Uniwords Students · Español

Universidad Metropolitana

Universidad Metropolitana

Quick facts

City
Guayaquil
Country
Ecuador
Type
Private
Founded
2000
National ranking
#52
Guide score
5.7/10

Official website: www.umet.edu.ec

Overview

The Universidad Metropolitana (UMET) is a private non-profit university. It was created by Ley 2000-14, published in Registro Oficial 68 on 2 May 2000. Its statute and website confirm that the sede matriz is in Guayaquil, with sedes in Quito and Machala. The Guayaquil campus is on Av. Francisco Boloña 519 in the La Garzota area of northern Guayaquil. In Quito, it teaches at La Coruña N26-95 y San Ignacio (La Floresta/González Suárez) and at a Campus Patrimonial on Pedro de Valdivia. In Machala, the sites are on Junín and Bolívar and in El Pajonal.

Guayaquil is legally the main city, but all three sedes teach full degrees. The rectorate's 2025 report counts 1,093 students in community-outreach (vinculación) projects across them.

UMET is accredited by CACES (Resolution 151-SE-33-CACES-2020), extended by Resolution 216-SO-29-CACES-2025. In Webometrics July 2026 it ranks 52nd in Ecuador and 8,044th worldwide; it is not in QS. No official total enrolment was found, so student_count is null. The university says about 54% of students receive a scholarship or financial aid.

Academic programs

There are five faculties:

Offerings vary by sede, so check which careers run in your city. English proficiency for graduation is handled through the associated Metropolitan Language School.

Fees: UMET does not publish a current fee schedule; the only figures we found were outdated third-party quotes. Tuition is therefore null. Ask admissions for the full-degree cost and scholarship options.

Campus life

UMET is a teaching-focused, commuter university, and some careers (such as Law) run in hybrid or online mode. Campus facilities are modest urban buildings rather than a campus park. Social life is the city's own. In Guayaquil, La Garzota and Alborada are residential with plenty of cheap food. Safety in Guayaquil and Machala needs care, so use registered transport at night.

Exchange programs

International mobility is limited and there is no published incoming-exchange guide. Contact the international relations office directly with your home university's agreement. Information pending on partner lists — contributions welcome.

Admissions

Admission is direct, as at other private universities, via the admissions office in each sede. Foreign applicants must homologate their secondary diploma with the Ministerio de Educación (apostilled and translated). For longer stays, they should obtain the student temporary residence visa via Cancillería's e-VISAS with a passport, an apostilled criminal record, proof of means and an admission letter. It is valid for the length of studies, up to two years per grant. Information pending on 2027 intake dates — contributions welcome.

Student housing

There are no residences. In Guayaquil, student rooms near the Universidad de Guayaquil area list at USD 150-220/month (≈ €130-190); La Garzota and Alborada are comparable. Information pending on Quito and Machala rents near UMET sites — contributions welcome.

Career services

Pre-professional internships and community-outreach hours are compulsory. Health careers place students in clinics and hospitals in each sede's city. Information pending on employability data — contributions welcome.

Academic programs

Application deadlines

Exchange

Small international office; mobility mainly through agreements and the Parlamento Andino / Uniwords network, with limited incoming exchange.

Universities in Guayaquil

Next steps

Sources