Officially the United Mexican States, Mexico has a population of 129,875,529. Mexico is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and to the east by the Gulf of Mexico. It is the eleventh most populous country and the most populous Spanish-speaking country in the world while being the second most populous country in Latin America.
Best known for its nachos and Frida Kahlo, Mexico is another Latin American country popular among international students. Geographically, Mexico is a part of North America since it is neighbors with Texas, California, Arizona, and New Mexico. However, its culture is distinctively characteristic of Latin America. Having more than 30 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, it is no wonder that Mexico makes it to the list of top destinations for tourists and students. In recent years, more and more international students are exploring universities in Mexico for their study abroad programs. These students chase the superior education they can get from learning institutions in the Latin American country. Similarly, they get attracted to the rich Mexican culture they will have the opportunity to understand and embrace.
Mexico is considered a fast-growing economy. In Latin America, Mexico holds the second biggest economy, next to Brazil. Overall, the country has the 13th largest economy in global listings. This economic stronghold contributes to Mexico’s striking features for international students. A prosperous economy is equivalent to numerous employment and training opportunities for international students, consistent with their degree programs. Moreover, students are pulled in by Mexico for its affordable lifestyle and education. Aside from this, there are numerous scholarship programs offered for students who wish to study in Mexico.
In Mexico, student life means a cultural immersion on top of an education highly prioritized by the government. Here is a compilation of everything you need to know about Mexico as a study abroad destination.
The Spanish language is the world’s second most spoken language. In the United States, there are 37 million Spanish speakers – 65% of which have Mexican roots. This is a testament that Mexico will be a great place to learn the language considering the number of native Spanish speakers in the country. Learning Spanish is a skill one should invest in, especially if he wishes to join a multinational company in the US, Latin America, or elsewhere in the world. In the globalized world, employers give preference to bilingual and multilingual speakers who can interact with a wide clientele profile. Since Spanish is the second most spoken language, there is no doubt that speaking the language will be a positive stamp on your resume.
Mexico is an affordable destination for studying. The country provides an efficient transportation and other services, but in a reasonably priced amount. Also, an international student’s monthly budget for accommodation, transportation, and daily meals in Mexico is a meager $500 – an amount which will only cover one’s accommodation in other study abroad destinations like the US or the UK. Similarly, the cost of education is cheaper in Mexico. An international student in Mexico receives quality education without spending too much. Essentially, one’s savings will not be emptied when studying and living in Mexico because of its affordability.
The Mexican university system is modelled after the US and the European education systems. Moreover, the government of Mexico puts education on its list of priorities; thus, it has been allocating billions of dollars for the continuous improvement of its education system. Universities in Mexico are known around the world for their excellent study programs in business and finance. Also, in recent years, more than 75 partnerships have been signed by universities in Mexico and the US for the betterment of each nation’s learning trend.
Mexico has been written down in the history of human civilization. The home of the Mayans and the Aztecs, Mexico remains to be a country of affluent cultural history. This can be seen in its heritage sites, such as temples and sanctuaries. The Mexican cuisine is also a non-debatable must-try. International students can have a taste of the best enchilada and tacos when in Mexico. Similarly, the natural landscape of this country can leave anyone enthralled. Mexico boasts of various rainforests, mountains, deserts, and beaches which provide a chance to stop and reflect on one’s path.
Mexico belongs to the TIMBI countries – a bloc of fast-growing economies in the world, comprised of Turkey, India, Mexico, Brazil, and Indonesia. Much of Mexico’s economy is linked to the US. In fact, the country produces more than $500 billion a year in two-way trade with the world superpower. This economic strength is the primary reason why 86 companies in the Forbes 2000 list conduct operations in Mexico. Likewise, the presence of such respected companies is an affirmative feature for international students who will find internship or employment opportunities right at their fingertips.
Applications for admission to a university in Mexico are directly coordinated with the institution itself.
Each university has its own set of requirements asked of international applicants. However, here are the most common documents admission applicants need to prepare:
The admission application procedures are as follows:
International students who wish to stay in Mexico for a study program that only lasts for a maximum of 6 months (180 days) do not need to apply for a student visa. They can enter the country with a tourist visa. However, if a student’s study program will be completed in more than 6 months, he needs to get a student visa for Mexico. The following are facts about the student visa for Mexico:
Mexico has a competitive education system. Children are required to attend primary school (primaria), middle school (secundaria), and preparatory school (preparatoria). Pre-primary education or preschool is optional. Similarly, it is not covered by the free education scheme in Mexican public institutions.
Primaria is compulsory for all children in Mexico who are aged 6 to 12. In primary schools, the children are taught basic subjects such as mathematics, science, and history. Each school day is divided into two sessions, wherein the first half of learning session is taught using Spanish as the medium of instruction and the other half is taught using a foreign language (i.e. French, English, or other native Mexican languages).
Secundaria, also known as junior high school, is the second step of required education in Mexico. Students from age 12 to 15 are usually enrolled in middle school. It spans for 3 years wherein students are taught specific areas such as world history, physics, algebra, and so on. Some students opt to attend secundaria in an online or distance learning setup – a program called telesecundaria.
