Universities in Bolivia

Explore the uniRank League Table and University Ranking of 52 Universities in Bolivia

The Plurinational State of Bolivia is divided into 9 departments (Spanish: departamentos). The majority of higher education institutions that meet the uniRank selection criteria are located in the La Paz and Cochabamba departments. The following uniRank sub-rankings and league tables consider all departments that include at least one Bolivian higher education institution meeting the uniRank selection criteria.

Beni (2)  
Chuquisaca (4)  
Cochabamba (10)  
La Paz (16)  
Oruro (2)  
Pando (1)  
Potosi (2)  
Santa Cruz (13)  
Tarija (2)  

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The Higher Education System in Bolivia

The higher education system in Bolivia is governed by the Ministry of Education, which oversees public, private, indigenous, and military universities, as well as technical institutes. Higher education institutions are regulated by national laws and governing bodies such as the Comité Ejecutivo de la Universidad Boliviana (CEUB) for public universities and the Asociación Nacional de Universidades Privadas (ANUP) for private ones.

Types of higher education institutions in Bolivia

In Bolivia, higher education is offered by several types of institutions:

1. Universidad Pública Autónoma: autonomous public universities funded by the state and offering a wide range of academic programs.
2. Universidad Privada: private universities which have grown significantly since 1985 and are governed by ANUP.
3. Universidad Indígena: indigenous universities that focus on culturally relevant education for indigenous communities.
4. Universidad de Régimen Especial: military and police universities which offer specialized education for these sectors.
5. Instituto Técnico/Tecnológico: technical institutes offering shorter, vocational training programs.

Access to higher education in Bolivia

To access higher education in Bolivia, students must complete secondary education, culminating in the Bachillerato certificate. For university entry, candidates may also need to pass an entrance examination, depending on the institution. Foreign students must present a secondary school leaving certificate equivalent to the Bachillerato and may be required to demonstrate Spanish language proficiency.

Languages of instruction in Bolivia

The primary language of instruction in Bolivian higher education is Spanish.

Stages of higher education in Bolivia

1. First stage: undergraduate studies include diplomas de Técnico Superior (1 to 2 years) and Licenciaturas (4 to 5 years) in various fields.
2. Second stage: postgraduate studies include Diplomados and Especialidades as well as Maestrías (Master’s degrees) which typically last 2 years after the Licenciatura.
3. Third stage: doctoral studies (Doctorado) require original research and the defense of a thesis after completing a Maestría.

Since 2005, UniRank provides original research, valuable information and resources to help you explore and make informed decisions about Bolivian universities and their online presence.

• Oldest Universities in Bolivia
  Explore the most traditional and long-established Bolivian post-secondary institutions according to uniRank's original research.
• A-Z Universities in Bolivia
  Search for Bolivian higher education institutions listed alphabetically from A to Z.
• Bolivian Universities by Town
  Look for tertiary institutions located in a particular Bolivian town or city.
• Top Public Universities in Bolivia
  Discover Bolivian public higher education institutions with potentially lower tuition fees.
• Top Private Universities in Bolivia
  Find out about Bolivian private higher education institutions.
• Top Non-Profit Universities in Bolivia
  Explore Bolivian not-for-profit higher education institutions that may offer lower tuition fees.
• Top For-Profit Universities in Bolivia
  Look for Bolivian for-profit higher education institutions.
• Top Bolivian Universities on Facebook
  See which tertiary institutions in Bolivia have the most followers on Facebook, according to uniRank's original research.
• Top Bolivian Universities on Twitter
  Discover the Universities in Bolivia that are most followed on Twitter, based on uniRank's original research.
• Top Bolivian Universities on Instagram
  Find out which post-secondary institutions in Bolivia are the most followed on Instagram, according to uniRank's original research.
• Top Bolivian Universities on YouTube
  Explore the Universities in Bolivia with the most subscribed channels on YouTube, based on uniRank's original research.