Logo of Universidad de La Frontera

Universidad de La Frontera

Temuco, Chile Founded 1981 World Rank #2025

Updated May 2026

Overview

English Name: University of the Frontier
Local Name: University of La Frontera
Acronyms: UFRO
Founded: 1981
Institution Type: University
Control Type: Public
Entity Type: Non-profit
World Rank: #2025
Rank in Chile: #9
Motto: Itinerarium mentis ad veritatem
Colours: Blue and white
Logo of Universidad de La Frontera

Founded in 1981, the Universidad de La Frontera (University of La Frontera) is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the urban setting of the medium city of Temuco (population range of 250,000-499,999 inhabitants), Araucania.

This institution also has a branch campus in Angol and Pucón. Officially recognized by the Comisión Nacional de Acreditación, Chile (National Accreditation Commission), Universidad de La Frontera (UFRO) is a large-sized coeducational Chilean higher education institution.

Universidad de La Frontera (UFRO) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as pre-bachelor's degrees (i.e. certificates, diplomas, associate or foundation), bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and doctorate degrees in several areas of study. This 43-year-old Chilean higher-education institution has a selective admission policy based on entrance examinations and students' past academic records and grades.

International students are welcome to apply for enrollment.

UFRO also provides several academic and non-academic facilities and services to students including a library, housing, sports facilities, financial aids and/or scholarships, study abroad and exchange programs, online courses and distance learning opportunities, as well as administrative services.

Location & Contact

Need to get in touch with Universidad de La Frontera or find your way to campus? Address, phone, email, and online links are below. These reflect what the institution publishes on its official channels.

Address: Avenida Francisco Salazar 01145 Casilla 54-D
Other Sites: Also Teaching Hospitals. Postgraduate specialization programme for foreign students. 2 university campuses in Temuco: Andrés Bello and Ciencas de La Salud
Phone: +56 (45) 232 5000
Fax: +56 (45) 259 2822
Social Media:

Academic Details

The figures below cover Universidad de La Frontera's academic scale, faculty depth, and recognised standing. Treat the enrolment count as a point-in-time snapshot; trends require multi-year comparison.

Academic Year: March to December (March-July; August-December)
Recognition: Comisión Nacional de Acreditación, Chile
Accrediting Agency: National Accreditation Commission (CNA)
Admission Requirements: Secondary school certificate (Licencia de Educación Media) and entrance examination
Student Enrollment: 10
Academic Staff Range: 500-599
Campus Setting: Urban
Memberships & Networks
CUECH AUR AUIP

Academic Structures

Universidad de La Frontera's academic backbone. Endowed schools (named after donors) may differ from general units in funding levels, scholarships available, and curriculum focus.

Unit 6 items
  • Faculty of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences
  • Faculty of Dentistry
  • Faculty of Education, Social Sciences and Humanities
  • Faculty of Engineering and Sciences
  • Faculty of Legal and Business Sciences
  • Faculty of Medicine

Degrees

Also Especialista in Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, Midwifery, and Software Engineering

Doctoral 9 programs

Doctoral programmes train independent researchers, leading to academic, scientific, and senior advisory careers.

  • Bioengineering
  • Cell Biology
  • Educational Sciences
  • Mathematics
  • Medicine
  • Molecular Biology
  • Natural Resources
  • Psychology
  • Social Sciences
Other 80 programs
  • Accountancy
  • Administration
  • Agricultural Business
  • Agricultural Engineering
  • Agriculture
  • Agronomy
  • Arts and Humanities
  • Biotechnology
  • Business Administration
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Chemistry
  • Civics
  • Civil Engineering
  • Communication Studies
  • Computer Education
  • Computer Engineering
  • Construction Engineering
  • Dentistry
  • Development Studies
  • Dietetics
  • Economics
  • Education
  • Educational Sciences
  • Educational Testing and Evaluation
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Electronic Engineering
  • Engineering
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Environmental Studies
  • Epidemiology
  • Family Studies
  • Food Science
  • Food Technology
  • Forestry
  • Gender Studies
  • Geography
  • Higher Education Teacher Training
  • History
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Information Technology
  • Journalism
  • Law
  • Literature
  • Management
  • Mathematics
  • Mathematics Education
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Medical Technology
  • Medicine
  • Modern Languages
  • Molecular Biology
  • Native American Studies
  • Natives Education
  • Natural Resources
  • Natural Sciences
  • Nursing
  • Nutrition
  • Obstetrics and Gynaecology
  • Paediatrics
  • Physical Education
  • Physical Therapy
  • Physics
  • Primary Education
  • Psychology
  • Public Health
  • Regional Planning
  • Regional Studies
  • Science Education
  • Social Psychology
  • Social Sciences
  • Social Work
  • Social and Community Services
  • Sociology
  • Soil Science
  • Speech Therapy and Audiology
  • Sports
  • Statistics
  • Surgery
  • Tourism
  • Vocational Education

Faculties & Divisions

All faculties operate under Comisión Nacional de Acreditación, Chile.

