Study in Guadalajara, Mexico

About Guadalajara

Guadalajara is the capital of the state of Jalisco in western Mexico and the centre of a large metropolitan area that includes Zapopan, Tlaquepaque and Tlajomulco. It sits at about 1,550 metres above sea level. Local schools point out that tequila and mariachi music come from this region, and the city keeps a strong local identity.

For students, Guadalajara combines one of Mexico's oldest universities with private universities, film and media training and Spanish courses for foreigners. Most degree courses are taught in Spanish, so the city suits students who already speak the language or who start with a Spanish course.

Studying in Guadalajara

This directory lists four active schools in Guadalajara: three in higher education and one language school. The Universidad de Guadalajara (UdeG) is a public university whose history begins on 3 November 1792, when the Real Universidad de Guadalajara opened as the second university of New Spain, modelled on the University of Salamanca. Today it is organised as a network of 19 university centres and 177 upper-secondary schools across Jalisco, with more than 344,000 students, about 155,000 of them in higher education, according to the university. Its specialised centres in the metropolitan area include:

• CUAAD for art, architecture and design
• CUCEA for economics and business
• CUCEI for exact sciences and engineering
• CUCS for health sciences
• CUCSH for social sciences and humanities

Applicants with secondary studies from abroad must have their certificates legalised by a Mexican consulate or apostilled, and the studies must be revalidated by the education authorities, according to the UdeG admissions pages.

The Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara (UAG), founded in 1935, describes itself as Mexico's first private university and offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, including international bachelor's and master's degrees. The Centro Universitario de Medios Audiovisuales CAAV trains students in film, television, animation, design and other audiovisual media.

Learning Spanish in Guadalajara

IMAC Spanish Language Programs, in the historic centre, has more than forty years of experience. The school states that it was accredited by Mexico's Secretaría de Educación Pública in 1977, became an official DELE exam centre in January 2009 and was accredited by the Instituto Cervantes in June 2009. It offers immersion courses at all levels, one-to-one classes, Spanish for business, medicine, law or teaching, DELE preparation, internships and volunteering, and packages with airport pick-up and housing.

Cost of living for students

We found no official figures for student rents in Guadalajara. Public transport is inexpensive: according to SITEUR, the operator of the Mi Tren light rail, a full fare is 11 pesos in 2026. Transfers between Mi Tren lines 1, 2 and 3 are free, and with an electronic card a second service such as Mi Macro costs half the fare. Students who live in Jalisco and are enrolled at an officially recognised school or university can apply for the state's Mi Pasaje card, which gives a preferential fare of 5.50 pesos; registration requires a CURP (Mexican population registry code), proof of address and proof of studies.

Getting around and daily life

Guadalajara International Airport is linked to the metropolitan network by Line 5 Macro Aeropuerto, which runs daily from 3:30 to 22:30 for 11 pesos; one route goes directly to Parque Agua Azul near the city centre.

The climate is warm and dry for most of the year. At the Guadalajara observatory of Mexico's national weather service (Servicio Meteorológico Nacional, normals for 1991-2020), the average temperature is 15.7 °C in January and 22.3 °C in July; May and June are the warmest months, at almost 24 °C. Annual rainfall is about 950 mm, nearly all of it from June to September.

Visa rules depend on nationality and length of stay. According to the Consulate General of Mexico in Chicago, holders of a valid visa from the United States, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom or the Schengen area do not need a Mexican visa for stays of less than 180 days for non-paid activities, and the consulate lists the nationalities that need a visa. Degree students and anyone staying longer than 180 days apply for a student visa at a Mexican consulate before travelling.

Frequently asked questions

Which universities are in Guadalajara?

This directory lists the public Universidad de Guadalajara, founded in 1792, the private Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara, founded in 1935, and the audiovisual school CAAV.

Is Guadalajara a good place to learn Spanish?

Yes, it has Spanish schools for foreigners, including an official DELE exam centre, with courses for all levels.

How much does public transport cost in Guadalajara?

A single Mi Tren or Macro Aeropuerto ride costs 11 pesos in 2026. Students resident in Jalisco can apply for a Mi Pasaje card with a preferential fare of 5.50 pesos.

Do I need to revalidate my studies to apply to the Universidad de Guadalajara?

Yes. According to the university, secondary studies completed abroad must be legalised or apostilled and then revalidated by the Mexican education authorities.