Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Santiago, Chile • Founded 1888 • World Rank #425
Updated May 2026
Overview
Founded in 1888, the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (Pontifical Catholic University of Chile) is a non-profit private higher education institution located in the large metropolis of Santiago (population range of over 5,000,000 inhabitants), Region Metropolitana de Santiago.
Officially recognized by the Comisión Nacional de Acreditación, Chile (National Accreditation Commission), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (PUC) is a very large-sized coeducational Chilean higher education institution formally affiliated with the Christian-Catholic religion. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (PUC) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as bachelor's degrees in several areas of study.
This 135-year-old Chilean higher-education institution has a selective admission policy based on entrance examinations. International students are welcome to apply for enrollment.
PUC also provides several academic and non-academic facilities and services to students including a library, study abroad and exchange programs, as well as administrative services.
Location & Contact
Geographic and contact information for Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile — useful before scheduling visits or sending enquiries. Each channel below routes to a different team, so pick the one matching your question.
Academic Details
Academic statistics for Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile — including its student body and academic staff numbers. Read these alongside rankings; institution scale changes how rankings should be interpreted.
Degrees
Especializaciones (Medicine, Nursing and Dentistry)
Doctoral 41 programs
Doctoral programmes train independent researchers, leading to academic, scientific, and senior advisory careers.
- Agriculture
- Architecture
- Astrophysics
- Biology
- Biotechnology
- Cell Biology
- Chemical Engineering
- Chemistry
- Civil Engineering
- Communication Studies
- Computer Engineering
- Ecology
- Economics
- Education
- Electrical Engineering
- Fine Arts
- Genetics
- Geography
- Health Sciences
- History
- Industrial Engineering
- Law
- Linguistics
- Literature
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Medicine
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
- Natural Sciences
- Neurosciences
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Physiology
- Political Sciences
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Statistics
- Theology
- Transport Management
- Urban Studies
Other 48 programs
- Aesthetics
- Agricultural Business
- Agricultural Economics
- Agriculture
- Animal Husbandry
- Architecture
- Arts and Humanities
- Biochemistry
- Biology
- Business Administration
- Chemistry
- Civil Engineering
- Construction Engineering
- Dentistry
- Design
- Economics
- Education
- Engineering
- English
- Environmental Management
- Finance
- Fine Arts
- Geography
- History
- Human Resources
- Journalism
- Law
- Linguistics
- Literature
- Management
- Mathematics
- Mathematics and Computer Science
- Medicine
- Music
- Natural Resources
- Nursing
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Psychology
- Public Administration
- Religious Studies
- Social Work
- Spanish
- Statistics
- Theology
- Translation and Interpretation
- Urban Studies
- Veterinary Science
Faculties & Divisions
All faculties operate under Comisión Nacional de Acreditación, Chile.
Agronomy and Forest Engineering (Faculty) 11 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Agricultural Economics
- Agriculture
- Agronomy
- Animal Husbandry
- Cattle Breeding
- Forestry
- Fruit Production
- Oenology
- Plant and Crop Protection
- Vegetable Production
- Zoology
Common Career Paths
- Engineer
- Project Manager
- Technical Consultant
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Architecture, Design and Urban Studies (Faculty) 7 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Architecture
- Design
- Environmental Studies
- Industrial Design
- Rural Planning
- Town Planning
- Urban Studies
Common Career Paths
- Architect
- Urban Planner
- Interior Designer
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Arts and Humanities (Faculty) 6 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Acting
- Arts and Humanities
- Music
- Painting and Drawing
- Singing
- Theatre
Common Career Paths
- Researcher
- Editor
- Cultural Analyst
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Biological Sciences (Faculty) 11 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Biochemistry
- Biological and Life Sciences
- Biology
- Cell Biology
- Ecology
- Genetics
- Marine Biology
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
- Natural Resources
- Physiology
Common Career Paths
- Research Scientist
- Lab Technician
- Analyst
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Chemistry and Pharmacy (Faculty) 2 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Chemistry
- Pharmacy
Common Career Paths
- Pharmacist
- Clinical Pharmacist
- Pharmaceutical Researcher
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Communication Studies (Faculty) 4 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Advertising and Publicity
- Communication Studies
- Journalism
- Social Psychology
Common Career Paths
- Journalist
- Public Relations Specialist
- Content Strategist
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Economics and Administration (Faculty) 6 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Administration
- Business Administration
- Economic and Finance Policy
- Economics
- Finance
- Public Administration
Common Career Paths
- Economist
- Policy Analyst
- Financial Consultant
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Education (Faculty) 12 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Computer Education
- Curriculum
- Education
- Educational Administration
- Educational Sciences
- Educational Technology
- Media Studies
- Pedagogy
- Preschool Education
- Special Education
- Vocational Counselling
- Vocational Education
Common Career Paths
- Teacher
- Educational Administrator
- Curriculum Specialist
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Engineering (Faculty) 5 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Civil Engineering
- Construction Engineering
- Engineering
- Safety Engineering
- Structural Architecture
Common Career Paths
- Engineer
- Project Manager
- Technical Consultant
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
History, Geography, and Political Science (Faculty) 7 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Environmental Studies
- European Studies
- Geography
- Hispanic American Studies
- History
- International Relations and Diplomacy
- Political Sciences
Common Career Paths
- Research Scientist
- Lab Technician
- Analyst
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Law (Faculty) 5 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Commercial Law
- Constitutional Law
- Criminology
- Law
- Public Law
Common Career Paths
- Lawyer
- Legal Consultant
- Compliance Officer
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Literature (Faculty) 5 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Arts and Humanities
- English
- Linguistics
- Literature
- Philology
Mathematics (Faculty) 4 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Mathematics
- Mathematics and Computer Science
- Natural Sciences
- Statistics
Common Career Paths
- Data Analyst
- Statistician
- Actuary
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Medicine (Faculty) 20 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Anaesthesiology
- Cardiology
- Dermatology
- Ethics
