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Universidad Politécnica Estatal del Carchi

Universidad Politécnica Estatal del Carchi

Quick facts

City
Tulcán
Country
Ecuador
Type
Public
Founded
2006
National ranking
#42
Tuition (local students)
US$0
Tuition (international)
US$0
Guide score
5.7/10

Official website: www.upec.edu.ec

Overview

The Universidad Politécnica Estatal del Carchi (UPEC) was created by Ley 2006-36 (Registro Oficial 244, 5 April 2006) to serve Ecuador's northern border province. It is CACES-accredited (160-SE-33-CACES-2020, extended by 216-SO-29-CACES-2025) and ranks 42nd in Ecuador and 7,030th worldwide in Webometrics July 2026; it is not in QS or THE. Published enrolment figures conflict (over 4,000 in a 2023 bulletin, about 7,500 cited for 2024), so the student count is left empty.

The main campus is on Calle Antisana y Av. Universitaria in the south of Tulcán, with a newer Campus Cayambe (Pichincha) that opened with Tourism in September 2025 and adds Basic Education, Administration, International Trade and Accounting in 2026B. The university also runs two experimental farms, in La Concepción (Mira) and San Pedro de Huaca.

Tulcán is a small, cold border city at roughly 2,950 m — one of the highest provincial capitals in Ecuador — a few kilometres from the Rumichaca bridge to Ipiales (Colombia). Expect chilly nights, wind and drizzle; pack warm clothes. Its best-known sight is the topiary cemetery. Carchi province recorded 10 homicides January-August 2026, a low figure, though border areas carry smuggling-related risks and travellers should follow local advice.

Academic programs

Teaching is organised in faculties covering agricultural and environmental sciences, industrial and business sciences, and health and education. The border location shapes the offer: International Trade, Logistics and Transport, Business Administration, Accounting and Tourism sit alongside Computing and Food Engineering (both nine-semester engineering degrees), Agriculture, Nursing, Clinical Laboratory, Physical Activity and Sport, and Education. For 2026B UPEC advertised 12 on-campus programmes, two blended and one online.

Campus life

Tulcán is quiet; student life means campus sports, cafés and weekend trips to the El Ángel páramo reserve, the Ibarra area or across the border to Ipiales and the Las Lajas sanctuary. UPEC offers students accident cover, social work, dental and medical care and scholarships.

Exchange programs

The Dirección de Relaciones Interinstitucionales manages agreements, and a new mobility regulation was approved on 17 June 2026 (Resolución 127-CSUP-2026). UPEC belongs to a Colombia-Ecuador binational university network and holds an agreement with the Universidad CESMAG in Pasto. Cross-border academic mobility with Nariño is the most realistic exchange option. No current inbound numbers or partner list were found.

Admissions

After the mandatory national Registro Nacional, UPEC runs its own process. For 2026B: registration 26 June-16 July, the Test UPEC (60 questions in 60 minutes) 6-15 August, scores on 19 August, applications until 1 September, acceptance by 4 September and levelling-course enrolment 14-18 September. Demand exceeds supply: for 2025-A there were 3,368 applicants for 1,196 places. Study is free under gratuidad.

Foreigners — including Colombians — need regular migration status and a MINEDEC-homologated school diploma. The visa de residencia temporal de estudiante costs USD 50 + USD 80 and requires an apostilled criminal record, proof of means and an admission letter. Colombian nationals may also qualify for Andean Community (CAN) residence routes; check with Cancillería.

Student housing

Information pending — contributions welcome. UPEC has no residences, and no reliable published rents near campus were found. Ask the student welfare office for landlord contacts before arriving.

Career services

Information pending — contributions welcome. Internships are compulsory; no employability data was found.

Academic programs

Application deadlines

Exchange

Mobility handled by the Dirección de Relaciones Interinstitucionales under a new 2026 mobility regulation, with strong cross-border links to southern Colombia. Listed in the Parlamento Andino / Uniwords network. Teaching in Spanish.

Next steps

Sources