Why study a Bachelor or Master in Nicaragua
Find all the study programs in Nicaragua
About Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest county in Central America and is represented through its blue and white flag. The country’s name is derived from two words; the first part Nicarao, which was the name of the tribe living there before the Spanish arrived. The second word agua was given by them because of the country’s many water bodies. This populous country is home to over 6 million citizens and its known for being a multicultural place with people of different ethnicities living there and enriching the country with their culture.
Languages
The official language of Nicaragua right now is Spanish, given that the country was colonised for years. However, before the arrival of the Spanish, people used to communicate in languges such as Moskito and Sumo, these indigenous languages are still evident among the natives of the country. Additionally, a large portion of the country speak English and you can easily communicate using English at Nicaragua.
Currency
The official currency at Nicaragua is the Nicaraguan córdoba which is issued by the central bank of Nicaragua and its subunits are Centavos. The currency name was coined after a Spanish conquistador and the name remains until today.
Geographical Information
The country is located in Central America, it is not a landlocked country and is boarded by other countries from only two sides; its south by Costa Rica and Honduras in the northwest. The other two borders are formed with the Caribbean coast and Pacific Ocean. The country is known for being the largest in Central America and its land area totals over 130,000 km which is significantly larger than other countries in Central America.
Religion
The majority of the citizens in Nicaragua are Christian, despite their different ethnicities. Their religious beliefs are evident in their everyday life and plays a crucial role in their constitution. The country is open to other welcoming citizens of other religious beliefs and religious freedom is endorsed by their government.
Political Stance
Despite Nicaragua’s unstable political past, the country is currently very stable. The country is officially now one of the safest in Central America with the lowest crime rates and welcoming tourists. The country follows a presidential republic framework where there president is both; their head of state and the head of government which increases his power drastically.
Tourism
Nicaragua is welcoming more tourists every year, the people of the country are warm and will play a crucial role in improving your stay there. At Nicaragua you will come across rainforests which are home to a number of diverse species; including jaguars, pumas, and cougars! Other main attractions of the country include the lengthy coastlines of beaches surrounding the country from two sides and the volcanic bodies, some of which are active. The country’s attractive landscapes, rainforests, incredible waterbodies and architectural gems are why the country is becoming more and more attractive in Central America.
Food
There are certain foods which you can expect to find in any dish prepared at a Latin American country, corn is the most dominant one. Corn is found in most dishes and is either cooked or served as a side dish along with your platter. The national dish at Nicaragua is Vigoron, this dish is prepared easily and so is served regularly. The main item in the dish is fried pork and boiled herbs served in a banana leaf and is not eaten using any utensils but rather hands.
Study in Nicaragua
Students considering traveling to Nicaragua for study purposes have many decisions to make; varying from their accommodation to their budget and spending, most importantly, which program or university to enrol at, their visa requirements and when to apply for it. This guide is going to help you by shedding light on the important decisions you will have to consider and help guide your planning to Nicaragua.
Why should you study in Nicaragua?
People in Nicaragua value their connections greatly and being part of their circle will allow you to become more connected and expose you to more opportunities. The environment and living at Nicaragua will allow you to become a more adventurous and outdoorsy person; the people of Nicaragua spend the majority of their time outdoors because of their many attractions which can only be enjoyed in the open-air and for you to enjoy them, you will have to spend some more time breathing their fresh air than spending time inside. Additionally, the country of Nicaragua is very well connected, you can walk easily from one place to the other and learn more about the area you live in.
How much does it cost?
Tuition fees vary from one university to another in Nicaragua, public universities are much more than private ones but the overall tuition costs are relatively cheaper than other Central American countries and are viewed as affordable. At public universities, the undergraduate tuition per semester is approximately $40 while private universities may reach $500 per year.
Living in Nicaragua
Life at Nicaragua is easy paced and the majority of the students are able to adjust quickly to this new lifestyle. The place is regarded as friendly and peaceful, which is something to seek after life in busy bustling cities. You will not be overcharged for any goods or services at this country. This of course depends on your lifestyle but saving overall is a valid option while being at Nicaragua.
Accommodation
Nicaragua offers many accommodation options and the location of each are attractive in their own way. Renting on your own, you will need to consider whether you desire an apartment which is close to the city centre, close to the coast line, close to your university or a bit further out from all in order to save money. If you chose to rent a one-bedroom apartment which is situated near the beach, allocate a budget of around $200 – $300 monthly. While an apartment which is situated near the centre is going to cost around $300 – $400, these prices could be lower if you decide to share an apartment with someone and split the rent amongst you. What other students prefer is to look at the apartments or studios offered by their university of choice; by doing so, they save money, enjoy any facilities offered at these units whether its security or computer labs and become part of the international community attending their university quickly.