- Gerontology
- Medicine
- Nephrology
- Neurology
- Nursing
- Nutrition
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology
- Oncology
- Ophthalmology
- Orthopaedics
- Paediatrics
- Pathology
- Public Health
- Radiology
- Social and Preventive Medicine
- Surgery
Common Career Paths
- Physician
- Medical Researcher
- Clinical Specialist
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Philosophy (Faculty) 2 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Aesthetics
- Philosophy
Physics (Faculty) 3 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Astronomy and Space Science
- Astrophysics
- Physics
Common Career Paths
- Physicist
- Research Scientist
- Data Analyst
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Social Sciences (Faculty) 9 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Adult Education
- Anthropology
- Educational Psychology
- Family Studies
- Psychology
- Psychotherapy
- Social Sciences
- Social Work
- Sociology
Common Career Paths
- Researcher
- Policy Analyst
- Social Worker
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Theology (Faculty) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Theology
Common Career Paths
- Religious Educator
- Pastoral Counsellor
- Faith Community Leader
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Biological and Medical Engineering (Institute) 2 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Biological and Life Sciences
- Biomedicine
Common Career Paths
- Engineer
- Project Manager
- Technical Consultant
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Sustainable Development (Institute) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Sustainable Development
Government (School) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Government
Veterinary Medicine (School) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Veterinary Science
Common Career Paths
- Physician
- Medical Researcher
- Clinical Specialist
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Programs Offered
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile's programmes, with filter and level-based grouping. The combination of search and tier view makes shortlisting faster across large catalogues.
274 programmes on record. Each level below shows a sample. Compare these on the programs page All programs in Chile
Bachelor's Degree 97 programmes
Showing 10 of 97.
Master's Degree 130 programmes
Showing 10 of 130.
Doctorate 47 programmes
Showing 10 of 47.
How to apply to Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Five steps that capture how most applications to Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile flow, from research through submission to follow-up correspondence.
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1
Identify the right programme
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile's catalogue includes 274 programmes. Browse by level, identify candidates matching your prior qualifications, and note their entry requirements for the next step.
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2
Check entry requirements
Entry requirements vary by programme and degree level. Verify academic minimums, language tests (if international), and any additional documents required for Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile's admissions process.
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3
Prepare your application documents
Typical documents include academic transcripts, identity proof (passport or national ID), language proficiency test scores, a personal statement or motivation letter, and recommendation letters. International applicants should account for translation and notarisation time.
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4
Submit via the institution
Submit your completed application through Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile's official website at www.uc.cl. Most institutions use an online portal — register an account, complete the application form, and upload your prepared documents. Keep copies of all submissions and confirmation receipts.
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5
Get in touch with admissions
Follow up to confirm your application was received and is being processed. Reach the institution by phone at +56 (2) 222 4516. Admissions teams may request interviews or additional documents — respond promptly to keep your application active.
Frequently Asked Questions about Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
The questions below summarise Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile's vital institutional details — useful as a quick reference before drilling into specific sections.
When did Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile open?
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile traces its founding to 1888 (approximately 138 years ago).
In which city is Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile?
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile is based in Santiago, Chile.
Is Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile public or private?
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile operates as a private institution.
How many students study at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile?
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile has approximately 30,000-34,999 students.
Where does Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile stand in university rankings?
It ranks #425 globally and #2 in Chile.
What degrees does Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile offer?
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile offers doctoral programmes.
Is Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile affiliated with a religion?
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile is associated with Christian-Catholic.
Is Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile accredited?
Yes, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile is recognised by National Accreditation Commission (CNA).
What is Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile's official website?
The institution's website is www.uc.cl.
Members of International Federation of Catholic Universities (IFCU)
Member-only fellowships through International Federation of Catholic Universities (IFCU) are open to students at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and the universities below. These can be less competitive than open competitions because the applicant pool is narrower.
Other Chilean Universities Affiliated with Christian-Catholic
Christian-Catholic-aligned universities like Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile are gathered below for cross-reference. Cross-referencing helps when you have a clear preference for the tradition but want to compare academic options within it.
Faculties at nearby universities
Regional admissions cycle quirks (early-deadline schemes, regional aid programmes) apply consistently across the universities near Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Worth knowing during shortlisting.
Where Else to Study Development Studies
Interested in Development Studies but want alternatives to Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile? These institutions in Chile also offer programmes in this field, each with their own specialisations and admissions paths. Comparing the curriculum across schools often surfaces differences worth weighing.
Universities Compared with Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Mid-career outcome data (5–10 year post-graduation) is harder to source but more revealing than starting-salary data. Where available for peer institutions, it is worth comparing.
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