Uruguay is a high-income South American country with a mix of public and private higher education institutions. For international students, the University of the Republic (Udelar) is the clearest low-cost option because its degree programs do not charge tuition or enrollment fees, regardless of nationality. The University of Montevideo (UM) and the Catholic University of Uruguay (UCU) are private universities, and their fees vary by program. Let’s take a look at the cheapest universities in Uruguay for international students.
Affordable Schools in Uruguay for International Students
1. University of Montevideo (UM)
The University of Montevideo traces its origins to the establishment of the Instituto de Estudios Empresariales de Montevideo in 1986 and received official recognition as a university in 1997. In the QS World University Rankings 2027, UM is ranked in the 851–900 band. Udelar, ranked No. 652, is the highest-ranked Uruguayan institution in that edition.
The university is located in Montevideo and operates across several sites, including its central campus, the IEEM Business School building, the LATU Innovation Park, and the Center for Documentation and Studies of Ibero-America. Its academic structure includes schools or faculties covering business and economics, communication, law, engineering, humanities, and education, along with the IEEM Business School and specialized academic and research centers.
Visit the university’s website to learn more about the programs available. UM offers international study opportunities, including semester and full-year exchanges for eligible students from partner universities, selected courses taught in English, and some double-degree options. Availability and eligibility vary by program.
Prospective degree students should begin with the university’s admissions and scholarships information and confirm the requirements for their chosen program, because interviews, assessments, deadlines, and financial aid procedures may differ. Exchange applicants should consult the semester study page. Tuition is program-specific, so applicants should request a current fee quote by submitting the university’s online form.
2. The Catholic University of Uruguay (UCU)
The Catholic University of Uruguay was authorized to operate in 1984 and was formally founded in 1985. It was Uruguay’s first private university. UCU has campuses in Montevideo, Salto, and Punta del Este.
UCU’s current academic structure includes five faculties: Psychology and Human Well-Being, Law and Liberal Arts, Health, Business Sciences, and Engineering and Technologies. It also has a Graduate School, the UCU Business School, departments, institutes, and research and extension centers.
The undergraduate admission process generally begins by requesting an academic interview and reviewing the available financial plans. Applicants who completed secondary school outside Uruguay must provide documentation showing that they completed secondary education and are eligible to enter higher education, along with their academic transcript. Foreign documents must be apostilled or legalized as applicable. Visit the university’s admissions page for current requirements, deadlines, discounts, and payment information. Tuition varies by program and payment plan.
3. The University of the Republic (UDELAR)
The University of the Republic was formally established in 1849 and is Uruguay’s principal public university. It is one of the country’s two public universities, along with the Technological University of Uruguay (UTEC). All degree programs offered by Udelar are tuition-free: students do not pay enrollment fees or tuition, regardless of their country of origin.
Udelar has 16 faculties and an extensive network of schools, institutes, academic services, and research centers. Its facilities are concentrated mainly in Montevideo, but it also operates through three established regional university centers: Litoral Norte, Este, and Noreste.
The restrictive foreign-admission categories previously associated with Udelar are no longer the current policy. Students who completed secondary education outside Uruguay may request admission to the first year of a Udelar degree. Applicants who have already completed university studies abroad may instead request recognition of their previous coursework.
Required documents and procedures depend on the applicant’s educational background and the faculty or academic service offering the program.
Students should prepare a current budget covering housing, utilities, food, health insurance or health care, local transportation, study materials, and personal expenses. Before accepting an offer, ask the university for an updated student budget, compare current rental listings, and calculate currency conversions using the exchange rate available at the time of payment.
We hope that this article on affordable universities in Uruguay was helpful. Make sure to also check out the Available Programs for International Students!
