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Universidad Mayor de San Simón

Universidad Mayor de San Simón

Quick facts

City
Cochabamba
Country
Bolivia
Type
Public
Founded
1832
Students
78,433
National ranking
#2
Guide score
6.6/10

Official website: www.umss.edu.bo

Overview

The Universidad Mayor de San Simón (UMSS), founded in 1832, is Cochabamba's public autonomous university and a member of the CEUB system. The "Nacional" in the page slug is not part of the official name. In the QS Latin America & the Caribbean 2026 ranking it sits in the 201–250 band, second among Bolivian universities after UMSA and sharing that band with the private UPB. That makes it joint second nationally.

The official UMSS STAT portal reports 78,433 students in 2025: 26,515 on annual plans and 51,918 on semester plans. Ciencias y Tecnología (about 17,000) and Ciencias Económicas (about 16,700) are the largest faculties, followed by Law (about 13,300). There are no university-wide figures on foreign students. The FCyT's own 2025 data book shows just one or two "nuevo extranjero" admissions per semester in the university's biggest faculty, so expect to be a rarity.

Academic programs

Faculties include Ciencias y Tecnología (engineering and computer science), Ciencias Económicas, Ciencias Jurídicas y Políticas, Medicina, Odontología, Enfermería, Ciencias Farmacéuticas y Bioquímicas, Arquitectura y Ciencias del Hábitat, Ciencias Agrícolas y Pecuarias, Ciencias Veterinarias, Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educación, Ciencias Sociales and Desarrollo Rural. There are also decentralised units in the Trópico and Valle Alto. Agronomy, Architecture, Ciencias y Tecnología and Medicine have regional (Arcu-Sur / Marca Mercosur) accreditation, which is what qualifies them for Marca exchanges.

Fees: matrícula is bought once a year through WebSIS. The amount depends on faculty and student status, and UMSS does not publish a foreigner rate, so both tuition fields are left null. Admission itself has a cost: the FCE entrance exam for II/2026 was Bs 600 per option, while FACSO's admission form was Bs 60. Titling fees are higher for foreigners (diploma printing Bs 1,006, compared with Bs 406 for nationals).

Campus life

The central campus is on Av. Oquendo, where Registros e Inscripciones is at No. 992, next to the Las Cuadras neighbourhood. The Rectorado and DRIC are on Av. Ballivián (El Prado). UMSS's own exchange factsheet warns that some carreras are taught on campuses far from the centre, so check where yours is before choosing a room. At about 2,550 m, Cochabamba is lower and much milder than La Paz. The city is known for its markets (La Cancha), food culture and a relaxed student scene around Av. América and Calle España.

Exchange programs

Semester and year exchanges go through the DRIC, via CRISCOS PME (Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru), AUGM Escala, Marca Mercosur, and bilateral agreements. Bilateral partners include the Universidad Pública de Navarra (Erasmus+ KA107), Nantes, Hradec Králové and HEPIA. Incoming students are nominated by their home university by email to DRIC, receive an acceptance letter, and then enrol on arrival. They need a student visa, insurance and an apostilled criminal record. Expect about USD 20 in registration costs.

Admissions

Every faculty sets its own calendar and method: an entrance exam, a curso propedéutico, or occasional admisión directa (for example FACSO for II/2026). UMSS states plainly that being foreign does not grant direct entry unless an agreement applies. Degree-seekers need an apostilled or legalised secondary diploma and birth certificate and a valid passport, and they must convert the 60-day student visa into a DIGEMIG permanencia temporal de estudiante (1–3 years, renewable). Foreign degrees can be revalidated through the Trámites office.

Student housing

There are no dorms. Rooms near the main campus and Hospital Viedma are advertised at Bs 350–400 a month (about €28–32). Rooms with a private bathroom in Las Cuadras go for Bs 500–800, and a two-bedroom flat for Bs 1,400–1,600. Most ads predate the 2026 devaluation, so expect higher asking prices now.

Career services

Placement is handled per carrera, through pasantías, trabajo dirigido and industry agreements. The FCyT has the strongest links to Cochabamba's software and agro-industrial employers. Information pending on a central careers office — contributions welcome.

Academic programs

Application deadlines

Exchange

Exchange through DRIC (CRISCOS PME, AUGM Escala, Marca Mercosur for accredited faculties, Erasmus+ ICM with UPNA and others). Parlamento Andino network member. Teaching in Spanish.

Next steps

Sources