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# THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM OF BOLIVIA

**Bolivia operates on a 8-4-5-1 system: Elementary School \-- 8 years**

####  Senior Secondary School \-- 4 years

**University Bachelor's degree \-- 5 years**

> **University Master's degree \-- 1 year**

**There are also technical careers for those students that do not
pursue**

**a bachelor's degree 3 years**

**[Language]{.underline}**: The sole official language of instruction
throughout the Bolivian educational system is Spanish. Students study in
Spanish for seventeen years. All textbooks and materials are in Spanish
.If the students want to study in the USA they need to study English for
three years after school.

Nevertheless, In Bolivia there are some high schools where the language
of instruction is English: Cooperative School (Santa Cruz, Cochabamba
and La Paz), Santa Cruz International School, Christian Learning Center,
American International School of Bolivia, Karachipampa Christian School,
among others.

There are also some bilingual schools where students study in both
languages: Spanish and English: Eagles School, San Lorenzo, Saint
George, Saint Thomas, La Salle, Saint Andrew's, Anglo American,
Tiquipaya, Federico Froebl, Don Bosco, Loyola, Adventista, Instituto
Americano, Franco Boliviano (Spanish and English), German School,
(Spanish, German and English)

**[Senior Secondary School]{.underline}**:

The leading private secondary schools sending students to the United
States are Cooperative Schools (Santa Cruz, Cochabamba and La Paz),
Santa Cruz International School, Christian Learning Center, American
International School of Bolivia, Karachipampa Christian School, Franco
Boliviano, German School, Saint Andrew's, Anglo American, Tiquipaya, and
Federico Froebl, each school graduating among 60-80 students each year.
The public secondary schools in the country usually do not teach English
and even though they have brilliant and outstanding students, their
parents do not have the financial ability to send them to study in the
USA.

Elementary, middle and high school scale of grades in Bolivia:

> a\) Unsatisfactory 1 to 35 points
>
> b\) Satisfactory 36 to 55 points
>
> c\) Optimum 56 to 70 points

The equivalent of an A in the grading system in Bolivia is 56 to 70 over
70 (70 is the maximum grade).

**[University Education]{.underline}**: In Bolivia most of the
universities are private (45) and very few are public universities (10).
Private universities enroll approximately 70,000 Bolivian students and
public universities 250,000 students (total in Bolivia) at the
undergraduate level.

**[Public universities in Bolivia:]{.underline}**

**La Paz:** Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, UMSA WEB Page:
[**www.umsanet.edu.bo**](http://www.umsanet.edu.bo/) **Cochabamba**:
Universidad Mayor de San Simón, UMSS WEB Page:
[**www.umss.edu.bo**](http://www.umss.edu.bo/)

**Santa Cruz:** Universidad Autónoma Gabriel René Moreno WEB Page:
[**www.uagrm.edu.bo**](http://www.uagrm.edu.bo/) **Chuquisaca**:
Universidad Mayor Real y Pontificia San Francisco Xavier WEB Page:
[**www.usfx.edu.bo**](http://www.usfx.edu.bo/)

**Oruro:** Universidad Técnica de Oruro, UTO WEB Page:
[**www.uto.edu.bo**](http://www.uto.edu.bo/)\
**Potosí:** Universidad Autónoma Tomas Frías WEB Page:
[**www.uatf.edu.bo**](http://www.uatf.edu.bo/) y Universidad Nacional
Siglo XX - Llallagua, Potosí Página web:
[**www.ceub.edu.bo/ceub/universidades/unsxx.html**](http://www.ceub.edu.bo/ceub/universidades/unsxx.html)

**Tarija:** Universidad Autónoma Juan Misael Saracho WEB Page:
[**www.uajms.edu.bo**](http://www.uajms.edu.bo/)\
**Beni:** Universidad Técnica del Beni

**Pando:** Universidad Amazónica de Pando WEB Pag:
[**www.ceub.edu.bo/ceub/universidades/uap.html**](http://www.ceub.edu.bo/ceub/universidades/uap.html)

