Mexico

Why study a Bachelor or Master in Mexico

Find all the study programs in Mexico

  • About
  • Study
  • Living
  • Universities
  • Student Visa
  • How to Apply
  • Scholarship

About Mexico

Mexico, known as the  United Mexican States, is a country located in the South of North America. The country shares borders in the North with the United States and in the Southeast with Guatemala, Belize and the Caribbean Sea. In the south and west, it is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, while in the East, it is surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico. 

 

Mexico is considered the Latin American country with the biggest percentage of international visitors a year, ranked number 10 in the world as a top place to visit. This is one of the reasons international students choose to study in this vibrant Latin American country. Mexicans welcome foreigners with open arms and share their rich and beautiful culture with them. 

 

What are you waiting for? Mexico is an exotic and vibrant study destination that many students choose. Read on to learn the details about what it’s like to study in Mexico and how you can also easily apply to study there and live an exciting international study experience! 

Languages

In addition to Spanish, which is the official language in Mexico, there are 68 indigenous languages spoken in the country. These languages include tongues like náhuatl, mixteco and Otomi. 

Currency 

The official currency in Mexico is the Mexican peso. When looking at conversion rates, the Mexican Peso measures up to 0.049 USD Dollars. 

Geographical information

Geographically, Mexico has diverse geographical features, ranging from swamplands to desert to tropical jungles to mountains. Half of Mexico stands at a height of higher than 1,000 meters, 

with the central area being a plateau surrounded by mountain ranges to the east and west.

Religion

Mexico isn’t considered to have an official religion but around 80 per cent of the Mexican population follows Roman Catholic ideologies. These beliefs are very inherent in the Mexican culture, which makes it the dominant faith in Mexico.  

Political stance

Mexico’s political system is considered a federal presidential representative democratic republic. The Mexican government is based on a system of congress, where the President is head of both state and government. The Mexican government is made up of a multi-party government system. 

Tourism 

Mexico is a country in Latin America with the highest number of international visitors a year, with many stunning beaches and tourists coming to enjoy the unique Mexican culture and food. International students who come to study in Mexico can also enjoy these tourist attractions. Top destinations there include resort destinations of Cancún, Playa del Carmen, the island of Cozumel, and many more beaches that are known together as Riviera Maya. Another popular tourist area is the Pacific coastal area of Puerto Vallarta, a beautiful beach city that is known as simply “Vallarta” to locals. 

Food 

Mexican food is known and loved around the world, with many Mexican restaurants famous around the globe. Popular Mexican dishes to try are like Chilaquiles which are beloved Mexican breakfast foods. This dish is made up of corn tortillas that are fried or toasted and then drenched in red or green sauce. These tortillas are then covered with shredded chicken or beef, chorizo and then topped with a scrambled or sunny side up egg. Huevos rancheros is another popular food, representing the hats of two ranchmen. This dish consists of two fried tortillas, covered with beans and then sunny side eggs. They are all drenched in spicy red sauce and topped with coriander and black pepper. Talk about yummy!

Study in Mexico

Many students come from around the globe to study in Mexico. They enjoy staying in this exciting and culture-rich country that has amazing food and excellent student life. Read on to learn more about why you should also choose to study in Mexico, as well as how much it costs students to study there. 

 

Why should you study in Mexico? 

 

Here are some of the reasons why you should choose to study in Mexico as an international student: 

Great economy

One of the reasons international students decide to study in Mexico is the fact that it has a booming economy due to the fact that it is a prime investors destination. The country has the second-largest economy in the entire region of Latin America, making it a stable country for international students to live and study in. 

Reasonable living costs 

Mexico is ranked as one of the best five study destinations for international students when it comes to living costs. There is a low cost of living, a comfortable living environment and a great quality of education. What more could you want as an international student?

Amazing culture and food

Another reason why international students choose to study in Mexico is the amazing culture and food, both of which are well known around the world. Mexico also has over 35 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. 

The culture is mixed, made up of an amalgamation of indigenous and Spanish influences, seen in the architecture, festivals and richly flavoured cuisine.   

How much does it cost?

In general, if you want to study in Mexico you’ll pay an average of 5,000 USD per academic year.  However, Public universities in Mexico cost from $378 to $818 a year, while private universities will charge between $1,636 and $16,353 USD per annual year. 

Living in Mexico

When studying in Mexico, you’ll need to also consider the costs of living, like accomodation, utilities and others. This section talks about these living costs in detail so that you know exactly how much you’ll pay a year when you study in Mexico. 

Accommodation

There are several options for accomodation for international students. Here are some of the best ones to look into:

  • Shared student houses are an option where you get your private room and share common areas like living room, kitchen, and bathrooms. In a shared student house, you can expect to pay from 500 to 800 dollars a month in rent.
  • Student residences are another option with rooms varying in size and location. Students from all nationalities come together and socialize there. You can expect to pay from 600 to 900 dollars a month for this accommodation type. 
  • Private rentals are another option. You can rent a single room in a house, which will cost you between 350 and 450 dollars a month. If you rent an entire apartment, you’ll pay around 500 dollars a month if you live in the city center. If you live outside the city center, it will cost you around 300 dollars a month. 

 

Other costs of living

You’ll also need to take into consideration other costs of living. For example, you’ll need to set aside about 350 dollars per month for groceries when you study in Mexico. You’ll also need to pay around 50 dollars for utilities like electricity, heat and water. A monthly transportation pass costs around 20 dollars for a month. Internet will cost you around 30 dollars for high speed internet with unlimited data. 

