Bolivia (BO)

Bolivia is South America's highest and most landlocked country — a plurinational state of dramatic contrasts, from the world's highest navigable lake (Titicaca at 3,812m) and the vast salt flats of Uyuni to the tropical Amazon basin.

Capital: Sucre

Region: Americas

Language: Spanish

Currency: BOB (Bs.)

Cost of living: Very affordable (index 24)

Emergency: 110

Education & Schools

Schools, universities, and language courses in Bolivia.

👶 Childcare & Kindergarten

CDI — Centro de Desarrollo Infantil (public) Free (state-subsidised)

Age: 0–5

Subsidy available

SEDEGES (Servicio Departamental de Gestión Social) runs free CDIs in most municipalities. Priority given to low-income families. Places very limited.

Birth certificate, vaccination card (Carnet de Salud), parents' ID cards. Register at nearest CDI or SEDEGES municipal office.

⏱️ Register early (January for March start) at your municipal SEDEGES office. Demand far exceeds supply in La Paz and Santa Cruz.

Private nursery / jardín de infantes Bs.500–2,500/month depending on prestige

Age: 1–5

Direct application to school. Bring birth certificate, vaccination card, medical certificate. Many La Paz premium nurseries require interview and income verification.

International school early years USD 200–600/month

Age: 3–5

Apply directly 6–12 months in advance. Admission may require child assessment. Full documents (birth certificate, vaccinations, previous school records) in English and Spanish.

🏫 Schools

Primary school Free

Educación Primaria Comunitaria Vocacional

Ages: 6–11 (Grades 1–6) · Language: Spanish (with indigenous language instruction in indigenous areas)

Registration at local Unidad Educativa with birth certificate, vaccination card and parent ID. Free for Bolivian citizens and legal residents. Quality varies significantly — urban schools better than rural.

Public primary school is generally not recommended for expat children who do not speak Spanish fluently. International schools are a far better option for non-Spanish speakers. Public school requires Bolivian birth certificate or equivalency document (equiparación) for foreign children.

Secondary school Free

Educación Secundaria Comunitaria Productiva

Ages: 12–17 (Grades 7–12) · Language: Spanish

Registration at Unidad Educativa with previous year's report card (libreta), ID documents. Bachillerato (secondary leaving certificate) awarded after Grade 12.

Private Bolivian secondary schools (colegios privados) offer better quality: San Calixto, La Salle, Colegio Alemán (German school with IB programme). Annual fees: Bs.10,000–35,000/year.

International Schools

La Paz: American Cooperative School (ACS) — US curriculum, grades PreK–12, approx. USD 4,000–7,000/year, strong expat community at acslp.org. Santa Cruz Cooperative School (SCCS) — US curriculum, PreK–12, USD 4,000–8,000/year at sccs.net. Cochabamba: Colegio Calvert — US curriculum, established 1969. La Paz also has Colegio Alemán (German curriculum/IB), Liceo Francés (French curriculum), British School (British curriculum). These schools have waiting lists — apply 6–12 months in advance. Language barrier is not an issue as instruction is in English (American/British) or the respective foreign language.

University

Tuition fee

Public universities (UMSA La Paz, UAGRM Santa Cruz, UMSS Cochabamba): free tuition for Bolivian citizens and legal residents with equivalency. Private universities: Bs.500–3,000/month depending on programme. Notable: Universidad Católica Boliviana (UCB), Universidad Privada Boliviana (UPB), UPSA (Santa Cruz).

Semester fee

Public universities: no tuition fee + Bs.50–200 administrative fees per semester. Private universities: Bs.2,500–9,000/semester.

Student visa

Student visa (visa de estudiante) available for full-time enrolled students at Bolivian institutions. Grants temporary residence. Apply at Cancillería/Migration with university acceptance letter, financial support proof, and health insurance.

Health insurance

No mandatory student health insurance for university students. Join CNS through part-time employment or purchase private health insurance. The SUS (Sistema Único de Salud) provides free emergency care to all residents.

Application process

Public university (UMSA/UAGRM): sit the university entrance exam (examen de suficiencia) each February/March. Foreign diplomas require recognition (homologación) through MINEDU. Private universities: direct application year-round. Foreign students need residence permit and apostilled/translated transcripts.

🗣️ Language Courses

Centro Boliviano-Americano (CBA) Spanish courses

Provider: Centro Boliviano-Americano (CBA) — La Paz, Santa Cruz, Cochabamba · Duration: 3 months per level (A1–C2) · Levels: A1 to C2

Bs.600–1,200/month for group classes

Most established language school in Bolivia. US-backed binational centre. Also offers English courses and TOEFL/GRE preparation. La Paz: Avenida Arce 2132.

Alliance Française Spanish/French courses

Provider: Alliance Française La Paz / Santa Cruz · Duration: Ongoing by level · Levels: A1 to C2

Bs.500–1,000/month

French language and culture centre. Also teaches Spanish to non-speakers. Good expat social community.

Private Spanish tutors

Provider: Various — find via italki.com or local referrals · Duration: Flexible · Levels: All levels — particularly good for survival Spanish before arrival

USD 5–15/hour for in-person or online

Sucre is widely considered Bolivia's best city for Spanish immersion due to clear, accent-free pronunciation (castellano neutro). Many language schools in Sucre: Instituto de Idiomas de Sucre, Bolivia Spanish School.

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