Study in Quito, Ecuador
16 schools in Quito, Ecuador. Universities (3), Language schools (13).
Universities in Quito 3
- Escuela Politécnica Nacional
The Escuela Politécnica Nacional (EPN) is a polytechnic university in Quito, Ecuador, and a member of the Ecuadorian Network of Universities for Research and…
- Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador
The Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (PUCE) is a Catholic university in Quito, Ecuador, with more than 80 years of history. It offers technical an…
- Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar
The Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar (UASB) is a postgraduate university of the Andean Community (CAN), part of the Andean Integration System. It was created…
Language schools in Quito 13
- Academia Latinoamericana de Español - Ecuador, Peru or Bolivia
Academia Latinoamericana de Español, now presented as LatinoSchools, is a Spanish language school with centres in Quito (Ecuador), Cusco (Peru) and Sucre (Bo…
- AHStudies professional - Intercultural Communication World
AHStudies is a Spanish-language teaching project based in Quito, Ecuador, which presents itself as one of the first of its kind in the city and has been acti…
- Ailola Quito Spanish School
Ailola Quito Spanish School is a Spanish language school for foreigners in Quito, Ecuador, which has taught Spanish since 1988. It is located at Guayaquil N9…
- Andean Global Studies
Andean Global Studies (AGS) is a Spanish language school based in Quito, Ecuador. It designs customised programmes for individuals and groups who want to lea…
- Banana Spanish School
Banana Spanish School is a Spanish language school for foreigners in Quito, Ecuador, located in the Floresta neighbourhood. It was founded by Nancy and Artur…
- Bipo & Toni's Spanish Academy
Bipo & Toni's Spanish Academy is a specialized Spanish language school located in Quito, Ecuador. The institution’s main mission is to bring together contine…
- Cristobal Colon Spanish School
Cristóbal Colón Spanish School is a Spanish language school in Quito, Ecuador, run by its founder and director since 1997. It is in the new town in the north…
- Elep Spanish Language School
ELEP Spanish Language School is a Spanish immersion program, organized in Ecuador, Latin America. The center is focused on designing and providing Spanish co…
- Equinox Spanish School
Equinox Spanish School is a Spanish language school in Ecuador, founded in 1986. This means it is one of the first Spanish schools in Quito. The institution…
- Galapagos Spanish School
Galapagos Spanish School is a Spanish language school in Quito, Ecuador, located in the La Mariscal district. It opened in 1989 and has been accredited by Ec…
About Quito
Quito is the capital of Ecuador, a high Andean city whose historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and which lies on the slopes of an active volcano. It combines a large colonial old town with a modern business and university district in the north.
Students come to Quito above all to learn Spanish, often combined with travel to the Amazon, the Andes, the coast or the Galápagos Islands, and to a lesser extent for university studies or postgraduate programmes. Spanish is the language of instruction at the universities.
Studying in Quito
Our directory lists 17 schools in Quito, most of them Spanish language schools. Among the universities, the Escuela Politécnica Nacional (EPN) was founded on 30 August 1869 by decree of the National Convention and became the country's first centre for teaching and scientific research; it opened Ecuador's first chemical engineering faculty in 1947 and has been on its El Girón campus since 1964. The Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (PUCE) celebrates 80 years, and the Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar offers only postgraduate programmes: doctorates, research master's, master's and specialisations, including an Erasmus Mundus joint master's.
The language schools differ mainly in format. Galapagos Spanish School, open since 1989, combines classes with weekly free activities and homestays with local families. Ailola Quito has taught Spanish since 1988 and also has a school in Otavalo. Yanapuma Spanish School, teaching since 2006, follows the recommendations of the Instituto Cervantes, with small groups of at most five students and standard (3 hours a day) or intensive (4 hours a day) courses. Cristóbal Colón Spanish School, since 1997, teaches one-to-one close to a metro station and runs a student visa programme. LatinoSchools places new students with a written test and an oral proficiency interview and offers SIELE and DELE preparation and college credit; Andean Global Studies lets students move between five schools in Ecuador. Several schools, including Yanapuma, Cristóbal Colón and Andean Global Studies, prepare students for the DELE exam.
Cost of living for students
Ecuador uses the US dollar, and schools quote their prices in dollars. As an example of course prices, Cristóbal Colón charges $9 an hour for private lessons on weekdays, or $180 for 20 lessons a week (school website, 2026). Most schools arrange accommodation with host families, in student residences or in shared apartments; Banana Spanish School, for instance, offers a host family or its own apartment in the Floresta district. We found no official figures for student rents in Quito, so compare the accommodation prices of the schools directly.
Getting around and daily life
The Metro de Quito has 15 stations along the length of the city and carried 5.4 million trips in July 2026, according to the operator. Buses, trolleybuses and taxis complete the network. The schools organise excursions to places such as Otavalo, the cloud forest and the Middle of the World monument.
Tourist stays in Ecuador are granted for 90 days. For longer studies, Ecuador's Ministry of Foreign Affairs offers a temporary residence visa in the student category; nationals of some countries, including Cuba, Venezuela and Haiti, need a visa even to enter Ecuador. Citizens of other Andean Community and MERCOSUR countries have their own residence categories.
Frequently asked questions
Is Quito a good place to learn Spanish?
Yes. Quito has many Spanish schools with group or one-to-one classes, host family accommodation, cultural activities and DELE or SIELE exam preparation.
Which universities are in Quito?
Among others, the Escuela Politécnica Nacional (founded in 1869), the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador and the postgraduate Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar. Teaching is in Spanish.
Do I need a visa to study Spanish in Quito?
For a stay of up to 90 days, many nationalities enter as tourists without a visa. For longer studies there is a temporary residence visa in the student category; check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before travelling.
How much does a Spanish course in Quito cost?
Prices vary by school and format. One school charges $9 an hour for private lessons, or $180 for 20 lessons a week.