Other costs of living
Nicaragua was labelled as one of the cheapest places to live before, and this trend has not faded away, the country remains an affordable destination and offers a good quality of living. You should allocate between $75 and $100 if you plan on purchasing locally harvested fruit and vegetables and staying away from the imported goods which can cause you to spend a little more. Utilities average $80 per person monthly and much less if you are sharing an apartment with others, as for transportation costs; a one-way ticket is going to cost you less than a dollar but there are other means of transportation which are more popular such as renting a scooter.
Universities in Nicaragua
Deciding upon the town in which to study at while at Nicaragua may be a somewhat easy task, seeing as the majority of the universities are located in the same town. However, the decision of which university is better suited for you, is a very important decision you will have to make. This guide will focus on the different areas of study offered at the best ranked universities in Nicaragua in an attempt to help you pick the most suited university for your needs.
Degrees available
There are many degrees available at Nicaragua; there are some universities which focus on specific areas of study such as business and management while others offer a variety of degree choices. There are graduate and postgraduate degrees and the majority of their best ranked universities can be found in the town of Managua.
Top ranked universities
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua, Managua
The university was founded in 1812, the university is over 200 years old, and has been an uprising institution in Nicaragua since, offering study diplomas, undergraduate and graduate study degrees. Their academics are divided into ten different faculties and 5 schools; medical science, education and humanities, health polytechnic and science and engineering. Their most prestigious study courses are in the fields one engineering and they attract the majority of their enrolled students. There are around 25,000 students at the university annually and their process is fairly selective with an average of 60%-70% acceptance per year.
- Universidad Centroamericana
The university was established in 1960, is private university and can be found in the town of Managua, with different degrees available. The founders of the university were the Society of Jesus, and until today the university’s religious affiliation remains Catholic Christianity. The students have the options to pursue studies which are offered in the following faculties; Law; Humanities and Communication; Science, Technology, and Environment; Business Economics. There are many facilities offered for students including, sports programs, study exchange program and volunteer work in order to provide the students with different learning experiences and ensure they make the most out of their time at Universidad Centroamericana.
- INCAE Business School, Nicaragua
The university was established in 1964 and is known for offering the best postgraduate studies in the field of business. The university also offers undergraduate business and management studies and has a highly competitive admissions process as they only accept 30% of their applicants. The university is highly ranked and is accredited by the AACSB, EQUIS, SACS and by the Associations of MBA. In order to maintain its high status amongst international universities, they also provide man affiliated courses some of which are with IVY League schools in America.
- Universidad Politecnica de Nicaragua
The university was founded in 1967 and is one of the universities with an extremely well rounded academic division as they offer various study options for prospective students. The university has a total of six schools; school of administration, commerce and finance, school of law, school of design, school of nursing, school of engineering and music conservatory. You will be free to choose from these options the courses which are most suitable to your undergraduate or postgraduate degree when studying here. Additionally, the university offers an online mode of instruction and has been employed since 2013, eliminating any distance borders for students who are not capable of being physically at Nicaragua.
Examples of other universities
If you wish to compare more universities and look at different study options, you would want to consider looking at the following universities; Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua, Universidad Nacional Agraria and Universidad Nacional de Ingenieria.
Student Visa - Nicaragua
Following your university application process, comes the student visa process. The study visa is required by all foreign students. Having this visa gives you the benefit of exiting and entering the country multiple times during the academic year and gives you the chance of applying at work while completing your study. This may be a part-time or full time job besides your university work.
How to apply - Nicaragua
In order to apply for the study visa, you must have the acceptance letter from the host university at Nicaragua. The letter is an essential part of your required travel documents along with your travel document, proof of sufficient funds, intention to return (flight reservations) and proof of payment made for your university.
Scholarship in Nicaragua
There are many chances for you to receive a scholarship at Nicaragua, they are mostly offered to citizens of developing countries but everyone is eligible to apply. There are many foundations which aim to help the students with their tuition and the most prestigious foundation to support your studying at Nicaragua is Wells Mountain Foundation Scholarships- which aims to cover your tuition fees and provides a number of scholarships annually to students regardless of their degree type or program chosen, only focusing on their academic excellence and previous test scores. There are also grants given by host universities which also focus on your academic grades and extracurricular activities.
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