Universities in Uruguay ^New

Explore the uniRank League Table and University Ranking of 16 Universities in Uruguay

The Oriental Republic of Uruguay is divided into 19 departments (Spanish: departamentos), which are further subdivided into municipalities (Spanish: municipios). The vast majority of higher education institutions meeting the uniRank selection criteria are located in the smallest yet most populated department, Montevideo, which hosts the capital city of Montevideo. The following uniRank sub-rankings and league tables take into consideration all departments that include at least one Uruguayan higher education institution meeting the uniRank selection criteria.

Maldonado (2)  
Montevideo (14)  

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Overview of Uruguay Universities

Uruguay's higher education system features public and private institutions governed by national regulations. The country has 16 universities, dominated by private institutions (87.5%) concentrated primarily in Montevideo. Public universities like Universidad de la República serve as major research hubs, while specialized private institutes focus on fields like business, technology and health sciences. Degrees follow the bachelor's-master's-doctorate structure, with Spanish as the primary language of instruction. Uruguay's university system emphasizes professional training and regional engagement within Latin America.

Top 10 Uruguay Universities

1. Universidad de la República (University of the Republic) - UDELAR. Country Rank: 1 | World Rank: 919. Montevideo, Montevideo. Est. 1833. Public research university. Comprehensive. Fields: Humanities, STEM, Health Sciences, Social Sciences. Levels: Undergraduate, Graduate, Doctorate.
2. Universidad ORT Uruguay (ORT Uruguay University) - ORT. Country Rank: 2 | World Rank: 2827. Montevideo, Montevideo. Est. 1943. Private teaching university. Comprehensive. Fields: Business, Engineering, Design, Education. Levels: Undergraduate, Graduate.
3. Universidad Católica del Uruguay (Catholic University of Uruguay) - UCUDAL. Country Rank: 3 | World Rank: 3209. Montevideo, Montevideo. Est. 1985. Private teaching university. Comprehensive. Fields: Law, Business, Psychology, Engineering. Levels: Undergraduate, Graduate.
4. Universidad de Montevideo (University of Montevideo) - UM. Country Rank: 4 | World Rank: 4120. Montevideo, Montevideo. Est. 1997. Private teaching university. Comprehensive. Fields: Business, Law, Engineering, Humanities. Levels: Undergraduate, Graduate.
5. Universidad Tecnológica (Technological University of Uruguay) - UTEC. Country Rank: 5 | World Rank: 6642. Montevideo, Montevideo. Est. 2012. Public research university. Specialized. Fields: Engineering, Technology, Applied Sciences. Levels: Undergraduate, Graduate.
6. Universidad de la Empresa (University of Enterprise) - UDE. Country Rank: 6 | World Rank: 7757. Montevideo, Montevideo. Est. 1992. Private teaching university. Specialized. Fields: Business, Economics, Communication. Levels: Undergraduate, Graduate.
7. Instituto Universitario Centro Latinoamericano de Economía Humana (Latin American Center for Human Economics University Institute) - CLAEH. Country Rank: 7 | World Rank: 8251. Montevideo, Montevideo. Est. 1957. Private teaching university. Specialized. Fields: Social Sciences, Humanities, Urban Development. Levels: Undergraduate, Graduate.
8. Instituto Universitario Centro de Estudio y Diagnóstico de las Disgnacias del Uruguay (University Institute Center for Study and Diagnosis of Dysgnathia of Uruguay) - IUCEDDU. Country Rank: 8 | World Rank: 10511. Montevideo, Montevideo. Est. 1986. Private teaching university. Specialized. Fields: Dentistry, Orthodontics. Levels: Undergraduate, Professional Training.
9. Instituto Universitario Bios (Bios University Institute) - IUB. Country Rank: 9 | World Rank: 10799. Montevideo, Montevideo. Est. 1995. Private teaching university. Specialized. Fields: Health Sciences, Psychology, Nutrition. Levels: Undergraduate, Graduate.
10. Instituto Universitario Asociación Cristiana de Jóvenes (Christian Youth Association University Institute) - IUACJ. Country Rank: 10 | World Rank: 11078. Montevideo, Montevideo. Est. 2000. Private teaching university. Specialized. Fields: Sports Science, Physical Education. Levels: Undergraduate, Professional Training.

Analysis of University Types

Uruguay's 16 universities demonstrate a strong private-sector presence. Private institutions constitute 14 universities (87.5% of all institutions), while public universities comprise just 2 (12.5%). This distribution highlights Uruguay's reliance on private higher education providers, with nearly 9 out of every 10 universities operating under private administration. Montevideo hosts all ranked institutions, reflecting extreme geographic concentration of Uruguay's university infrastructure.

Global Ranking and Standing

Uruguayan universities show modest global representation, with 1 institution (6.25% of all universities) ranked among the world's top 1,000 universities. No Uruguayan universities currently rank in the global top 200. Universidad de la República (Country Rank #1) stands as Uruguay's highest-ranked institution globally at position #919. This indicates growing international recognition for Uruguayan higher education, though significant advancement opportunities remain.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is Uruguay's top-ranked university?
Universidad de la República ranks as Uruguay's #1 university and the only Uruguayan institution in the global top 1000.

How many public universities exist in Uruguay?
Uruguay has two public universities: Universidad de la República (established 1833) and Universidad Tecnológica (established 2012).

Where are Uruguay's universities located?
All top-ranked Uruguayan universities operate in Montevideo, the capital city, reflecting centralized higher education infrastructure.

Do Uruguayan universities teach in English?
While Spanish is the primary language, some private universities offer English-taught programs, particularly in business and technology fields.

What is Uruguay's oldest university?
Universidad de la República, founded in 1833, is Uruguay's oldest and largest higher education institution.

Since 2005, UniRank provides original research, valuable information and resources to help you explore and make informed decisions about Uruguayan universities and their online presence.

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