How does university admission work in Chile?
Admission to universities
To enroll in a university in Chile you need to certify secondary education and complete the institution's admission process. In universities that participate in the centralized application process, selection combines results from the Prueba de Acceso a la Educación Superior (PAES), school grades and other factors defined for each degree. The PSU is no longer the current test.
Choosing a degree also requires checking where it is taught, what qualification it awards and how much it costs to sustain your studies. Passing a test, applying and enrolling are different steps: you should not leave any of them until after you know the results.
What tests are used for university admission
The regular centralized pathway uses the mandatory Reading Competency and Mathematical Competency 1 (M1) tests, along with an elective in Science or History and Social Sciences. Some degrees also require Mathematical Competency 2 (M2). You should not choose the tests just because they are easy: first check which ones the program you are interested in requires.
Preparing Mathematics for M1 does not replace taking M2 when it is required. Similarly, the choice between Science and History and Social Sciences should be based on the requirements of your university options.
The DEMRE final offer for 2027 admission lets you review degrees, campuses, places, required tests and weightings. Use that edition if you are applying in that process, because a brochure from previous years may contain different conditions.
How grades and scores influence selection
The Secondary Education Grades (NEM) and the Ranking score are factors separate from PAES results. NEM reflect school performance; the Ranking considers it within its educational context. The official information on the Ranking score explains its role in selection.
Each degree assigns percentages to the required factors. For that reason, two students with a similar result on a test may obtain different weighted scores. Moreover, being eligible to apply is not the same as achieving the score needed to secure a place.
For example, before comparing two engineering programs, note how much weight they give to M1, M2, Science, NEM and Ranking. Then calculate your result using each program's weightings. The score of the last student admitted in the previous year serves as a reference, but does not guarantee the outcome of the new application round.
Dates for the 2027 admission process
The official DEMRE calendar places the Regular PAES on November 30 and December 1 and 2, 2026. Registration to take it ended on July 27, 2026, after a deadline extension.
Centralized application is scheduled from January 4 to 7, 2027; selection results for January 18; and the first enrollment stage from January 19 to 21. Also check the official schedules and the university's enrollment instructions.
Organize your preferences according to what you really want to study and review your application before confirming it. Save the receipt. If you are selected, you must complete enrollment within the established period; remaining on a waiting list requires following the institution's instructions.
Other admission pathways and special requirements
There are special admission pathways with their own conditions. There are also institutions and programs that carry out processes separate from centralized application. Professional institutes and technical training centers have their own access subsystem: all higher education should not be described as a single PAES competition.
If you are interested in Education degrees, check the specific requirements for teacher training programs. In Psychology or Acting, read the call for applications for the specific program: you should not assume that all universities require interviews or special tests just because it is the same discipline.
Documents and studies completed abroad
Prepare your identity document, secondary education certificate, grade transcript and the background documents requested by the university to enroll. Check that your personal and academic data match across the different systems. An error in your grades or identification must be corrected through official channels.
If you finished secondary school outside Chile, review the Mineduc recognition or validation of studies. The documentation and the applicable route depend on the country of origin and the agreements. Also check how your records will be incorporated into the chosen admission process.
How to check the institution and the degree
Verify the institution, the program name, the campus, the schedule, the modality and the degree title. Accreditation evaluates quality and has consequences for access to certain benefits. Checking a university is not the same as reviewing the conditions of a specific degree.
Before paying, compare the official information with the offer received. If you are looking to study asynchronously, online or deferred, check which activities, assessments or internships require in-person attendance. The same name does not mean that all campuses offer an identical academic experience.
Tuition fees, benefits and budget
Check the tuition fee, enrollment fee and expenses for transportation, accommodation, food and materials. FUAS allows you to apply for state benefits, but completing it does not guarantee their allocation nor replace university admission.
The Gratuidad benefit requires, among its conditions, belonging to the 60% with the lowest income and studying at a participating institution. It covers enrollment and tuition for the nominal duration when all requirements are met. It does not mean that transportation, housing and materials are automatically covered.
Before confirming your enrollment
- Check that you took the required tests and that your scores count for the process.
- Review the weightings, openings, and special conditions for each option.
- Confirm documents, recognition of foreign studies, and deadlines.
- Verify the institution, campus, format, and degree.
- Calculate the budget with and without the financial aid requested.
If you're still comparing options, start with the activities you'd like to learn and the type of training you need. Then compare those preferences with the actual admission requirements.
