Universidad Panamericana

Mexico is a traveler's paradise, crammed with a multitude of opposing identities: desert landscapes, snow-capped volcanoes, ancient ruins, teeming industrialized cities, time-warped colonial towns, glitzy resorts, lonely beaches and an incomparable collection of flora and fauna. While Mexico is ethnically and culturally diverse, with an estimated population of about 106 million, it is the most populous Spanish-speaking country in the world.

UP has four campuses: two located in Mexico City, one in Guadalajara, and one in Aguascalientes.

Mexico City (Main Campus)

Once the center of the Aztec empire, Mexico City is now the political, financial, and cultural capital of Mexico. Monuments, parks, fountains and tree-lined avenues are everywhere. The city's architecture is a blend of ancient ruins, colonial buildings, and modern structures. Rich heritage is evident almost everywhere, with museums around almost every corner. The city is an energetic metropolis, hosting international art fairs and showcasing a flourishing street art culture.

Guadalajara

Guadalajara is an incredibly diverse city that is both modern and historic. As the second largest city in México, with a population of over 3 million, Guadalajara is a busy metropolis and a major Mexican business center. Although the city has a busy pace, things always seem to remain serene. There are many places in Guadalajara that feel like stepping back in time to a different era. The Guadalajara area is known as the birthplace of the world famous Mariachi bands and also as the home of the Mexican hat dance.

Aguascalientes (Smallest Campus)

Aguascalientes, meaning "hot waters," boasts a central location, warm climate (about 26°C year round), and a healthy economy. Aguascalientes' roots lie in the early days of Spanish influence, reflected in its historic city centre. The city is home to numerous museums, art galleries, and colonial architecture that showcase its rich heritage. Whether it is attending the Feria de San Marcos, relaxing in thermal baths, exploring the incredible cuisine, or visiting the nearby mountains, there is always something to do in Aguascalientes.

The Universidad Panamericana is a leading private university, established in 1967 and consisting of four campuses.

• Main campus: located just south of Mexico City, with beautiful 17th century buildings and floral gardens
• Second campus: located on the outskirts of Guadalajara.
• Aguascalientes campus: the smallest campus, offering a highly personalized learning environment
• Ciudad Panamericana: the newest campus, added in 2021

UP's Business graduate school, IPADE, is one of Mexico's leading graduate business schools and has close ties with Harvard Business School. As a part of our exchange agreement, IPADE offers scholarships to U of L students wishing to complete their two year MBA program.

Exchange students at UP are required to take one semester-long Spanish language course and five courses in total.

Most courses are taught in the morning and in the evening. Few classes are available in the afternoon, as many local students or professors work elsewhere during this time. 

All courses are taught in Spanish with the exception of some business courses, which can be taken in English on certain campuses. See brochure for more details.

Undergraduate programs include:

• School of Fine Arts
• Business and Management
• School of Communications
• School of Governance and Economics
• School of Food Business Management
• School of Education
• Faculty of Health Sciences
• School of Law
• School of Business Administration
• School of Philosophy
• School of Engineering
• Applied Mathematics
• Quantitative Finance

You are eligible for this exchange if you are:

• A full-time U of L student
• In at least the 2nd year of your program
• In good academic standing, with a GPA of 2.5 or higher
• Fluent in Spanish (successfully completed at least three university-level Spanish courses); exchange students at UP cannot take more than two of their five courses in English

Canadian citizens or landed immigrants who wish to enroll in a Mexican university must obtain a student visa. Within 30 days of arrival in Mexico, the student must register at the National Registry of Foreign Citizens, National Institute of Immigration of the Ministry of the Interior (Instituto Nacional de Migración, Secretaría de Gobernación).

For a step-by-step visa application guide click here.

For further details about this visa contact the Consular Office of Mexico in Calgary

• Phone: (403) 264-1259
• Email: mailto:concalgary@sre.gob.mx
• Website: https://consulmex.sre.gob.mx/calgary/

For detailed information about vaccination recommendations when visiting Mexico, please visit the Government of Canada's website.

Homestay

• Cost: approx. USD $500/month (Aguascalientes), USD $450–600/month (Guadalajara), and USD $350–550/month (Mexico City)
• Includes room and board

Private Housing

• Aguascalientes International Relations staff can arrange off-campus private housing (apartment or shared house)
• Cost: starting at USD $150/month
• Students wishing to live in private housing in Guadalajara or Mexico City must make their own arrangements

The cheapest transportation in the city is the bus. The Universidad Panamericana sells student bus tickets. Meters are usually not used in taxis, so it is best to settle on a price before getting into one. For longer out-of-town trips, the Mexican bus system is clean, modern, and inexpensive.

Students going on an exchange pay regular U of L tuition and fees. For up-to-date tuition information, visit the U of L's Financial Services website.