Admission to the University
Admission to UCA (“José Simeón Cañas” Central American University)


There are three ways to join UCA:

  • As a new college students
  • As a transferred student
  • As a returning student
  • As a listener

Admission process for new students
This is the process you have to follow if you are going to a university for the first time. You have to apply to an admissions process that includes selection tests and pre-university courses.

The results of the selection tests are the ones that determine whether the students are admitted to the University. However, all the students that are accepted are required to take a mandatory, pre-university course.

To enter the first semester, which begins in March, the selection tests are carried out in October and the pre-university courses in January and February of that year. To enter the second semester, which begins in August, the selection trials are held in April and the pre-university courses begin in June and end in July. Registration for second term this year will take place on Tuesday, March 8 through Friday, April 29, 2011.

The requirements are:

Selection tests

  • Present a high school diploma or its equivalent abroad (original and photocopy to compare).
  • If the diploma was obtained abroad, it must be authenticated and validated in the Ministry of Education in this country, where they will ask for a birth certificate and school grades or grades of their corresponding foreign country authenticated.
  • Submit a photograph of 3.5 cm. x 4.5 cm., known as the passport size photo.
  • Cancel the registration fee for the selection tests and purchase an information CD ($ 26.00).
  • Complete the application form for new students
  • Perform selection tests:
    • Saturday April 30, 2011: psychological skills.
    • Saturday May 7, 2011: academic skills and specific knowledge.

Pre-university courses

  • Have completed the selection tests satisfactorily
  • Pay the registration fee for the pre-university course ($ 70.00).
  • Attend the pre-university course (Monday May 30 to Friday July 8, 2011, 6 weeks) which covers two areas of study:
  • Studying and learning strategies for all students.
  • Basic Mathematics for students in the Schools of Economics and Business and Engineering and Architecture.
  • Writing Techniques and Oral Expression for students in the School of Social Sciences and Humanities.

The marks obtained in the pre-university courses will determine the academic workload (number and type of classes) that each student can take in the first semester. It is therefore important to have the best possible performance in that course.

Vocational Diagnose
The Admission Center at UCA performs psychological tests for ninth grade or high school students to complete the Vocational Diagnose and to identify:

  • their best skills and their main vocational interests;
  • high school or college where you can get a better education according to your interests;
  • the profession in which they will be more successful, according to their abilities and vocational preferences.

Remember the following

  • choose the date on which you can make your career diagnosis tests;
  • look up for the cost of the diagnosis tests by calling the admissions office of the admissions Center; Sleep at least 8 continuous hours the night before the test administration;
  • have a healthy  and complete breakfast on the day of the examination;
  • arrive on time the day you choose to take the test.

If interested, select the most convenient date for your vocational diagnose examination:

  • Saturday, November 6, 2010
  • Saturday, November 20, 2010
  • Saturday, November 27, 2010
  • Saturday, December 4, 2010
  • Saturday, January 8, 2011
  • Saturday January 15, 2011
  • Saturday January 22, 2011
  • *Saturday January 29, 2011
  • Saturday, February 5, 2011
  • Saturday February 12, 2011
  • Saturday February 19, 2011
  • Saturday February 26, 2011
  • Saturday, March 5, 2011
  • Saturday March 12, 2011
  • Saturday March 19, 2011
  • Saturday March 26, 2011
  • Saturday April 2, 2011
  • Saturday, April 9, 2011
  • Saturday May 14, 2011
  • Saturday May 21, 2011
  • Saturday May 28, 2011

For more information on this psychological service, visit the Admission Office, located on the first floor of the Central Administration Building or call at 2210-6644 or 2210-6600 ext. 248.

You can also write to: odonas@uca.edu.sv; admisiones@uca.edu.sv

As a transferred student

The university admits students to transfer credits from other local or foreign universities, provided they are legally recognized.

You may apply to enter the university by transfer credits if you are a college student who has already completed credits in other institutions of higher education, whether at home or abroad, legally authorized and with an approved curriculum.

