Architecture Schools and Programs in Bolivia

Architecture Studies in Bolivia

San Francisco, La Paz, Bolivia

Architecture in Bolivia is studied as a licenciatura, the first university degree, at public and private universities. The degree covers building design, construction and urban planning and is taught in Spanish. For students from other South American countries, one practical point is regional accreditation: Bolivia takes part in ARCU-SUR, the MERCOSUR system that accredits university degrees.

SpainExchange lists 2 universities in Bolivia for architecture, both private: one in Santa Cruz de la Sierra and one based in Cochabamba.

How the degree is organised

The Universidad Privada de Santa Cruz de la Sierra (UPSA) teaches architecture in its Facultad de Arquitectura, Diseño y Urbanismo, alongside industrial design. The university describes the aim of the degree as preparing graduates to plan, design, manage, direct and supervise architecture and urban planning projects and works. Graduates also learn to carry out valuations, technical expert reports and research on urban heritage and technology.

Besides the core study plan, UPSA lists elective subjects. Examples are:

• heritage architecture (Arquitectura Patrimonial)
• sustainable design and community design
• regional planning
• modelling and model making
• accounting and budgeting, and commercial, labour and tax law

UPSA offers two double-degree routes for architecture students. One leads to the Laurea in Scienze dell'Architettura of the Università degli Studi di Genova in Italy, next to the UPSA licenciatura. The other combines the licenciatura with an MSc in International Management at Rennes Business School in France. The faculty also mentions academic trips and international exchanges.

The Universidad Privada Boliviana (UPB) lists Arquitectura among the undergraduate degrees of its Facultad de Ingenierías y Arquitectura, together with civil engineering and other engineering degrees. UPB has campuses in Cochabamba, La Paz and Santa Cruz.

Accreditation and recognition

ARCU-SUR is the regional accreditation system for university degrees. It results from an agreement between the education ministers of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia and Chile. The system only considers undergraduate degrees that are officially recognised in their own country and already have graduates, and it offers a public guarantee of academic level among the countries of the region.

UPSA states that its architecture degree has been accredited by MERCOSUR since 2011 and was re-accredited in 2018 and 2024. UPB states that it holds ARCU-SUR accreditation for undergraduate programmes; its page does not say which degrees are covered, so applicants should ask whether architecture is one of them. UPSA is also a member of the Asociación de Facultades y Carreras de Arquitectura de Bolivia (AFCAB).

Accreditation is not the same as a licence to practise. Graduates who want to work as architects in another country must have the degree recognised under that country's rules.

Admission and language

Each university runs its own admission process.

• At UPB, applicants create an account on the application platform and upload an essay, a CV and their school report from the fifth year of secondary school; an English certificate is optional. They then sit the Prueba de Aptitud Académica (PAA). International applicants also have an interview. For 2026-27, regular admission runs from 1 August to 31 October 2026 and late admission from 1 November 2026 to 31 January 2027.
• At UPSA, the admissions page sets out separate requirements for Bolivian students, foreign students and transfer students. Pre-registration is open for classes that start on 10 February 2027. Foreign applicants use an application form from the internationalisation office.

Classes are in Spanish, so applicants from non-Spanish-speaking countries need a level that allows them to follow lectures and present design projects. Visa and residence requirements should be checked with the Bolivian consulate before travelling.

Costs and scholarships

Both universities are private and charge tuition fees; the pages consulted do not publish the amounts. UPB has a scholarship for international students, the UPB International Scholarship. It covers between 50% and 100% of tuition, depending on academic performance, for applicants who score at least 1350 out of 1600 in the PAA. The scholarship does not cover housing, food, transport, study materials, medical and accident insurance, the semester enrolment fee or graduation costs.

Careers

According to UPSA, architects design buildings for private clients, companies and public bodies, and plan and direct construction works in the public and private sector. Other fields are urban planning and urban design, the management of a construction company or an architecture practice, valuations and technical expert reports. No official employment figures for architecture graduates in Bolivia were found.

Frequently asked questions

Is an architecture degree from Bolivia accredited abroad?

Bolivia takes part in ARCU-SUR, the MERCOSUR accreditation system. UPSA states that its architecture degree has been accredited since 2011 and was re-accredited in 2024. Working abroad still requires recognition in the destination country.

Is there an entrance exam for architecture in Bolivia?

It depends on the university. UPB uses its Prueba de Aptitud Académica (PAA); UPSA publishes its own requirements for Bolivian and foreign students.

Can I get a double degree?

UPSA offers architecture students a double degree with the Università degli Studi di Genova (Laurea in Scienze dell'Architettura) and a route to an MSc in International Management at Rennes Business School.

Are there scholarships for international students?

UPB offers the UPB International Scholarship, which covers 50% to 100% of tuition for applicants with a PAA score of 1350 out of 1600 or higher.