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Universities in Peru

Universities in Peru by City:

limaSan Miguel

About universities in Peru

Peru, known officially as the Republic of Peru, is a large sovereign country located in South America, with a total geographic area of just over 496,000 square miles.  The country shares borders to the north with Ecuador and Colombia, to the east with Brazil, to the southeast with Bolivia and to the south with Chile, and its coastline is formed in the west by the Pacific Ocean.  Peru is a representative democracy consisting of 25 regions, a developing country with a high human development index score and a poverty level of approximately 31 percent.  The country is home to roughly 29.4 million permanent residents, many of whom live in and around the capital city of Lima.  From an ethnic standpoint, the majority of people (76%) are mestizo, a combination of European and Amerindian ancestry, while another 7 and 6 percent of residents self-identify as Amerindian and White respectively.  Spanish is the lone official language in the country and is used in government, media and commerce.  It is also used as the language of instruction in Peruvian schools and universities.
 
Higher Education in Peru
 
Higher education in Peru is under the jurisdiction and supervision of the national Ministry of Education, which is responsible for the formulation, implementation and supervision of the national educational policy and curriculum.  Education is free and compulsory at both the primary and secondary levels.  It is also free in the country’s public universities for those students who have demonstrated adequate academic performance and are unable to pay the prescribed rate of tuition.  Several organizations have praised the Peruvian system of education, including the United Nations and World Bank, which have both pronounced that the Peruvian system of education is one of, if not the best in Latin America, including their system of higher education.
 
There are essentially two categories of higher education in Peru:  non-university and university education.  Non-university education is, for the most part, provided by technological colleges and technical institutes.  Within these institutions students can receive valuable vocational and technical training in a variety of fields, ultimately leading to certification and a career position in the Peruvian workforce.  Most programs span three years or roughly 3,000 hours of study.  Students who successfully complete the requirements of the three-year program graduate with the title of “Technical Professional” in their chosen field.  More advanced technical programs require 4 years or roughly 4,000 hours of study, at the conclusion of which students earn the title of “Professional.”
 
University education is provided by both public and private universities and colleges.  These institutions offer a wide range of academic and professional specialties, in which students can earn undergraduate, graduate and post graduate degrees.  Much like in the United States and now Europe, undergraduate or Bachelor degree studies typically span four years.  Those who wish to continue their studies in the same or a related field after earning a Bachelor degree are free to pursue a Master’s degree, with programs that typically span an additional two years.  Some of the universities in Peru also offer PhD or doctorate programs for very advanced students, as well as specialty degrees in fields such as medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy and the law.