Psychology Schools and Programs in Mexico

Psychology Studies in Mexico

Psychology in Mexico is studied as a licenciatura, the first university degree, which at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) leads to the title of Licenciado en Psicología. The UNAM describes psychology as the profession that identifies, assesses and proposes ways to prevent and solve problems arising from the interaction between individuals, groups, institutions and communities. Students learn the main theoretical approaches of the discipline and the methods to assess and intervene. Programmes are taught in Spanish.

SpainExchange lists five schools in Mexico that teach psychology: two in Guadalajara (the Universidad de Guadalajara and the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara), and one each in Mexico City, Puebla and Hermosillo.

How the degree is organised

The licenciatura in psychology usually lasts 8 semesters at the schools that publish their plans: both the UNAM and the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara (UAG) list 8 semesters. Plans are counted in semesters and in each university's own credits, not in ECTS. At the UNAM the degree can be taken on campus, in an open-university mode or at a distance, depending on the faculty.

Supervised practice is part of the training. At the UAG, students do professional placements in clinical, educational and organisational settings, and train alongside students of medicine, nursing, physiotherapy and dentistry. At the UNAM, students also complete the servicio social, a period of social service of at least 480 hours, which can start once 70% of the credits are completed.

After the licenciatura, students can continue with a specialisation (especialidad), a master's degree (maestría) or a doctorate (doctorado).

Official validity and accreditation

Degrees from private universities have official validity only if the specific programme holds an RVOE (Reconocimiento de Validez Oficial de Estudios), which the Secretaría de Educación Pública (SEP) grants per study plan. Without it, students cannot obtain a professional title or a cédula profesional, the professional licence issued by the SEP. The SEP publishes the programmes with an RVOE in its online register (SIRVOES). The UAG, for example, shows the RVOE agreement for its psychology degree on the programme page.

Quality accreditation is separate from the RVOE. For psychology, the main body is the Consejo Nacional para la Enseñanza e Investigación en Psicología (CNEIP), a non-profit association founded in 1971 that accredits psychology programmes. Since 24 February 2025 it has been listed in the federal government's register of external evaluation and accreditation bodies.

Admission and language

Each university runs its own admission process. At public universities, psychology is in high demand: at the UNAM, 23,267 people applied in the 2023-2024 cycle for 3,643 places. Applicants with school certificates from abroad should expect requirements like those of the Universidad de Guadalajara:

• Certificates legalised by a Mexican consulate or with an apostille
• An official translation of documents from countries where Spanish is not spoken
• A grade equivalence table; without it, the applicant competes with the minimum grade of 60
• After admission, authorisation to study from the Instituto Nacional de Migración

Because the work of a psychologist depends on interviews and communication, a good command of Spanish is essential. Foreign students who will study in Mexico for more than 180 days apply for a student visa at a Mexican consulate. Spain's foreign ministry notes that Spanish citizens need a visa to study in Mexico whatever the length of the stay, and that the visa must be exchanged in Mexico for a migration document.

Where to study psychology in Mexico

• Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM): the degree is taught in Mexico City, the State of Mexico and Juriquilla
• Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara (UAG): a private university with an 8-semester degree that includes neuroscience, community mental health, legal psychology and sports psychology
• Universidad de Guadalajara: a public university organised as a network of 19 university centres across Jalisco
• Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (BUAP): a public university whose history goes back to 1578, with its own Facultad de Psicología
• Universidad de Sonora, Hermosillo: a public university founded in 1942; its psychology degree belongs to the Facultad Interdisciplinaria de Ciencias Sociales

Careers

According to the UNAM, psychologists work in education, health and the productive sector: in research institutes, special-education and therapy centres, hospitals and clinics, government agencies and community organisations. They can also work independently in private practice or as consultants, and teach psychology at upper-secondary and university level.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a psychology degree take in Mexico?

At the UNAM and the UAG, the licenciatura in psychology takes 8 semesters. Servicio social and placements are part of the programme.

Can I study psychology in Mexico in English?

Psychology programmes at the schools listed here are taught in Spanish, so a good command of the language is needed.

How do I know if a psychology programme is officially recognised?

For a private university, check that the specific programme has an RVOE in the SEP's SIRVOES register; accreditation by the CNEIP is a separate quality label.