Engineering degrees in Chile
Commercial, industrial, civil, computing, environmental, forestry, chemical, audio and many more, along with architecture: they are engineering degrees you can study in Chile.
If you like taking things apart, programming, understanding how machines or systems work, or you are interested in the countryside and natural resources, there are engineering degrees to work in that.
How engineering is studied in Chile
In Chile there are engineering degrees that in other countries don't go by that name: Commercial Engineering, for example, trains you to create and run businesses. There are programs in public and private universities in Santiago, ValparaÃso, Concepción, Temuco, Talca, Valdivia or Antofagasta, among other cities.
At first mathematics, physics and chemistry predominate, and then you move toward the specialty, with laboratories, workshops, group work and projects. The length, degree title and requirements change depending on the institution; the Comisión Nacional de Acreditación publishes which degrees have current accreditation.
Engineering degrees in Chile
You can start with Commercial Engineering, Industrial Engineering or Civil Engineering.
There are also more specific options, such as Naval Engineering, Materials Engineering or Audio Engineering, which use the same applied science base for ships, new materials or sound. Computing and Audio overlap with the technology and computing degrees in Chile, and Forestry or Environmental with agriculture and environment ones.
Where to study engineering in Chile
Universidad de Chile (UChile)Santiago · PublicArchitectureIndustrial DesignCivil EngineeringElectronic EngineeringIndustrial EngineeringChemical EngineeringFood EngineeringCommercial EngineeringAudio EngineeringEnvironmental EngineeringForestry EngineeringMaterials Engineering
Universidad Austral de Chile (UACh)Valdivia · PrivateArchitectureCivil EngineeringFood EngineeringEnvironmental EngineeringCommercial EngineeringNaval EngineeringAudio EngineeringMechanical EngineeringForestry Engineering
Universidad Técnica Federico Santa MarÃa (UTFSM)ValparaÃso · PrivateCivil EngineeringIndustrial EngineeringComputer EngineeringMechanical EngineeringElectronic EngineeringChemical EngineeringEnvironmental EngineeringArchitectureCommercial Engineering
Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH)Santiago · PublicIndustrial EngineeringComputer EngineeringElectronic EngineeringArchitectureCommercial Engineering
Universidad del BÃo-BÃo (UBB)Concepción · PublicCivil EngineeringIndustrial EngineeringComputer EngineeringArchitectureIndustrial Design
Universidad Andrés Bello (UNAB)Santiago · PrivateCommercial EngineeringIndustrial EngineeringComputer EngineeringArchitecture
Universidad de Concepción (UdeC)Concepción · PrivateCivil EngineeringIndustrial EngineeringCommercial EngineeringArchitecture
Universidad de Talca (UTalca)Talca · PublicIndustrial EngineeringCivil EngineeringCommercial EngineeringArchitectureHow to choose between them
Look at what you do for fun: if you program, if you are intrigued by where the energy you use comes from, if you like caring for the environment or building and fixing things.
If you are torn between areas, read the first-semester subjects in each curriculum and notice which ones make you curious. Also look at the city: not all specialties are taught at all campuses.
If you are torn between Commercial and Industrial, think about whether you are more drawn to running a business or improving how something is produced, and compare the curricula. With the career test you can check that intuition.
To read before choosing
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a good math score to study engineering?
Many degrees require math for admission and use it from the start, but it is reinforced through coursework. Check the weighting of each program.
What test do I take to get into engineering in Chile?
The admission process uses the PAES, which is prepared by the DEMRE. Each university defines what scores and requirements it asks for.
How long do engineering degrees last in Chile?
Commercial, Civil, Chemical, Forestry, Food and Audio Engineering, along with Architecture, are among the longest; Energy Engineering is among the shortest, and most fall in between.
What is the difference between Commercial Engineering and Industrial Engineering?
Commercial Engineering focuses on creating and managing businesses, with a lot of economics and management; Industrial Engineering focuses on organizing processes and resources to produce better. Compare the curricula.
Are there engineering degrees related to the environment?
Yes: Environmental Engineering and Forestry Engineering, which work with the environment and its resources.
What does Civil Engineering study?
How to analyze the needs of a community to design and build works such as roads, bridges or water systems. It combines calculus, materials and planning, and is one of the longest engineering degrees.