International Graduate Student Guide Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH) 2026
This Guide, prepared by the Vice-Rector’s Office for Graduate Studies at USACH, is intended to support international students who are considering pursuing graduate studies at our university, as well as those who have already decided to begin the application process for a Master's or Doctoral programme at USACH.
Among other key information, this document provides guidance on how to apply to a postgraduate programme; steps for obtaining a national identification document once the student is in Chile; detailed information on the support offered by the Vice-Rector’s Office for Graduate Studies throughout the migration process; the procedure for applying for scholarships; an overview of services available to support holistic development; and accommodation options.
Reasons to pursue postgraduate studies at the Universidad de Santiago de Chile
- Excellence
- The National Accreditation Commission – the public body responsible for evaluating the quality of Higher Education Institutions in Chile – has confirmed the excellence of the Universidad de Santiago de Chile by awarding it the highest level of accreditation: 7 years.
- USACH is also recognised as one of the top three universities in Chile (QS World University Rankings 2023).
- Fields of Knowledge
- We offer a wide range of high-quality postgraduate programmes: 18 Doctorates and 45 Master’s degrees (*), delivered by the Faculties of Business and Economics, Architecture, Science, Medical Sciences, Humanities, Engineering, Chemistry and Biology, and Technology, as well as the Institute for Advanced Studies.
(*) Postgraduate Academic Offering as of 30 April 2026.
- Research and Innovation
- Our Academic Master’s and Doctoral programmes place a strong emphasis on research, innovation, and creative development.
- USACH ranks among the top four Chilean universities in the 2022 edition of the Research, Development and Innovation ranking by the Universitas Advanced Studies Group.
- Commitment to Society
Postgraduate programmes at USACH reflect the university’s commitment to national development, social progress, and inclusion.
- Holistic Development
- A diverse offering of academic and cross-disciplinary courses, along with sports and cultural activities, contributes to the integral development of our postgraduate student community.
- Scholarships
- We offer institutional scholarships and provide information on external scholarships to support the inclusion of international students in our postgraduate programmes and to encourage academic exchanges abroad during their studies.
- Internationalisation
- Our postgraduate programmes are becoming increasingly international through student and academic mobility, formalised partnerships with international institutions, and growing numbers of international students.
- We offer dedicated support for international students through the Vice-Rector’s Office for Graduate Studies and each academic programme.
- Campus and Facilities
- USACH is a single-campus university which fosters interaction among students from a range of disciplines and allows for shared use of institutional facilities.
- Postgraduate students have access to a wide range of resources, including a library system with 19 specialised libraries and one central library, as well as 83 laboratories.
Master's and Doctoral Programmes at USACH
Our university offers a wide range of high-quality postgraduate programmes, including 18 Doctorates and 45 Master’s degrees (*), across 7 fields of knowledge and delivered by 8 faculties and 1 institute:
- Fields of Knowledge
- Arts and Architecture
- Medical and Health Sciences
- Natural and Exact Sciences
- Social Sciences and Humanities
- Business and Economics
- Education
- Engineering and Technology
- Academic Units
- Faculty of Business and Economics
- Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment
- Faculty of Science
- Faculty of Medical Sciences
- Faculty of Humanities
- Faculty of Engineering
- Faculty of Chemistry and Biology
- Faculty of Technology
- Institute for Advanced Studies
You can explore the full list of 63 postgraduate programmes – Master’s and Doctorates – along with their research areas, academic staff, curricula, and contact information through the following link: https://www.postgradosudesantiago.cl/resultados/
(*) Postgraduate Academic Offering as of 30 April 2026.
Scholarships for Full Postgraduate Studies
International students may apply for internal and external competitive scholarships before and during their studies at the Universidad de Santiago de Chile.
- Excellence Scholarship for International Students
Managed by the Vice-Rector’s Office for Graduate Studies, this scholarship is aimed at non-Chilean students with outstanding academic backgrounds who have been accepted into a USACH doctoral programme. The scholarship may include tuition fees, living expenses, relocation allowance, or a combination of these.
More information: https://postgrado.usach.cl/es/tipos-de-becas/becas-internas
- National Doctorate Scholarships (ANID)
Offered by the National Research and Development Agency (ANID), these scholarships are open to Chilean and international students accepted into accredited doctoral programmes in Chile, across all fields of knowledge. Applicants may be Chilean or foreign nationals, with or without permanent residency.
More information: https://anid.cl/capital-humano/doctorado-nacional/
- Master Scholarships – Republic of Chile
Offered by the Chilean Agency for International Cooperation for Development (AGCID), these scholarships are available to professionals from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, Panama, Paraguay, Uruguay, and CARICOM member countries.
The scholarship covers tuition and graduation fees, health insurance in Chile, a monthly stipend for personal expenses, among other benefits.
More information: https://www.agci.cl/becas/becas-para-extranjeros
- Master Scholarships – Pacific Alliance Countries
Also managed by AGCID, these scholarships are aimed at professionals from Colombia, Mexico, and Peru. They cover tuition and graduation fees, health insurance in Chile, a monthly stipend, and round-trip airfare between the student’s capital city and Santiago.
More information: https://www.agci.cl/becas/becas-para-extranjeros
Outgoing International Mobility Scholarships
- Research Support Scholarship
Designed to support participation in conferences, symposia, courses or seminars (in Chile or abroad) that are relevant to the academic development of USACH postgraduate students. Managed by the Vice-Rector’s Office for Postgraduate Studies.
More information: https://postgrado.usach.cl/es/tipos-de-becas/becas-internas
- Short-Term International Research Stays
Support for international research stays for postgraduate students. Current calls include research stays in France and in universities that are part of the Montevideo Group of Universities (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay). Managed by the Vice-Rector’s Office for Graduate Studies.
- Pacific Alliance Platform Scholarships
Open to doctoral students, academics and researchers from universities in Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru, allowing them to carry out research stays in any of these countries.
More information: https://becas.alianzapacifico.net/
*International students may also take courses at universities outside Chile under existing inter-institutional agreements. This mobility is coordinated by the Department for International and Interuniversity Relations under the Vice-Rector’s Office for Engagement and Outreach.
*The Vice-Rector’s Office for Graduate Studies also provides a dedicated scholarship application guide, available as annex A of this document.