## [Private Universities in Bolivia]{.underline} 

### La Paz: Universidad Católica Boliviana San Pablo UCB WEB Page: [**www.ucb.edu.bo**](http://www.ucb.edu.bo/) *;* Escuela Militar de Ingeniería EMI WEB Page: [**www.emi.edu.bo**](http://www.emi.edu.bo/) *;* Universidad Privada Nuestra Señora de La Paz WEB Page: [**www.unlsp.edu.bo**](http://www.unlsp.edu.bo/) *;* Universidad de Aquino Bolivia WEB Page: [**www.udabol.edu.bo**](http://www.udabol.edu.bo/) *;* Universidad Loyola *;* Universidad Privada Franz Tamayo *;* Universidad Santo Tomás WEB Page: [**www.universidadsantotomas.edu.bo**](http://www.universidadsantotomas.edu.bo/) *;* Universidad Tecnológica Boliviana *;* Universidad Americana *;* Universidad Privada \"Prouniversidad\" WEB Page: [**www.uta.cl/prouniversidad**](http://www.uta.cl/prouniversidad) *;* Universidad de la Cordillera *;* Universidad Salesiana de Bolivia *;* Universidad San Francisco de Asís *;* Universidad del Valle *;* Universidad Central *;* Universidad Real *;* Cochabamba: Universidad Privada del Valle Página web: [**www.univalle.edu**](http://www.univalle.edu/) *;* Universidad Privada Boliviana WEB Page: [**www.upb.edu**](http://www.upb.edu/) *;* Universidad Adventista de Bolivia WEB Page: [**www.uab.edu.bo**](http://www.uab.edu.bo/) *;* Universidad Técnica Privada Cosmos *;* Universidad Privada Abierta Latinoamérica *;* Universidad de Aquino Bolivia WEB Page: [**www.udabol.edu.bo**](http://www.udabol.edu.bo/) *;* Santa Cruz: Universidad Privada de Santa Cruz de la Sierra WEB Page: www.upsa.edu.bo *;* Universidad Católica Boliviana WEB Page: www.ucbscz.edu.bo *;* Universidad De Aquino Bolivia *;* Universidad Evangélica Boliviana WEB Page: [**www.ueb.edu.bo**](http://www.ueb.edu.bo/) *;* Universidad Cristiana de Bolivia *;* Universidad Nur WEB Page: [**www.ueb.edu.bo**](http://www.ueb.edu.bo/) *;* Universidad Técnica Privada de Santa Cruz WEB Page: [**www.utepsa.edu**](http://www.utepsa.edu/) *;* Universidad Nacional Ecológica Santa Cruz WEB Page: [**www.uecologica.edu.bo**](http://www.uecologica.edu.bo/) *;* Universidad Privada Domingo Savio *;* Universidad Cumbre *;* Universidad Nacional del Oriente *;* Universidad Empresarial Mateo Kuljis S. A. WEB Page: [**www.unikuljis.edu.bo**](http://www.unikuljis.edu.bo/) *;* Universidad Privada Franz Tamayo *;* Sucre: Universidad Boliviana de Informática *;* Universidad Privada del Valle *;* Universidad Nur *;* Oruro: Universidad Privada Abierta Latinoamericana *;* Universidad de Aquino Bolivia WEB Page: [**www.udabol.edu.bo**](http://www.udabol.edu.bo/) *;* Universidad Privada de Oruro *;* Beni: Universidad de la Amazonía Boliviana -- Riberalta *;* Universidad de la Amazonía Boliviana -- Guayaramerín *;* Universidad Privada del Valle - Trinidad *;*Yacuiba: Universidad Privada del Chaco 

**[Scale of grades in Bolivian Universities:]{.underline}**

> a\) Unsatisfactory 1 to 50 points
>
> b\) Satisfactory 51 to 79 points
>
> c\) Optimum 80 to 100 points

Both, public and private universities offer technical level three-year
Diplomas (Associate Degree), in applied business and technology fields.
The Associate Degree ("Tecnico Superior" in Bolivia) is not equivalent
to a Bachelor's degree, but their credits can be transferred to an
undergraduate degree program. Most of the private institutions are also
accredited by the Ministry of Education to award Bachelor's degrees.
Their enrollment totals less than 2,000 each but the number of students
in private institutions is growing.

Approximately 400,000 Bolivian students are required to take an
assessment placement examination to be admitted at the public
universities. Admission to public universities is competitive especially
in fields such as medicine and engineering: only 240,000 students
approximately can be admitted into the 10 public universities. Private
universities do not require an entrance examination.

The quality of education in both types of universities is considered
reasonably high, evidence of that is the fact that we have well
qualified human resources in Bolivia.

Public universities operate on an annual system while private
institutions do so on a semester or modular system (one class per
month).

**Private Academic calendar**

Fist Semester February - June

Second Semester August - November

Winter classes: June -- August (optional)

Summer classes: November -- January (optional)

**Cost at local universities**

Public Universities Free

Private Universities Tuition Fee \$US 1000 year (average)

**Holidays 2007**

Carnaval February 19^th^ and 20^th^

Viernes Santo April 6^th^

Dia del Trabajo May 1^st^

Corpus Cristie June 7^th^

Independence Day August 6^th^

Todos Santos November 2^nd^

Christmas December 25^th^

**[Bolivians in the United States]{.underline}**: 1,051 Bolivians are
enrolled in U.S. institutions, the number of students having increased
by 04.% on the last years.

