Federico Santa María Technical University

Federico Santa María Technical University Overview

The Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María (UTFSM), also known as UTFSM or commonly as USM, is a distinguished private Chilean traditional university. It belongs to the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities, the Association of Regional Universities of Chile, the Cruz del Sur University Network, and the G9 University Network.

Its main campus is located in Valparaíso, and it also has additional campuses in Santiago de Chile (Vitacura and San Joaquín) and Guayaquil, Ecuador. Furthermore, it has two branches: one in Viña del Mar and another in Concepción. The university exclusively offers programs in science and technology.

Presently, UTFSM holds accreditation from the National Accreditation Commission (CNA-Chile) for a period of six years (out of a maximum of seven) from December 2022 to December 2028. It holds the 14th position among Chilean universities according to the SCImago Institutions Rankings (SIR) 2022. Additionally, it ranks 13th according to the AmericaEconomía 2021 ranking and is among the top 11 Chilean universities in the QS World University Rankings 2020. Furthermore, it is listed among the top 10 universities in the Times Higher Education 2020 ranking.

The university owes its existence to the wealthy and visionary Chilean entrepreneur Federico Santa María Carrera, who made it possible through a significant donation, and to Agustín Edwards McClure, executor of Santa María's testamentary will to establish an educational center consisting of a School of Arts and Crafts and a College of Engineers in his hometown, Valparaíso.

In 1931, the magnificent main campus was inaugurated on the grounds of the former Fuerte Pudeto in Cerro Los Placeres, Valparaíso. The neo-Gothic style campus is considered one of the most significant architectural works in Chile in the 20th century, designed by architects Josué Smith Solar and José Smith Miller, renowned for other important projects like Hotel Carrera and the Club Hípico de Santiago.

UTFSM attracts students of the highest caliber from various locations. Currently, the university has over twelve thousand students enrolled in undergraduate and postgraduate programs, post-degree courses, and evening programs. The academic faculty includes over 250 full-time professors and numerous part-time professors spread across its campuses and branches.

The university is recognized for its intensive research in various areas, including environmental studies, economics, business administration, chemistry of natural products, chemical and environmental engineering, food engineering, biotechnology, renewable energy, electronics, physics, telecommunications engineering, materials technology, earthquake-resistant structures, software development, product design, architecture, construction, and aeronautical sciences.

UTFSM operates as a private foundation and follows the general legislation applicable to Chilean universities, as well as its own statutes. It upholds the vision of its founder, Federico Santa María Carrera, by striving for academic excellence and emphasizing accessibility for students who possess the required aptitude and attitude but lack sufficient financial means.

The university conducts its academic, research, and extension activities through its main campus, Santiago campuses (Vitacura and San Joaquín), Rancagua campus, Guayaquil campus in Ecuador, the Academy of Aeronautical Sciences, and the Schools of University Technicians "José Miguel Carrera" in Viña del Mar and "Rey Balduino de Bélgica" in Concepción.

Dr. Juan Yuz Eissmann is the current rector of the university for the period 2022-2026. UTFSM has a notable history of rectors, and some of them have played crucial roles in shaping the institution. The university's admission process mainly relies on the scores obtained in the University Selection Test, with the minimum required score for engineering and science programs being approximately 650 points, equivalent to the top 10% of national scores.