Best universities in Latin America 2023
Explore the best universities in Latin America from data collected by Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings
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Top 10 universities in Latin America 2023
| Latin America Rank 2023 | Latin America Rank 2022 | University | Country/region | World University Rank 2023 |
| 1 | 1 | Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile | Chile | 401–500 |
| 2 | 2 | University of São Paulo | Brazil | 201–250 |
| 3 | 3 | University of Campinas | Brazil | 401–500 |
| 4 | 5 | Monterrey Institute of Technology | Mexico | 801–1000 |
| 5 | 4 | Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) | Brazil | 601–800 |
| 6 | 8 | Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul | Brazil | 601–800 |
| 7 | 9 | Federal University of Minas Gerais | Brazil | 801–1000 |
| 8 | 10 | Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio) | Brazil | 801–1000 |
| 9 | 7 | University of Chile | Chile | 1001–1200 |
| 10 | 12 | Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp) | Brazil | 1001–1200 |
If you are looking to study at one of the top universities in Latin America, heading to Brazil might be your best bet, based on the results of the 2023 Times Higher Education Latin America University Rankings. The country has an impressive 65 universities in the ranking.
The 2023 ranking includes 197 institutions in 15 countries.
Even though Brazil is the most-represented country in the ranking, the top university for the fourth consecutive year is the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile; Brazil’s University of São Paulo comes second.
Colombia is another good choice for students looking to study in Latin America, with 36 universities in the ranking. Other countries with a strong presence include Chile (32 universities) and Mexico (24).
The rest of the top five comprises the University of Campinas (ranked third), the Monterrey Institute of Technology (ranked fourth) and Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) in fifth position.
The Latin America University Rankings uses the same methodology as THE’s World University Rankings, but some of the indicators have been recalibrated to reflect the profile of higher education in Latin America and the Caribbean. The full methodology can be found here.
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1. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile
The Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile is one of six private Catholic universities in Chile and one of two pontifical universities in the country.
Founded in 1888, the university originally taught law, mathematics, legal sciences and physical sciences. However, the course catalogue has since expanded to include subjects such as theology, philosophy, commerce and technology.
Four of the university’s campuses are located in Santiago, Chile’s capital and its cultural, political and financial centre, home to the headquarters of many multinational companies.
The fifth campus is in Villarrica next to the city’s lake.
2. University of São Paulo, Brazil
The University of São Paulo is Brazil’s oldest and largest university. Four of its 11 campuses are in São Paulo, while the remaining campuses are in the cities of Bauru, Lorena, Piracicaba, Pirassununga, Ribeirão Preto and São Carlos, which has two.
The university has many recreational activities and facilities, including museums and galleries, two theatres, a cinema, a TV channel and an orchestra.
Five hospitals are also affiliated with the institution, including the University of São Paulo Medical School Public Hospital, which is a major training hospital for the university’s School of Medicine.
3. University of Campinas, Brazil
The University of Campinas, or Unicamp, is based in the city of Campinas in the São Paulo region of Brazil.
Although it is one of Brazil’s youngest universities (it was founded in 1964), Unicamp has established itself as a primary medical and scientific research centre. The institution is responsible for about 15 per cent of academic research conducted in Brazil.
International undergraduates will need to sit an exam before acceptance. The exam requires prospective students to have a good grasp of Portuguese.
Neither Brazilian nor international students pay tuition fees, as is the case in all state-run universities in the country.
The university offers 66 undergraduate programmes and 152 graduate programmes across four main areas: exact sciences, human sciences, biological sciences, and technologies.
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4. Monterrey Institute of Technology, Mexico
The Monterrey Institute of Technology is a private university system founded in 1943 in Monterrey, Mexico. Today, it has 29 campuses in 25 cities.
It offers undergraduate, master’s and PhD programmes across disciplines such as engineering, management, social sciences, arts, science and medicine.
The university encourages students to study abroad for a period of time. Its students represent more than 70 nationalities.
5. Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)
Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) is located in the Brazilian state of São Paulo.
The university was established to provide teaching and learning in the health sciences, but from 2005 it began offering courses in areas such as the humanities, computer science and engineering.
The university has six campuses.
The 50 top universities in Latin America 2023
Click each institution to view its full World University Rankings 2023 results
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