Malleco (Campus) 3 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Administration
  • Education
  • Primary Education
Pucon (Campus) 7 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Administration
  • Communication Studies
  • Education
  • Mathematics Education
  • Modern Languages
  • Nursing
  • Tourism
Agronomy and Forestry (Faculty) 6 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Agricultural Engineering
  • Agriculture
  • Agronomy
  • Biotechnology
  • Forestry
  • Natural Resources
Dentistry (Faculty) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Dentistry

Common Career Paths

  • Dentist
  • Oral Surgeon
  • Dental Researcher

Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.

Education, Social Sciences and Humanities (Faculty) 21 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Arts and Humanities
  • Civics
  • Communication Studies
  • Development Studies
  • Education
  • Educational Testing and Evaluation
  • Geography
  • History
  • Journalism
  • Literature
  • Mathematics Education
  • Modern Languages
  • Physical Education
  • Psychology
  • Regional Studies
  • Science Education
  • Social and Community Services
  • Social Sciences
  • Social Work
  • Sociology
  • Sports

Common Career Paths

  • Teacher
  • Educational Administrator
  • Curriculum Specialist

Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.

Engineering and Science (Faculty) 20 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Agricultural Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Chemistry
  • Civil Engineering
  • Computer Engineering
  • Construction Engineering
  • Economics
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Electronic Engineering
  • Engineering
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Food Science
  • Food Technology
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Mathematics
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Natural Resources
  • Natural Sciences
  • Physics
  • Statistics

Common Career Paths

  • Engineer
  • Project Manager
  • Technical Consultant

Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.

Law and Business (Faculty) 6 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Accountancy
  • Administration
  • Business Administration
  • Economics
  • Law
  • Management

Common Career Paths

  • Business Analyst
  • Operations Manager
  • Strategy Consultant

Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.

Medicine (Faculty) 15 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Dentistry
  • Dietetics
  • Epidemiology
  • Gender Studies
  • Medical Technology
  • Medicine
  • Nursing
  • Nutrition
  • Obstetrics and Gynaecology
  • Paediatrics
  • Physical Therapy
  • Psychology
  • Public Health
  • Social Work
  • Speech Therapy and Audiology

Common Career Paths

  • Physician
  • Medical Researcher
  • Clinical Specialist

Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.

Agro-industry (Institute) 5 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Agricultural Business
  • Agronomy
  • Food Technology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Soil Science
Computer Education (Institute) 3 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Computer Education
  • Educational Sciences
  • Information Technology

Common Career Paths

  • Software Engineer
  • Data Scientist
  • Systems Analyst

Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.

Environmental Studies (Institute) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Environmental Studies

Common Career Paths

  • Environmental Consultant
  • Sustainability Officer
  • Climate Analyst

Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.

Local and Regional Development (Institute) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Regional Planning
Native Studies (Institute) 2 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Native American Studies
  • Natives Education

Programs Offered

All active programmes at Universidad de La Frontera are listed by degree level. Cross-reference against the divisions section to identify which faculty owns each programme — that determines admissions handling.

120 programmes on record. Each level below shows a sample. Compare these on the programs page All programs in Chile

Bachelor's Degree 62 programmes

Bachelor's Degree in Agronomia
Agriculture · 10 semesters
Bachelor's Degree in Bioquimica
Chemistry · 10 semesters
Bachelor's Degree in Biotecnologia
Biotechnology · 10 semesters
Bachelor's Degree in Contador Publico y Contador Auditor
Accounting · 10 semesters
Bachelor's Degree in Derecho
Law · 10 semesters
Bachelor's Degree in Enfermeria
Nursing · 10 semesters
Bachelor's Degree in Fonoaudiologia
Speech & Language Therapy · 10 semesters
Bachelor's Degree in Ingenieria Ambiental
General Engineering · 10 semesters
Bachelor's Degree in Ingenieria Civil
General Engineering · 12 semesters
Bachelor's Degree in Ingenieria Civil Ambiental
General Engineering · 12 semesters

Showing 10 of 62.

Master's Degree 40 programmes

Magister en Administracion y Empresas (mba)
Business & Management · 4 semesters
Master's Degree in Magister en Ciencia, Tecnologia, Sociedad Digital y Territorio
Development Studies · 4 semesters
Master's Degree in Magister en Ciencias de la Comunicacion
Development Studies · 4 semesters
Master's Degree in Magister en Ciencias de la Ingenieria
General Engineering · 4 semesters
Master's Degree in Magister en Ciencias de la Ingenieria Mencion Biotecnologia
General Engineering · 4 semesters
Master's Degree in Magister en Ciencias de la Ingenieria Mencion Ingenieria Electrica
General Engineering · 4 semesters
Master's Degree in Magister en Ciencias de la Ingenieria Mencion Ingenieria Mecanica
General Engineering · 4 semesters
Master's Degree in Magister en Ciencias de la Ingenieria Mencion Modelacion Matematica
General Engineering · 4 semesters
Master's Degree in Magister en Ciencias Medicas Mencion Cirugia
Development Studies · 4 semesters
Master's Degree in Magister en Ciencias Mencion Biologia de la Reproduccion
Biological Sciences · 4 semesters

Showing 10 of 40.

