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Universidad Católica del Norte

Universidad Católica del Norte

Datos rápidos

Ciudad
Antofagasta
País
Chile
Tipo
Privada
Fundada en
1956
Estudiantes
11.500
Ranking nacional
#18
Matrícula (estudiantes locales)
6.242.000 CLP
Nota media de la guía
6,7/10

Web oficial: www.ucn.cl

Resumen

The Universidad Católica del Norte (UCN) was founded in Antofagasta in 1956 as the Universidad del Norte and began teaching in 1957. It is a private Catholic university that belongs to the CRUCH (the council of Chile's "traditional" universities) and takes part in Gratuidad, the state free-tuition scheme.

The CNA accredited UCN in November 2022 for 6 years (level Excelencia, until 2028) across all areas. It has about 11,500 students in some 54 undergraduate programmes, according to the rector in 2025. In QS Latin America & Caribbean 2026 it ranks 118th and 18th among Chilean universities in that edition. It sits in the 1401+ band of QS World 2027 and 1501+ in THE World 2026.

Oferta académica

UCN is the reference university of Chile's mining north. Mining Engineering, Geology, Metallurgy and Civil Engineering are its signature programmes. Astronomy benefits from the Atacama observatories. At the Coquimbo campus, the Faculty of Marine Sciences runs one of Chile's leading Marine Biology programmes. Medicine, Law, Architecture, Business, Journalism and Psychology complete the offer. The academic year runs in two semesters (March–July, August–December), and credits are in the Chilean SCT system.

Vida en el campus

The Casa Central is on Av. Angamos 0610 in Antofagasta, near the coastline. The Guayacán campus is in Coquimbo (Larrondo 1281). UCN also runs the archaeological institute and museum in San Pedro de Atacama. Antofagasta is a dry, mild, mining-driven port city with a high cost of living for Chile. Weekends lead to the desert, La Portada and the altiplano.

Intercambios

The international office (io@ucn.cl, movilidad.estudiantil@ucn.cl) has run the PIE-UCN incoming programme since 2004, with more than 1,300 visiting students. The process works like this:

1. Your home university nominates you.

2. You upload your documents.

3. You choose a course load of 12–30 SCT credits.

Spanish B1 is expected. Students from partner universities (bilateral, ODUCAL, PAME) pay no tuition. Free movers pay USD 100 per semester plus USD 200 per SCT credit.

Admisión

Chileans enter through the PAES national test run by DEMRE. For the 2027 intake, the test is on 30 November–2 December 2026, with applications on 4–7 January 2027 and enrolment from 19 January. UCN requires a minimum PAES average of 458 or a place in the top 10% of your class. The 2026 cut-off for Mining Engineering was 717.95.

Students whose last two years of secondary school were abroad can use the admisión especial para estudios en el extranjero. You'll need an average equivalent to 5.8/7, apostilled documents, and an application between 12 October and 11 December 2026.

Tuition: 2026 annual arancel for Mining Engineering is CLP 6,242,000 (≈ €5,900) and for Geology CLP 6,155,000, plus a CLP 195,000 enrolment fee. Gratuidad covers eligible students, who must hold Chilean nationality or a Chilean secondary diploma plus permanent residence. International degree-seekers pay the arancel.

Degree students and semester students need the Residencia Temporal (Estudiantes) from the Servicio Nacional de Migraciones, applied for online. Requirements are a passport valid for at least one year, an apostilled criminal record, a matrícula certificate and proof of funds. It permits part-time work.

Alojamiento

UCN has no general residence halls. Rooms near the campus on Av. Angamos list at about CLP 130,000–260,000 per month (≈ €125–250). That's cheap for a room in Antofagasta, where shared flats often cost more. Search early in February and July.

Empleabilidad

Alumni UCN (egresados@ucn.cl) runs job intermediation, a job board and employer events. Antofagasta is Chile's mining hub. Engineering internships with the region's large mining and energy companies are the usual route into the sector. Company-specific placement figures are pending — contributions welcome.

Oferta académica

Plazos de solicitud

Intercambio

PIE-UCN incoming exchange since 2004 (1,300+ visiting students); tuition waived for partner nominees, free movers pay USD 100 per semester plus USD 200 per SCT credit.

Siguientes pasos

Fuentes