Universidad Privada de Santa Cruz de la Sierra

The Universidad Privada de Santa Cruz de la Sierra (UPSA) is a private, non-profit higher education institution in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, founded in 1984. The Bolivian state recognises its legal status, and a supreme decree gives it the legal power to award academic diplomas. Undergraduate programmes are organised in five faculties:

• Business Sciences
• Architecture, Design and Urban Planning
• Engineering
• Legal and Social Sciences
• Humanities, Communication and Arts

According to the university, 20 degree programmes offer a double degree option with universities in Europe and Latin America, and students can take part in exchanges with more than 100 universities in Europe, the United States, Asia and Latin America. Specialisation minors are certified by the continuing education department (CENACE).

Admission requirements differ for Bolivian, foreign and transfer students. Pre-registration is open for the next intake, with classes starting on 10 February 2027. UPSA awards an excellence scholarship (Beca a la Excelencia) to high-achieving students and has a student advice and welfare department (DABE), sports teams, internships, a job board and a business incubator, Incuba UPSA.