Doctorate 15 programmes

Doctorado en Ciencias Agroalimentarias y Medio Ambiente
Performing Arts · 8 semesters
Doctorado en Ciencias de la Ingenieria M. Bioprocesos
Law · 8 semesters
Doctorado en Ciencias de Recursos Naturales
Development Studies · 8 semesters
Doctorado en Ciencias Medicas
Development Studies · 6 semesters
Doctorado en Ciencias Mencion Biologia Celular y Molecular Aplicada
Biological Sciences · 8 semesters
Doctorado en Ciencias Mencion Matematicas
Mathematics · 8 semesters
Doctorado en Ciencias Morfologicas
Development Studies · 6 semesters
Doctorado en Ciencias Odontologicas
Dentistry · 8 semesters
Doctorado en Ciencias Sociales
Development Studies · 8 semesters
Doctorado en Comunicacion
Development Studies · 8 semesters

Showing 10 of 15.

Associate's Degree 3 programmes

Associate's Degree in Tecnico Guia de Turismo Aventura
Tourism & Leisure · 4 semesters
Associate's Degree in Tecnico Superior en Turismo
Tourism & Leisure · 5 semesters
Associate's Degree in Tecnico Universitario en Enfermeria
Nursing · 4 semesters

How to apply to Universidad de La Frontera

Below is a five-step path through the application process at Universidad de La Frontera, useful for first-time applicants and international students.

  1. 1
    Identify the right programme

    Start by exploring the programmes section on this page. Universidad de La Frontera runs 120 active programmes across multiple degree levels. Narrow by qualification tier and read each programme description before shortlisting.

  2. 2
    Check entry requirements

    Before applying to Universidad de La Frontera, confirm you meet the academic, language, and document requirements for your chosen programme. International applicants should also check visa eligibility for Chile.

  3. 3
    Prepare your application documents

    Standard documents: official transcripts, identity proof, language test results, personal statement, and references. Confirm exact requirements with Universidad de La Frontera's admissions office before assembling, as expectations vary by programme.

  4. 4
    Submit via the institution

    Lodge your application through the official website (www.ufro.cl). Online forms are the standard route. Save your draft frequently and submit before the programme deadline.

  5. 5
    Get in touch with admissions

    Verify your application has been received by the admissions team. Reach the institution by phone at +56 (45) 232 5000. Monitor the portal for status updates, interview invitations, or document requests, and respond within the stated deadlines.

Frequently Asked Questions about Universidad de La Frontera

Quick answers to the most common questions about Universidad de La Frontera — covering location, founding, ranking, programmes, and admissions context.

When was Universidad de La Frontera founded?

Universidad de La Frontera was established in 1981 (approximately 45 years ago).

What city is Universidad de La Frontera in?

Universidad de La Frontera operates from Temuco, Chile.

Is Universidad de La Frontera a public or private institution?

Universidad de La Frontera operates as a public institution.

How big is Universidad de La Frontera's student body?

Universidad de La Frontera serves approximately 10,000-14,999 students.

How is Universidad de La Frontera ranked?

Universidad de La Frontera holds rank #2025 globally and #9 in Chile.

What degrees does Universidad de La Frontera offer?

Programmes at Universidad de La Frontera cover doctoral programmes.

How is Universidad de La Frontera organised academically?

Universidad de La Frontera has 6 academic units.

Who recognises Universidad de La Frontera?

Universidad de La Frontera is accredited by National Accreditation Commission (CNA).

What is Universidad de La Frontera's official website?

The institution's website is www.ufro.cl.

Top-Ranked Universities in Chile

Faculty awards and national-leader status concentrate at the top Chile universities. Universidad de La Frontera's faculty distinctions compared to leaders signal where the institution sits in academic networks.

Faculties at nearby universities

Other institutions in Universidad de La Frontera's region offer similar admissions cycles and overlapping subject areas, listed below for comparison. Regional clusters often share employer networks and post-study career pathways.

Where Else to Study General Engineering

Looking for General Engineering programmes beyond Universidad de La Frontera? Other universities in Chile cover the same discipline. Cross-comparing modules, assessment styles, and faculty profiles is the fastest way to find the right fit.

Universities Compared with Universidad de La Frontera

Looking at Universidad de La Frontera through a comparison lens? These universities share similar academic positioning and are commonly considered against Universidad de La Frontera during the application process. Cross-comparison helps clarify the institutional fit beyond ranking signals.

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