Preparatoria, or high school, is a recent introduction to the compulsory levels of education in Mexico. Students who have completed junior high school are required to attend 3 more years of high school education, wherein they are given the choice of a specialization program. Moreover, they can choose from either a Secretariat of Public Education (SEP) Incorporated Preparatoria (mandated curriculum) or a University Incorporated Preparatoria (affiliated with a local university).
Albeit the cost of living and tuition fees in Mexico are significantly lower than other study abroad destinations of the same competitive profile, some students seek scholarship grants to help with the finances. In Mexico, international students have the option to avail of the Mexican Government Scholarships for International Students. Funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (AMEXCID), the Mexican Government Scholarships look for international applicants willing to study a degree program at a university in Mexico. Students from more than 180 countries are invited to send their application for the said scholarship program.
Interested applicants can be prospective undergraduate, graduate, or postgraduate students trying to get accepted to a study program, particularly those related to the sciences and humanities, in a participating learning institution in the country. Applications should be submitted to the nearest Mexican consulate in the student’s home country. The applications for the scholarships usually close by the end of September of every year. The evaluation of applicants primarily depends on academic and financial justifications.
The Mexican Government Scholarships partnered with more than 90 reputable universities in Mexico. All successful candidates may enroll in any of these institutions and receive a benefits package consisting of the following:
The Mexican Government Scholarships for International Students is only one of the various scholarship programs available in Mexico. See also:
See also: Best Student Cities in Mexico (2024)
Your dream study destination is definitely Mexico! What are you waiting for? Share this article with your friends, and let Mexico charm them as it did you!
Below is a comprehensive list of all universities in Mexico (Aguascalientes, Baja California, Tijuana, Mexicali, Ensenad, Baja California Sur, La Paz, Campeche, Ciudad del Carmen, Chiapas, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Tapachula, Chihuahua, Juárez, Chihuahua, Delicias, Ciudad Cuauhtémoc, Hidalgo del Parral, Coahuila, Saltillo, Torreó, Monclova, Piedras Negras, Ciudad Acuña, Colima, Manzanillo, Ciudad de Villa de Álvarez, Durango, Gómez Palacio, Guanajuato, León, Irapuato, Celaya, Salamanca, Guerrero, Acapulco, Chilpancingo, Iguala, Hidalg, Pachuca, Tulancing, Jalisco, Guadalajara, Zapopa, Tlaquepaqu, Tonalá, Puerto Vallarta, México, Ecatepe, Nezahualcóyotl, Naucalpan, Tlalnepantla, Chimalhuacán, Toluca, Ciudad López, Mateos, Cuautitlán Izcalli, Xico, Ixtapaluca, Ciudad Nicolás Romero, Coacalco de Berriozábal, Ojo de Agua, Buenavista, San Pablo de las Salinas, Chicoloapan de Juárez, Chalco de Díaz Covarrubias, Naucalpan, Cuautitlán, Texcoco, Tepexpan, Mexico City, Michoacá, Morelia, Uruapan, Zamora, Morelos, Cuernavaca, Jiutepec, Cuautla, Nayari, Tepic, Nuevo León, Monterrey, Guadalupe, Ciudad Apodaca, San Nicolás de los Garza, General Escobedo, Santa Catarina, Ciudad Benito Juárez, San Pedro Garza García, Oaxaca, Puebla, Tehuacán, Querétaro, San Juan del Río, Quintana Roo, Cancú, Chetumal, Playa del Carmen, San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Soledad de Graciano Sánchez, Ciudad Valles, Sinaloa, Culiacán, Mazatlán, Los Mochis, Hermosillo, Ciudad Obregón, Nogales, San Luis Río Colorado, Navojoa, Guaymas, Tabasco, Villahermosa, Tamaulipas, Reynosa, Matamoros, Nuevo Lared, Ciudad Victoria, Tampico, Ciudad Madero, Miramar, Veracruz, Veracru, Xalapa, Coatzacoalcos, Poza Rica, Córdoba, Veracruz, Orizaba, Minatitlán, Yucatán, Mérida, Zacatecas, Guadalupe, Fresnillo). Edarabia strives to offer the latest updates, helping you find the best university in Mexico with information on tuition fees, accreditation details, videos, photos, location map, community reviews and ratings.
Edarabia showcases all universities and colleges in Mexico which can be filtered by courses and tuition fees. International students looking to get a degree in Mexico can choose from a diverse range of programs and diplomas and obtain their Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhDs (or MBAs) from some of the top-rated institutions. Some universities also offer online courses through which students can apply for distance learning and get an online degree in certain fields.
Students who require financial aid can apply for scholarships in order to study higher education at a lower cost. Student visas and accommodation are also provided to students at many universities. There are study abroad and exchange programs offered in order to promote language development skills while giving students the opportunity to interact with other cultures around the world. Additionally, each university/college has ratings based on student reviews and are ranked below accordingly.
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