Top Universities in South America

If you are looking for global exposure, vibrant and green campus life and mind-blowing beaches and coastlines, then South America is just for you! South America is home to some of the most diverse countries in the world, from coloured mountains to incredible natural hotspots and lost civilisations, the continent is a paradise for students and tourists alike! It is not just known for its beautiful salt lakes in Bolivia or stunning glaciers of Chile’s Patagonia region, but, also for its education system. Let’s look at the top universities in South America that you should consider for the upcoming intakes!

Why Study in South America?

Where else can you visit the largest waterfall system in the world, three of the seven wonders of the modern world, countless UNESCO World Heritage sites, and some of the largest world-class cities? South America is one of the most unique destinations for studying abroad, the variety of programs offered throughout this portion of the western hemisphere is as diverse as the region itself. Some key reasons are affordability, diversity and the fact that it is ideal for language learning. Let’s have a look at the top universities in South America

Top Universities In South America

University Name	Country	Global Ranking
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC)	Chile	121
Universidade de São Paulo (USP)	Brazil	115
Tecnológico de Monterrey (ITESM)	Mexico	155
Universidad de Chile	Chile	180
Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp)	Brazil	233
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)	Mexico	105
Universidad de los Andes Colombia	Columbia	227
Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA)	Argentina	69
Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro	Brazil	380
Universidad Nacional de Colombia	Colombia	259

As we have seen the top colleges, let’s dig deeper into the top universities in South America.

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC)

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC) is considered one of the top universities in South America and consistently ranked high. UC places joint 121st in the most recent world university rankings. It was established in 1888, UC is one of the six Catholic universities in Chile, it has four campuses in the country’s capital one in Santiago and one in Villarrica. It scores highly across all the indicators like perfect scores for the employer and academic reputation which means that employment prospects for the university’s graduates are very positive.

Universidade de São Paulo (USP)

USP ranked joint 115th in the most recent world university rankings a Universidade de São Paulo (USP). It is the second-best university in South America. USP was officially founded in 1934, but the law school was established much earlier in 1827. Now it is the largest public university in Brazil. USP earns perfect scores across five of the eight indicators which include employer reputation, web impact and international research network. This shows the wide scope of the university’s achievements and dedication to preparing graduates for employment.

Tecnológico de Monterrey (ITESM)

Tecnológico de Monterrey is a private university system which was founded in 1943 in Monterrey, México. It is a comprehensive university offering Ph.D., master’s, undergraduate, and high-school programs in Engineering, Management, Social, Arts and Human Sciences, and Medicine. 31 campuses located across 25 cities in the country come under ITESM and 22 liaison offices in 15 countries. In each campus, there are modern and innovative facilities, creating a balance between studying and recreation. 

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)

UNAM’s ranking in the World University Rankings 2021 is 105th is one of the top universities in South America. The university has over 150,000 students this year and has several campuses in Mexico City as well as others across Mexico and throughout the US, including Chicago and Hull. The UNAM is widely regarded by many university world rankings as the leading university of the Spanish-speaking world. All courses are taught in Spanish. The acceptance rate of this university was 5.9% in 2013 and 8% in 2016. 

Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA)

The University of Buenos Aires is a public research university in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Established in 1821 it is the premier institution of higher learning in the country and 2020 was considered the most prestigious university of Ibero-America. Lessons in Buenos Aires are taught in Spanish, which is the national language in Argentina. However, there are courses taught in English but knowledge of Spanish is highly recommended for foreign students.

Thus several top universities in South America offer quality degree and diploma programs to those wanting to study in the land of intellectuals! If you are planning to study in South America, consult our counsellors at Leverage Edu and we’ll help you find a suitable course and university as well as throughout the admission procedure to ensure that you get successfully shortlisted. For more content, follow us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn.