Study in Caracas, Venezuela

About Caracas

Caracas is the capital of Venezuela and its main academic centre, set in a mountain valley near the Caribbean coast. Its oldest university grew out of the colonial Colegio Santa Rosa de Lima, and its main campus, the Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

For international students, Caracas offers Spanish-language degrees at a large public university and a private Jesuit one, but the current situation needs to be weighed carefully. Governments advise caution: the UK advises against all but essential travel to Venezuela, and the city is recovering from strong earthquakes in June.

Studying in Caracas

This directory lists two universities in Caracas. Teaching is in Spanish.

• Universidad Central de Venezuela (UCV) is the public university whose history goes back to the Colegio Santa Rosa de Lima and the later Universidad de Caracas. UNESCO added its campus in Los Chaguaramos, the Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas, to the World Heritage List on 2 December 2000; the campus holds the art collection known as the Síntesis de las Artes. The UCV has eleven faculties: agronomy, architecture and urbanism, sciences, economics and social sciences, law and political science, veterinary science, pharmacy, humanities and education, engineering, medicine and dentistry. It also offers distance education and runs a botanical garden institute.
• Universidad Católica Andrés Bello (UCAB) is a private Catholic university linked to the Society of Jesus, with its main campus in Montalbán (Caracas) and another in Puerto Ordaz (Guayana). Its undergraduate degrees cover humanities, education, economics and social sciences, law, engineering and theology, and since September 2025 it has also offered five higher technical (TSU) programmes. UCAB offers postgraduate programmes, on campus and online, for international students.

Admission

At the UCV, most new undergraduates are assigned through the national admission system (CNU-OPSU), alongside the university's own entry routes; there are cultural agreements for foreign students, and the university handles the recognition (reválida) of foreign degrees. At UCAB, applicants pre-register online, submit documents and sit an entrance test; the pre-registration deadline for the next intake is 31 October 2026.

Visa rules depend on nationality. Spanish citizens, for example, can enter without a visa for stays under 90 days, according to Spain's foreign ministry; students should confirm the right permit for a longer stay with the Venezuelan consulate.

Cost of living for students

UCAB prices its courses in credit units (UC) of $21 a month. An average student takes 25 UC per semester, which comes to about $525 a month, plus an enrolment fee of $262.50; pre-registration and the entrance test cost $42. Spain's foreign ministry recommends carrying US dollars or an international credit card, because cash in bolívars can be hard to find.

Getting around and daily life

Maiquetía Simón Bolívar International Airport, which serves Caracas, reopened to commercial flights on 1 September with limited capacity after the 24 June earthquakes. Power supply in Caracas is practically constant, unlike in parts of the interior, but crime remains high in some neighbourhoods. Check your government's travel advice before making plans.

Frequently asked questions

Which universities are in Caracas?

This directory lists the Universidad Central de Venezuela (public) and the Universidad Católica Andrés Bello (private).

How much does a semester at UCAB cost?

UCAB says an average student takes 25 credit units a semester, about $525 a month at $21 per unit, plus a $262.50 enrolment fee.

Why is the UCV campus a World Heritage Site?

UNESCO listed the Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas in 2000. The campus combines modern architecture with the Síntesis de las Artes collection of artworks.

Is it safe to study in Caracas?

Foreign governments advise caution. The UK advises against all but essential travel to Venezuela, and Spain warns of high crime in some districts, so check official travel advice first.