Study in Concepcion, Chile

About Concepcion

Concepción is the main city of the Biobío Region in south-central Chile. It is an old city: in 2026 the municipality marked 476 years since its foundation. Its long-standing universities have made it one of Chile's main student cities.

For international students, Concepción offers Chilean university life in Spanish, at a smaller scale than the capital, with the Pacific coast close by.

Studying in Concepción

Our directory lists three universities in Concepción. Teaching is in Spanish.

• The Universidad de Concepción (UdeC) opened at the beginning of 1919, created by a local committee rather than by the state, and describes itself as secular and pluralist. It has three campuses (Concepción, Chillán and Los Ángeles), more than 30,000 students, over 90 undergraduate degree programmes and more than 150 postgraduate programmes, and holds the maximum seven-year institutional accreditation in Chile's national system.
• The Universidad del Bío-Bío (UBB) is the only state university of the Biobío and Ñuble regions and is accredited by Chile's CNA. Its origins go back to the Universidad Técnica del Estado, created on 9 April 1947; the present university was formed in 1988. It has campuses in Concepción and Chillán.
• The Facultad de Estudios Teológicos y Filosofía belongs to the Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción (UCSC), founded on 10 July 1991 by the Archdiocese of Concepción. The faculty offers degrees (licenciaturas) in philosophy and in religious sciences and theological studies, and a new master's in theology and philosophy. The UCSC has institutional accreditation for six years.

Most Chilean students enter university through the national PAES admission test; in 2026 the regular PAES is held on 30 November and 1 and 2 December. Exchange students apply through their home university. The UdeC asks exchange students from non-Spanish-speaking institutions for Spanish at level B1 or higher, and stays last from a few months to one year.

Cost of living for students

No official figure for student living costs in Concepción was found. The UdeC charges an international fee of USD 2,000 per semester to visiting students, but students coming under an exchange agreement between the UdeC and their home university are exempt. The UdeC has no housing for exchange students; its international office keeps a list of rooms near campus in boarding houses (pensiones) and shared flats. International students at the UdeC must take out insurance covering health, civil liability and repatriation.

Getting around and daily life

Carriel Sur International Airport, the largest airport in the Biobío Region, is in the neighbouring municipality of Talcahuano, 8 km from the centre of Concepción.

For stays of under 180 days, exchange students can enter on a transitory stay permit (Permanencia Transitoria) for studies, valid for 90 days, and apply online for an extension that costs USD 100. For longer stays, students apply online from abroad for a temporary residence permit as a student with Chile's National Migration Service. Requirements include a passport valid for at least one year, a certificate of enrolment and proof of financial means.

Frequently asked questions

Which universities are in Concepción?

Examples in our directory are the Universidad de Concepción, founded in 1919, the state Universidad del Bío-Bío and the theology and philosophy faculty of the Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción.

Do I need to speak Spanish to study in Concepción?

Yes. Teaching is in Spanish, and the Universidad de Concepción asks exchange students from non-Spanish-speaking institutions for a B1 certificate, for example from the Instituto Cervantes or SIELE.

Can I do an exchange semester at the Universidad de Concepción?

Yes, for a few months up to one year, taking courses, doing research or an internship. Students under an agreement with their home university do not pay the USD 2,000 international fee per semester.

What visa do I need to study in Concepción?

For under 180 days, exchange students can use a 90-day transitory stay permit for studies, which can be extended. For longer studies, apply online from abroad for a student temporary residence permit.