the state railway company EFE since November 2005, is the backbone of local transport. It runs for 43 kilometres with 21 stations and connects Valparaíso, Viña del Mar, Quilpué, Villa Alemana and Limache, which makes it easy to live in one city and study in another.

The city has an older population than most of Chile: INE reports that the Valparaíso Region has the highest ageing index in the country. For students, that goes with a quieter, coastal way of life than in Santiago.

Frequently asked questions

Which universities are in Valparaíso?

Our directory lists the Universidad de Valparaíso, the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso and the Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María.

Can I live in Viña del Mar and study in Valparaíso?

Yes. The Limache–Puerto train links Viña del Mar and Valparaíso, and the Universidad de Valparaíso and the PUCV both have sites in Viña del Mar.

Do I need a visa to study in Valparaíso?

Students from abroad apply for a student temporary residence permit from outside Chile through SERMIG; requirements include proof of enrolment and of financial support.

Are courses taught in Spanish?

Yes, degree programmes at Chilean universities are taught in Spanish, so a good command of the language is needed for regular courses.