The requirements are:

  • To have completed at least four courses at the University of origin.
  • Fill an out an application for transfer credits and pay the appropriate fee in the Treasury office
  • Submit a certification of grades of all subjects taken at other universities. If foreign, the certificate must be duly authenticated by the Ministry of Education and Foreign Affairs Department.
  • Present the syllabus of all subjects properly authenticated.
  • If you wish to enter by transfer credits to your undergraduate program, you must submit a photocopy of high school diploma degree in letter size (along with the original to confront). If the diploma was obtained abroad it must be authenticated and validated by the Ministry of Education of El Salvador.
  • If the person wishes to enter for a graduate degree by transfer credits he/she must submit the professional qualification and certification of letters of studies, both authenticated. If the degree was obtained abroad must be authenticated and duly incorporated by the Ministry of Education in this country.

Note: If the country of origin is subscribed to the Hague Convention of 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents, this university only requires that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of that country     issue a seal on the documents to authenticate. This is a disclamer for any type of legalization they may require later. If the country of origin did not subscribe to this Convention, the documents must be authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of that country, the Consulate of El Salvador in the country and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of El Salvador.

The period for application to enter the university by transfer credits is each year for the first semester from November to the first week of January and for the second semester from the second half of May to first week of June.

The academic semesters to begin university studies begin in March (term 01) and August (term 02).

Returning students

This procedure is followed by the people who have been students of this university and withdrew from the university for at least one full term. If you want to re-enter to a different major from the one followed before leaving the university, you must start the process of major change.

The person who has graduated from the University and wishes to explore a new career, can do this as a student for readmission at the beginning of each school year, always within the periods specified in the UCA academic calendar.

The period for returning students formalities for the first semester takes place each year from November to the first week of January and the second semester from the second half of May the first week of June.

The requirements are:

  • Complete application for readmission.
  • Pay the corresponding fees.
  • Submit final payment stub to the treasurer
  • Submit library solvency (requested one day in advance)

GENERAL Information

In the administrative building of the university you will be given the forms for each procedure, in all cases, it will be required to present two passport photographs and the payment of these fees.

Listener Student

A listener is every person who, without being officially enrolled at the University, is admitted by a Dean to take one or more subjects.
The students enrolled in this category are not able to receive any type of credits or grade certificates from the University.
Students must submit their application at the Faculty and pay for the corresponding fee at the Treasury, the application will be subject to the decision of the Dean who will assess the candidate's reasons and space availability.

Payment system for university studies
For students in undergraduate programs, UCA has established a system of payment by differentiated quotas, which consists of stating your paymet based on an assessment of the socioeconomic conditions of your household.

The quota is within a reasonable pay scale that combines both the high cost of quality higher education with the financial resources of the families of the students..

For students who join UCA in 2011, the value of tuition, per cycle, is $ 78.00 and monthly dues are $ 50.00, $ 71.00, $ 83.00, $ 108.00, $ 136.00, $ 163.00, $ 190.00 , $ 218.00 and $ 247.00. The optional fee is $ 272.00 per month. This last installment is also applied to those students who fail to submit an individual socio-economic survey, the date specified. In addition, a fee for use of laboratories is paid. These rates apply only to undergraduate programs. Masters and PhD have different rates.

Spanish Courses for Foreigners
School of Languages at UCA offers courses in Spanish language. The duration of each course is 40 hours. The Spanish program is composed of nine levels, three basic, three intermediate and three advanced courses. The student may take a placement test that is administered at the time of registration.

For the academic year 2011 each course costs $ 68.00 and the placement test $ 4.00.

Housing
The university has no facilities on campus, but there are shelters and university residences around the university. The approximate cost of these homes is $ 300.00 per month, which includes room and board.

"Only rooms" are also available within walking distance of the university. Students can find a furnished room for $ 100.00 to $ 170.00 monthly all-inclusive. Unfurnished rooms for $ 80.00 to $ 100.00 are also available.

Rent
A house of 3 or 4 bedroom costs $ 250.00 to $ 300.00 can be rented by a group of people. The monthly payment on a home does not include utilities.

Laundry
Most sites charge $ 5.00 for laundry washing clothes 15 pieces.

Food, bottled water and cleaning supplies
Depending on the type of diet, students spend $ 150.00 to $ 200.00 per month per person.

For more information, please contact:

Olga Patricia Doñas
Head of Admissions
odonas@uca.edu.sv


Laura Margarita Sa
Transfer Admissions
regacad@uca.edu.sv

Or write:
Universidad Centroamericana "José Simeón Cañas"
General Secretary PO (01) 168
San Salvador, El Salvador