Universities in Mexico

When it comes to studying in Mexico, there are some great options for universities that international students should look into. Read on to learn about the different degree types available in the Mexican higher education system and find out which universities are the top ranked ones there. 

 

Degrees available

In Mexico, Higher education follows the same educational system as the US one. This means it offers bachelor’s degrees of at least four years  at the undergraduate level (Licenciatura). For post-graduate degrees, there are  two degrees: a 2-year Master’s degree (Maestría), and then a 3-year Doctoral degree (Doctorado). Finally, the highest qualification is the  doctorate degree of Doctor of Sciences (Doctor en Ciencias). 

Top ranked universities

Top ranked universities to look into as an international student who wants to study in Mexico are the following: 

 

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)

Location: Mexico City

The highest ranked Mexican university is the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), which was founded in 1910. UNAM is a huge public university that has more than 346,700 students attending it. The main campus is Ciudad Universitaria (University City) and was built as part of a design project in the 1950s.  

 

Tecnológico de Monterrey (ITESM)

Location: Monterrey 

The second top ranked university in Mexico is Tecnológico de Monterrey which has it’s main campus in Monterrey but has 31 campuses across many Mexican towns. The university was established in the year 1943 and gives a good reputation to its graduates when it comes to employers. It has one of the best business institutions in the entire area.

 

Universidad Anahuac

Location: Greater Mexico City 

The third ranked university in Mexico is Universidad Anahuac. Universidad Anahuac is a private university that was founded in 1964 and is part of a network of private Catholic universities around the world. 

 

Universidad Iberoamericana (UIA)

Location: Mexico City

The 4th best ranked university in Mexico is Universidad Iberoamericana. Universidad Iberoamericana (UIA), known as Ibero, is found in Mexico City and is part of a Jesuit network of eight universities across the country. It ranks in the top 150 global universities for art, design and modern languages so if you want to study any of these subjects, you should look into this university. 

 

Examples of other universities

Examples of other great universities in Mexico to look into in your university search are Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN) and Instituto Tecnológico Autonomo de México (ITAM). You should also research Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), as it’s also a good choice for a university if you want to study in Mexico. 

 

Student Visa - Mexico

When it comes to students who want to study in Mexico, they all need to get a student visa, no matter what the nationality. However, some countries allow students to stay in Mexico for up to 180 days without a visa so it’s worth looking into them if your study program is less than 180 days long. Read on to find out what you are required to hand in when applying for a study visa in Mexico. 

 

Visa Requirements

When you apply for a student visa for Mexico, you’ll need to hand in the following documents to your local Mexican embassy: 

  • Filled out visa application form, signed
  • Valid passport along with copies of relevant pages
  • Passport size picture, taken within the last 6 months
  • Proof of flight booking to Mexico
  • Letter of acceptance from the Mexican university you will study at with your full name, level, degree and area of study. It will also need to mention the name of the course and the start and end dates of your course, as well as the tuition fees and whether you have a scholarship to cover them
  • Proof you are able to sustain yourself during the course of your studies, in the form of proof you have a steady income more than 400 USD a month, proof of investments you may have or proof of your scholarship or grant
  • If you are a minor, you’ll also need to attach your birth certificate and identification documents of your legal guardians
  • If you are living in a country that you aren’t a citizen of, you’ll also need to show proof of your residence there, like a permit
  • Proof you have paid your visa processing fee

 

You should take care that any documents submitted are in English or Spanish. If they are in other languages then you’ll need to translate them at an official translation office and hand in both the original and translated documents.

 

Requirements to turn your visa into a residence permit

If your course will be longer than 180 days, within a period of a month, you’ll need to apply for a residence permit. To turn it into permit, you’ll need to have these documents with you when you go to the 

National Immigration Institute in Mexico (Instituto Nacional de Migracion (INM)):

  • Resident card request form, downloaded and filled out from the website
  • Your valid passport with the student visa stuck inside it
  • The Forma Migratoria Múltiple (FMM) which you are given upon arrival at the airport
  • Proof that you have paid for your residence permit
  • Request letter for the card, addressed to the Instituto Nacional de Migración
  • Proof that you have been enrolled into the Mexican university

How to apply - Mexico

In order to apply to study in Mexico, you’ll need to follow the application process. However, the process is very simple, as you’ll just need to apply directly to the institution of your choice through their admissions department. Read on to find out the admissions requirements and how to apply to study in Mexico. 

Admissions requirements

Admissions requirements to study in Mexico are different based on the program and the university you apply to, such as admission exams or language proficiency eligibility. However, there are some general admissions requirements when applying to Mexican universities:

 

  • Completed University application form
  • Evidence that you can support yourself financially during your studies
  • A valid passport or other identification document
  • Previous academic certificates and transcripts, with credits and grades included
  • IELTS/ TOEFL test scores to prove English language proficiency

 

Scholarship in Mexico

In order to apply to study in Mexico, you’ll need to follow the application process. However, the process is very simple, as you’ll just need to apply directly to the institution of your choice through their admissions department. Read on to find out the admissions requirements and how to apply to study in Mexico. 

Admissions requirements

Admissions requirements to study in Mexico are different based on the program and the university you apply to, such as admission exams or language proficiency eligibility. However, there are some general admissions requirements when applying to Mexican universities:

 

  • Completed University application form
  • Evidence that you can support yourself financially during your studies
  • A valid passport or other identification document
  • Previous academic certificates and transcripts, with credits and grades included
  • IELTS/ TOEFL test scores to prove English language proficiency