Universities in Quito, Ecuador

Quito, the capital of Ecuador, is one of the country's main university cities. For international students it is a place to take a full degree in Spanish, a postgraduate programme with a focus on the Andean region, or a semester abroad combined with travel in the Andes, the Amazon and the Galápagos Islands.

Teaching at Quito's universities is in Spanish. Students who do not yet speak it well often start with a course at one of the city's Spanish language schools.

What the universities in Quito offer

• Escuela Politécnica Nacional (EPN): founded on 30 August 1869 by decree of the National Convention, on the initiative of President Gabriel García Moreno, it became the country's first centre for teaching and scientific research. In 1947 it opened Ecuador's first faculty of chemical engineering, and since 1964 it has been on its campus in El Girón
• Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (PUCE): a Catholic university with more than 80 years of history, offering technical and technological programmes (PUCE TEC), undergraduate degrees, postgraduate programmes on campus and online, continuing education and language courses
• Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar (UASB): a postgraduate university of the Andean Community (CAN), created in 1985, with academic seats in Sucre (Bolivia) and Quito. The Ecuador seat opened in 1992 and offers doctorates, research master's, master's and specialisations, on campus, blended, hybrid and online; it also coordinates an Erasmus Mundus joint master's and has a university residence

All three appear on the list of accredited universities and polytechnics of CACES, Ecuador's higher education quality agency. The same list includes other Quito universities such as the Universidad Central del Ecuador and the Universidad San Francisco de Quito.

Admission

Each university sets its own admission procedure. At PUCE, for example, applicants to undergraduate degrees show their aptitude in an entrance exam, and students who move from another university can have their courses recognised. Postgraduate applicants apply directly to the programme; check the documents and deadlines on the university's admissions page before travelling.

Costs and funding

Fees are set by each university and programme. At UASB, students from Ecuador and the other member countries of the Andean Community receive a 60% discount on tuition, and full-time doctorates and research master's include scholarships for Ecuadorian and Andean students. Ask each university for the current fees for international students.

Practical tips

The Metro de Quito runs along the city with 15 stations and carried 5.4 million trips in July 2026. Ecuador's Ministry of Foreign Affairs grants tourist stays of 90 days, which can be extended; students who stay longer apply for a temporary residence visa in the student category. Citizens of MERCOSUR and Andean Community countries have their own residence categories.

Frequently asked questions

Which universities are in Quito?

Among others, the Escuela Politécnica Nacional, the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, the postgraduate Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar, the Universidad Central del Ecuador and the Universidad San Francisco de Quito, all accredited by CACES.

Are classes taught in Spanish?

Yes, teaching at Quito's universities is in Spanish. Students who need to improve their Spanish can take a course at a language school in the city first.

Do I need a visa to study in Quito?

For stays of up to 90 days many nationalities enter as tourists. For a degree or a longer programme there is a temporary residence visa in the student category; check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before applying.