Universidad Católica Andrés Bello

About Universidad Católica Andrés Bello

UCAB is an independent institution of higher education belonging to the Society of Jesus. The Venezuelan Episcopate decreed its foundation in 1951, and the Jesuits established it in Caracas in 1953. The university describes itself as nonprofit, with income derived principally from student charges, contributions and donations. Venezuela’s official OPSU directory separately identifies UCAB as a private university and associates recognized programs with its Caracas location. The university’s stated mission emphasizes teaching, research, cultural work and service to Venezuela. This makes UCAB a potentially suitable choice for students seeking a professionally oriented education within a Catholic and Jesuit intellectual environment. Its institutional language also stresses democracy, social justice, solidarity and openness to different currents of thought. Prospective students need not infer that every activity is religious, but they should expect the university’s identity and mission to be visible in campus life and academic formation. This record refers specifically to the Montalbán campus in Caracas. UCAB also identifies a Guayana location and other affiliated or specialized sites, so applicants should verify where their intended program is delivered. Current admissions, registration and postgraduate pages demonstrate active operations in 2026. No verified current enrollment total or student-to-faculty ratio was found in the selected official sources, so size-based comparisons should be made only after requesting updated figures from the university.

For the 2026 undergraduate cycle shown on UCAB’s official admissions page, applicants first create an account in the online Secretaría system, submit a pre-application, pay the pre-application charge, provide documents, take a knowledge test and await the admission decision. Admitted students then register during the period established by the university. The page listed 11 July 2026 as a knowledge-test date; that date has passed and must not be treated as the deadline for a later intake. Requirements and routes differ for first-time applicants, transfer students, holders of international secondary credentials and other categories. Applicants should use the campus-specific Montalbán instructions and verify both the document-submission method and current calendar before paying. Students educated outside Venezuela may face additional validation or recognition requirements, so they should request an individualized document checklist from UCAB and begin that process early. Postgraduate admission is separate from undergraduate admission and is handled through UCAB’s postgraduate and Secretaría channels. Requirements, schedules and delivery modes depend on the individual program. The reviewed official pages did not support a general acceptance rate, minimum GPA, SAT, ACT, TOEFL or IELTS threshold. Applicants should therefore avoid relying on unofficial universal cutoffs and instead obtain current requirements for their specific program, campus and applicant category.

At undergraduate level, UCAB organizes its offering across humanities, education, economic and social sciences, law, engineering and theology. Venezuela’s OPSU directory lists programs attached to the Caracas location, including licenciatura and engineering awards. UCAB also introduced five Técnico Superior Universitario options from September 2025 across Montalbán and Guayana. Applicants should consult the current Montalbán offering rather than assume that every program advertised by the wider university is available in Caracas. Postgraduate study spans social and economic sciences, law, humanities, education, engineering, psychology and theology. The current postgraduate catalogue explicitly includes maestría and doctorado programs, as well as specializations and postdoctoral activity. Examples shown in the official catalogue include doctorates in communications, economics, law, education, philosophy, history, engineering, psychology and theology, and master’s programs in areas such as business administration, economics, education, project management, environmental engineering and information systems. Availability, modality and intake can differ by program and should be checked individually. UCAB also provides minors, academies and continuing-education routes, but these should not be confused with degree programs. The official site links research resources and disciplinary research lines, while the university’s mission treats research and teaching as connected functions. Spanish is the practical default for the published admissions and academic information reviewed here. Students seeking English-medium study should obtain written confirmation at program level rather than rely on the existence of international exchange or online options.

Key Highlights

• Private, nonprofit institution of higher education belonging to the Society of Jesus
• Established in Caracas in 1953 after its foundation was decreed in 1951
• This profile covers the Montalbán campus rather than the Guayana location
• Active undergraduate admissions and September 2026–January 2027 registration confirm current operation

Student Life & Environment

Student life at Montalbán extends beyond classroom study through culture, sport, literature, social outreach, volunteering and activities connected to UCAB’s Jesuit identity. The university’s student-life portal directs students to its Culture Directorate, sports services, Centro Cultural, university parish, social-extension work and the Vida UCAB platform. These channels provide structured ways to participate, although current schedules and entry requirements should be confirmed directly with the responsible unit. Support services include psychological advising and university units intended to accompany students during their studies. Economic-support programs can also include advising and follow-up activities. UCAB’s social-extension model emphasizes ongoing work with surrounding communities, which may appeal to students interested in service or community-based experience alongside their degree. The selected official sources did not verify university-operated residential housing at Montalbán. Students moving to Caracas should therefore ask UCAB whether it maintains an approved housing referral list and independently assess leases, commuting time, utilities and neighborhood conditions. Similarly, no current meal-plan price or comprehensive club directory was verified. Prospective students should use the official culture, sports and Vida UCAB channels for the latest activity information rather than assume that every program runs each semester.

Location & Surroundings

The Caracas location is at the end of Avenida Teherán in Montalbán, postal zone 1020. UCAB consistently labels this location Montalbán and distinguishes it from its Guayana site in Puerto Ordaz. Applicants should use the Montalbán designation when checking program availability, admissions documents, fees or campus appointments. Studying here places students in Venezuela’s capital and within a large metropolitan setting rather than a self-contained residential college town. That can provide access to public institutions, businesses, cultural organizations and community projects, but travel conditions and daily logistics can vary substantially. The official sources reviewed did not provide a current, comprehensive student-transport plan or verified residence options. Students relocating to Caracas should compare housing based on a realistic commute to Avenida Teherán, confirm transportation arrangements for evening classes, and ask the university about current campus access and security procedures. International applicants should also consider currency conversion, telecommunications and local documentation needs before arrival. UCAB publishes contact hours and campus channels online, but operational arrangements should be reconfirmed close to the start of the semester.

Costs & Career Outcomes

UCAB calculates undergraduate charges by units of credit rather than publishing one universal tuition figure. Its page for the September 2026–January 2027 semester instructs students to total the units attached to their selected subjects, apply the established unit value and add the registration charge. A personalized online calculator can account for course type, program or campus discounts, exemptions and economic support. Because the amount depends on the actual academic load and profile, applicants should request a written estimate for their planned first semester. UCAB’s current public pages contained inconsistent displayed unit values: the general 2026 admissions page used US$21 in its examples, while a current support article stated a US$20 base value payable in bolívares at the official central-bank exchange rate. Students should not budget from either figure alone. The personalized calculator and semester-specific administrative circular should be treated as controlling before payment. Economic support includes proportional-fee assistance, externally supported scholarships, a work-scholarship program and student-cooperator opportunities. Several options are designed for continuing students from the third semester and require demonstrated financial need and satisfactory progress, so new entrants should not assume immediate eligibility. UCAB also maintains alumni and employment-related channels, while some support roles provide work experience aligned with a student’s profile. No reliable current graduate salary or placement rate was found; career outcomes should be evaluated through program-level internship, employer and alumni evidence.