**[Testing]{.underline}**: The SAT is offered six times a year at one
location in each city. The GRE is offered every day at the
computer-based test center CBA EducationUSA Center La Paz. TOEFL iBT is
offered twice a month in La Paz, Cochabamba and Santa Cruz. Wile The
GMAT is available daily in COGNOS (Computer Company)

**[Educational Advising]{.underline}**: The EducationUSA Advising
Centers in Bolivia sponsored by the Educational Information and
Resources Branch, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs - U.S.
Department of State
[http://educationusa.state.gov](http://educationusa.state.gov/), serve
approximately 5000 students per year in 5 cities in Bolivia.
EducationUSA centers offer a wide range of programs and assistance
designed to strengthen students' applications and their readiness for
U.S. higher education.

**EducationUSA Centers Bolivia**

+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| **SERVICES**                      | **STATISTICS**                    |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| **CONTACT Cost**                  | > **TYPE OF CONTACT**             |
|                                   | >                                 |
| > **1.** Personal Interviews No   | > **1**. Individual Advising      |
| > cost                            | > 27.80%                          |
|                                   | >                                 |
| **2.** Group Orientation No cost  | > **2.** Group Orientation 15.50% |
|                                   | >                                 |
| **3.** Outreach Presentations No  | > **3.** Outreach Conferences     |
| cost                              | > 34.50%                          |
|                                   | >                                 |
| **4.** Advising by E-mail No cost | > **4.** Advising by e-mail 4.90% |
|                                   | >                                 |
| **5.** Education/College Fairs No | > **5**. Education College Fairs  |
| cost                              | > 7%                              |
|                                   | >                                 |
| **6**.Advising by Phone No cost   | > **6**. Advising by Phone 10.30% |
|                                   |                                   |
| > **7**.Library No cost           |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| **SERVICES**                      | **LEVEL OF STUDY**                |
|                                   |                                   |
| -   Test preparation: TOEFL For a | -   Undergraduate 68%             |
|     Fee                           |                                   |
|                                   | -   Graduate 25%                  |
| -   Test registration For a Fee   |                                   |
|                                   | -   Post Doct./Research 0.3%      |
| -   Assistance with applications  |                                   |
|     No cost                       | -   Non-degree 0.7%               |
|                                   |                                   |
| -   Assistance with documents:    | -   Short-term study 3.3%         |
|                                   |                                   |
| > Recommendations, essays, etc.   | -   Secondary School 1.5%         |
| > No cost                         |                                   |
|                                   | Youth Exchange Programs 1.3%      |
| -   Workshops for advisees For a  |                                   |
|     Fee                           | **FIELDS OF STUDY**               |
|                                   |                                   |
| -   Contact with universities No  | 1st Engineering                   |
|     cost                          |                                   |
|                                   | 2nd Business / Management         |
| -   Official translations For a   |                                   |
|     Fee                           | 3rd Medicine                      |
|                                   |                                   |
| -   Sample tests TOEFL,           | 4th Economics                     |
|                                   |                                   |
| > SAT, GRE, GMAT For a Fee        | 5th International Relations       |
|                                   |                                   |
| -   Book sales For a Fee          |                                   |
|                                   |                                   |
| -   Pre-departure orientation No  |                                   |
|     cost                          |                                   |
|                                   |                                   |
| -   Internet- university search   |                                   |
|     No cost                       |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+

We are very interested in working with you to make it possible for more
Bolivian students to enroll in your institution. Please contact the
Educational Advisers in Bolivia, and refer your Bolivian applicants to
us for any assistance that we can provide.

**EducationUSA Advising Centers - Centro Boliviano Americano**

**La Paz: Rosmery Romero** <rosmycba@yahoo.com>

Phone: 591 2 2430107

Casilla  12024 La Paz, Bolivia

**Cochabamba: Rolando Ribera** <rribera@cbacoch.org>

Phone: 591 4 4221288

> Casilla 1399 Cochabamba, Bolivia

**Santa Cruz Jimena Valdivia** <cbascz@cotas.com.bo>

Phone: 591 3 3342299 ext. 103 Fax: 591 3 3342299 ext. 120

> Casilla 510 Santa Cruz, Bolivia

**Sucre** **Raquel Torrico** <r_torrico@hotmail.com>

Calle Calvo 301 Sucre, Bolivia

**Tarija** **Cristina Basswerner** <cristinabasswerner@gmail.com>

> Phone: 511-445-4746
>
> Calle Suipacha 738 Tarija, Bolivia

We would appreciate one copy of your catalogue, view book, video and
CD-ROM, mailed to

the EducationUSA Advising Center's addresses given above.

We welcome visits, recruiting or otherwise, and can readily assemble an
audience for your presentations. We are also planning to organize a
University Fair in Bolivia.

Come and visit, and let us treat you to Bolivian hospitality!