Study abroad in Ecuador with their top and very affordable universities and colleges, find out where and how to apply for admission, tuition fees in Ecuador, cost of living and admission requirements.
About Ecuador
Ecuador is a country on the west coast of South America which straddles the equator. The complex environment includes the Amazon jungle, the Andean highlands and the Galápagos Islands, which are rich in wildlife.
Quito, the capital, is known for its largely intact Spanish colonial core, with decorated 16th- and 17th-century palaces and religious sites, such as the ornate Compañía de Jesús Church, situated at the Andean foothills with a height of 2,850m.
Study Abroad in Ecuador as an International Student; Overview of Higher Education in Ecuador
With the aim of raising higher education quality and making admissions fairer, Ecuador is in the midst of reforming its university system.
Meanwhile all professors would be expected to hold at least a master’s degree by 2017, and preferably a doctoral qualification, as part of the strategy to raise teaching standards. However at present, graduate degrees in Ecuador are relatively rare. Currently, only three universities offer PhDs, and only about 20 are completed each year.
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The idea of raising standards by those in authority also implies a clampdown on so-called ‘garage universities’-higher education institutions deemed not to meet the required standards for teaching, facilities and intellectual services.
Where and How to Apply for Admission to Study in Ecuador
The list of universities with low tuition in Ecuador is below. But let’s remember how to apply to these universities before that.
International students wishing to study in Ecuador should apply to their chosen school directly. The individual university must communicate the school fees, academic qualifications and other important data to them. Notice that Spanish is the language you are learning, so you must be fluent in the language.
Type the name of any of the schools below in your browser and check for the website of the school. For more information on admittance criteria and how to apply, please visit the site.
Language of Instruction in Universities of Ecuador
Spanish is Ecuador’s official language, so most of the programs are taught in this language. There is knowledge and assistance available in English at several colleges, but the number of programs in English is extremely small.
For those who speak Spanish or want to learn it, studying in Ecuador is fine.
Cost of Living in Ecuador for International Students
Ecuador’s official currency has been the U.S. dollar since the early 2000s. For certain foreign students, this could be a positive thing, since payments would be faster and less complicated.
It can cost between 350 and 400 USD per month to rent a one-bedroom apartment in the town center. Renting the same apartment will cost between 200 and 300 USD in other places.
The cost of the familiar food basket is about USD 700, so as a student living alone, you can expect to spend between USD 150 and 200. Your monthly transportation budget should be USD 20.
Cost of Education in Ecuador
Public universities in Ecuador have been tuition-free since 2008. This is one of the reasons why the majority of students are enrolled in public universities (around 80 percent).
Tuition fees can range from 2,000 USD to 6,000 USD per year for international students at private universities. Tuition will cost about 2,000 USD more for such majors, such as medicine or architecture.
List of Cheap Colleges and Universities in Ecuador
- Universidad Técnica de Ambato
- Politecnica Salesiana University
- Universidad Católica de Cuenca
- Universidad de Cuenca
- Universidad del Azuay
- Blue Hill College
- Brookdale College Ecuador
- Escuela Superior Politecnica del Litoral
- Instituto Superior de Arte Culinario
- Politecnica Salesiana University
- Universidad Agraria del Ecuador
- Universidad Casa Grande
- Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil
- Universidad de Especialidades Espíritu Santo
- Universidad Ecotec
- Universidad Laica Vicente Rocafuerte de Guayaquil
- Universidad de Guayaquil
- Universidad Santa María
- Universidad Tecnológica Empresarial de Guayaquil
- Tecnológico Espíritu Santo
- Universidad Técnica de Cotopaxi
- Universidad Nacional de Loja
- Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja
- Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí
- Universidad San Gregorio de Portoviejo
- Universidad Técnica de Manabí
- Universidad Técnica Estatal de Quevedo
- Universidad Central del Ecuador
- Escuela Politécnica Nacional
- Politecnica Salesiana University
- Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador
- Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar
- Universidad de las Américas
- Universidad de los HemisferiosUniversidad Internacional del Ecuador
- Universidad Internacional SEK
- Universidad San Francisco de Quito
- Universidad Tecnológica América
- Universidad Tecnológica Equinoccial
- Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo
- Escuela Politécnica del Ejército
- Universidad Politécnica Estatal del Carchi
- Universidad del Pacífico
Top Universities in Ecuador
- Universidad de San Francisco de Quito
- Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Ecuador
- Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral
- Escuela Politécnica del Ejercito – Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas – ESPE
- Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil
- Universidad Central del Ecuador
- Universidad de Cuenca