Universidad de Atacama

About

Located in Copiapó, Chile, the Universidad de Atacama is best known for its strong academic offerings in mining, engineering, and geosciences, closely tied to the region's rich mineral heritage. The university provides a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate programs across faculties such as Engineering, Humanities and Education, and Law. While instruction is primarily in Spanish, international students benefit from dedicated exchange agreements and an international cooperation office that assists with incoming mobility, housing, and academic integration. What sets this institution apart is its unique geographic location in the Atacama Desert, offering unparalleled fieldwork and research opportunities in mineralogy, astronomy, and arid-zone ecology. International students experience a welcoming campus culture deeply rooted in regional industry and Chilean traditions, making it an ideal destination for those seeking immersive technical and cultural learning.

Background

University of Atacama (Spanish: Universidad de Atacama) or UDA is a university in Chile. It is part of the Chilean Traditional Universities. UDA is in Copiapó, in the Third Region, Atacama. The university was created in 1981, as a fusion of the old Mines School of Copiapo, founded in 1857 and very prestigious in the mineral industries. This school was integrated in 1947 in early founded Universidad Técnica del Estado, being the new U.T.E. until 1981 the most important Chilean university in applied sciences and the Normal School of Copiapó, founded in 1905. UDA has four faculties: Humanities and Education, Law, Engineering, and Natural Sciences, as well as five institutes: the Technological Institute, the Language Institute, the Center for Technical Education (CFT), the Institute for Scientific and Technological Research (IDITEC), and INSAMIN. The University of Atacama campus houses several historical monuments, including the first steam engine to traverse Chile, between Copiapó and the port city of Caldera, in 1851.

Location

Quick facts

Nearby universities