International Relations Schools and Programs in Venezuela

International Relations Studies in Venezuela

In Venezuela, international relations is studied at undergraduate level as a licenciatura, the first university degree, which usually takes five years. The subject appears under two names. Some universities teach it as a degree of its own, called Estudios Internacionales (international studies). Others teach it as a specialisation within Ciencias Políticas (political science). Teaching is in Spanish.

SpainExchange lists 2 universities in Venezuela under this subject, one in Caracas and one in San Cristóbal, in the state of Táchira near the Colombian border. Both are private universities with a Catholic identity.

How the degree is organised

The Universidad Católica del Táchira (UCAT) in San Cristóbal teaches the subject in its Facultad de Ciencias Jurídicas y Políticas. The faculty offers a Licenciatura en Ciencias Políticas with two specialisations (menciones): Política Internacional, and Administración y Gestión Pública. The degree awarded is Licenciado en Ciencias Políticas. It lasts 5 years and is organised in full academic years rather than semesters.

According to UCAT, graduates of the Política Internacional specialisation learn to use theoretical models to analyse international political events, to design and evaluate public policy in an international context, and to prepare proposals for managing and resolving conflicts. The faculty was created by presidential decree on 26 July 1982, together with the university.

The Universidad Católica Andrés Bello (UCAB) in Caracas describes its undergraduate offer as covering humanities, education, economic and social sciences, law, engineering and theology. Its 2026 list of undergraduate degrees does not include a degree called international relations or international studies. The nearest options there are Derecho (law), Economía (economics) and Sociología (sociology). UCAB also runs an international academic exchange programme for its students.

Outside the two schools listed here, the Universidad Central de Venezuela in Caracas has an Escuela de Estudios Internacionales among the schools of its Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Sociales.

Admission and language

Each university sets its own admission process. A good starting point is the Libro de Oportunidades de Estudios Universitarios (LOEU), the online guide of the Oficina de Planificación del Sector Universitario (OPSU). It is an official publication of the Consejo Nacional de Universidades and shows the programmes and institutions that are approved and legally recognised. It also gives the entry requirements of public and private institutions.

• At UCAB, applicants pre-register online, pay the pre-registration fee, hand in their documents and sit a knowledge test (Prueba de Conocimientos). For the current intake, registration for the test is open from 21 September to 13 November 2026.
• At UCAT, new applicants pre-register with a copy of their identity document and the payment receipt. UCAT states that foreign applicants who are admitted must present a type TE (Transeúnte Estudiante) student visa.

International students need a level of Spanish that allows them to follow lectures and write academic work. They should ask the university in advance how a foreign school-leaving certificate must be legalised.

Costs

Private universities charge tuition fees. UCAB publishes its fees in US dollars and prices its courses in credit units (UC). In October 2026 it gives the monthly value of one UC as $21. According to UCAB, a student registers 25 UC per semester on average, which means an average monthly cost of $525. On top of this comes a registration fee of 12.5 UC ($262.50) per semester. The pages consulted for UCAT do not publish its fees.

Recognition and careers

Before enrolling, students can check in the LOEU that a programme and its institution are approved by the Consejo Nacional de Universidades. Graduates who want to use a Venezuelan licenciatura in another country must have it recognised there under that country's rules.

UCAT describes its graduates as professionals who can design consultancy projects for government, business and social organisations on international problems, and who can analyse and implement public policy. Typical employers for this profile are ministries and public bodies, international organisations, companies that trade abroad, and non-governmental organisations.

Frequently asked questions

What is the international relations degree called in Venezuela?

It is taught either as a Licenciatura en Estudios Internacionales or as a Licenciatura en Ciencias Políticas with a specialisation in international politics, as at the Universidad Católica del Táchira.

How long does the degree take?

The Licenciatura en Ciencias Políticas at the Universidad Católica del Táchira lasts 5 years and is organised in academic years.

Do foreign students need a visa to study in Venezuela?

The Universidad Católica del Táchira states that admitted foreign applicants must present a type TE (Transeúnte Estudiante) visa. Applicants should confirm the requirements with the university and the Venezuelan consulate in their country.

How much does a private university cost?

UCAB states that an average student pays about $525 per month in 2026, plus a registration fee of $262.50 per semester.