Universities in Cuba

Higher education in Cuba is public and organised by the state. The Ministry of Higher Education (Ministerio de Educación Superior, MES) sets the rules for access and keeps the official catalogue of institutions and programmes. Its website counts 50 higher education institutions offering 178 undergraduate programmes, 22 of which are attached to the ministry itself; the universities of medical sciences and the Escuela Latinoamericana de Medicina report to the Ministry of Public Health, and the Universidad de las Artes to the Ministry of Culture.

Teaching is in Spanish, and the system is designed mainly for Cuban students, so foreign students study under specific arrangements. SpainExchange currently lists two institutions in Cuba: the Universidad Central "Marta Abreu" de Las Villas in Santa Clara and the Centro de Cibernética Aplicada a la Medicina (CECAM) in Havana.

Universities and accreditation

The ministry's list covers universities across the country, from the Universidad de Pinar del Río in the west to the Universidad de Guantánamo in the east, as well as specialised institutions such as the Universidad Tecnológica de La Habana José Antonio Echeverría and the Universidad de las Ciencias Informáticas. Each institution and programme carries an accreditation category from the Junta de Acreditación Nacional (JAN), the state agency responsible for quality and accreditation in Cuban higher education. The categories are, in ascending order, Autorizada, Calificada, Certificada and Excelencia. The Universidad Central Marta Abreu de Las Villas, in the province of Villa Clara, holds the Excelencia category.

Degrees and how they are organised

Undergraduate study takes two forms: the university degree course (carrera universitaria) and short-cycle higher education programmes that train higher technicians (técnico superior). In the ministry's catalogue, degree courses such as Nursing, Medicine or Stomatology last five years and others, such as Nutrition or Optometry, four. Many courses are offered full-time (curso diurno), in a part-time format with periodic sessions (cursos por encuentros) and as distance learning.

Postgraduate education has three types of programme: the postgraduate specialisation (especialidad de posgrado), the master's degree (maestría) and the doctorate. The ministry's postgraduate catalogue lists 410 master's programmes, 180 doctoral programmes and 90 specialisations across the system, many of them part-time and blended.

Admission for international students

Cuban higher education is open to Cuban citizens and to foreigners with permanent residence who meet the requirements. Non-resident foreigners study under the agreements signed between Cuba and their country of origin or under the rules the ministry sets for these applicants. In practice, this means asking the chosen university or the Cuban embassy in your country which route applies. For Cuban applicants, places on degree courses are allocated on the results of entrance exams.

Foreign degrees can be recognised (convalidación) by the ministry for postgraduate study or professional practice in Cuba. The applicant presents the undergraduate degree legalised by the Cuban consulate in the issuing country and by the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The procedure is free of charge.

Visa and practical life

Many nationalities, including British and Spanish citizens, need a visa for Cuba. The tourist visa, also called a tourist card, can be requested online, but it is meant for tourism; for other purposes the visa is requested at a Cuban consulate. Travellers must also complete an online arrival form on the D'Viajeros portal to obtain a QR code before arrival, and Spain's foreign ministry lists medical insurance as a required document. The same ministry currently reports long power and water cuts, a near total shortage of diesel and petrol, and serious problems with transport and access to medical services, so check the latest travel advice and ask the university how it supports foreign students before you commit.

How to choose

• Route of entry: an intergovernmental agreement, a scholarship or a direct agreement with the university
• Level: a full degree course, a postgraduate specialisation, a master's or a doctorate
• Study mode: full-time, periodic sessions or distance learning
• Accreditation category of the institution and the programme in the MES catalogue
• Recognition of the Cuban qualification in your home country, especially for medicine and other regulated professions

Frequently asked questions

How many universities are there in Cuba?

The Ministry of Higher Education counts 50 higher education institutions with 178 undergraduate programmes, 22 of them attached to the ministry itself.

Can foreigners study at a Cuban university?

Yes. Foreigners with permanent residence apply like Cuban citizens. Non-resident foreigners study under agreements between Cuba and their country or under specific rules of the Ministry of Higher Education.

What language are courses taught in?

Courses at Cuban universities are taught in Spanish, so foreign students need a good command of the language before they start.

How long does a degree take in Cuba?

Most degree courses in the ministry's catalogue last four or five years. Master's degrees, specialisations and doctorates are postgraduate programmes, many of them part-time.