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Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo

Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo

Quick facts

City
Riobamba
Country
Ecuador
Type
Public
Founded
1995
Students
13,556
National ranking
#18
Tuition (local students)
US$0
Tuition (international)
US$0
Guide score
6.7/10

Official website: www.unach.edu.ec

Overview

The Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo (UNACH) is a public university founded in 1995 in Riobamba. The city is a mid-sized Andean town at about 2,750 m, beneath the Chimborazo volcano, roughly four hours south of Quito by bus. UNACH had 13,556 students in 2025, according to its accountability report.

Teaching is split across campuses:

UNACH is accredited by CACES (Resolution 152-SE-33-CACES-2020), extended by Resolution 216-SO-29-CACES-2025; the CACES president visited in March 2026. In Webometrics July 2026 it ranks 18th in Ecuador and 4,020th worldwide. In QS Latin America and Caribbean 2026 it is in the 351-400 band. International share is not published.

Academic programs

The university offers 31 face-to-face and 4 online careers across four faculties:

Teaching is in Spanish.

Undergraduate study is free (gratuidad) under Constitution Art. 356 and LOES Art. 80, including for foreigners legally resident in Ecuador. You must take at least 60% of the credits each term; repeat enrolments are charged, and failing more than 30% of the curriculum ends gratuidad.

Campus life

Riobamba is calm, cheap and cold at night, with a strong Indigenous and market culture. Saturday markets are a fixture, and the Chimborazo reserve and Alausí are within day-trip range. Nightlife is small-town. For students coming from Guayaquil or abroad, the draw is cost of living and safety rather than city buzz. The 2025 report cites 60.5% graduate employability, 276 indexed publications and 37 academic networks.

Exchange programs

UNACH funds outgoing mobility for its own students: a 2025 budget of USD 50,350, with grants up to USD 2,000 for Latin America and USD 3,000 for other regions. There is no published incoming-exchange guide. Visiting students should arrange a bilateral agreement or visiting-student status through the international relations office. Information pending on incoming procedures — contributions welcome.

Admissions

Since 2025, public universities run their own admission after the national Registro Nacional (MINEDEC). For the second 2026 period, UNACH set registration for 20-23 July, place acceptance for 14-27 August and enrolment for 5-22 October 2026. Enrolment requires an ID or passport, a notarised copy of the bachillerato title, the place-acceptance record and, for Ecuadorians, a voting certificate.

Foreign applicants must homologate their secondary diploma with the Ministerio de Educación (apostilled and translated). For a degree they need the student temporary residence visa from Cancillería's e-VISAS: a passport valid 6+ months, an apostilled criminal record, proof of means and admission, valid for the length of studies and up to two years per grant.

Student housing

Riobamba is among the cheapest student cities covered here. The local press reports rooms near campus (El Toril, La Dolorosa) at USD 65-90/month and small flats at USD 100-170 (≈ €55-145), usually with a one-month deposit. There are no university residences.

Career services

Internships and community-service hours are compulsory, and health careers rotate through Riobamba's hospitals. The university tracks graduate employability (60.5% in 2025). Information pending on a central careers office — contributions welcome.

Academic programs

Application deadlines

Exchange

Funds outgoing student mobility (up to USD 2,000 Latin America, USD 3,000 elsewhere) and belongs to 37 academic networks; also listed in the Parlamento Andino / Uniwords network.

Next steps

Sources