8 reasons to study abroad in Peru

Studying in Peru means you’ll have the opportunity to discover the country’s rich history and diverse culture which is reflected in its people, food, architecture, languages, religions and festive celebrations.

Carnaval is usually celebrated in the run up to Lent in February. It is one of the most celebrated holidays in Peru and is a time for family and friends to come together and eat, drink and party. Each city, town and neighbourhood have their own unique way of celebrating, which often involves water balloon fights!

From ceviche to cuy (guinea pig), Peru is full of rich culinary delights and one-of-a-kind gourmet experiences – so much so that it has been named a top culinary destination for eight years in a row. The country’s flavourful and innovative cuisine brings together distinctive combinations of spices and fresh local ingredients with international influences from Asia and Europe.

Peru is a former Spanish colony – hence Spanish being its official language. But it doesn’t stop there. Over 50 languages are spoken in Peru, including indigenous languages and English.

Although we aren’t advocating for you to become fluent in every language that’s spoken in Peru, having a good understanding and knowledge of Spanish will make your experience studying and living here even immersive. 

To encourage more international students to study in Peru, many Peruvian universities are offering English-taught degrees – including Universidad de Lima’s business school. Here, students can choose from a range of courses that are taught in English and are updated every semester.

Studying abroad means you will meet a wide range of people from all walks of life – some of whom might become lifelong friends. Sharing stories and experiences will help you develop a more global mindset which can benefit not just your personal development, but your professional development too.

Joining a university society or club is a great way to do this and is actively encouraged by the Universidad de Lima. Its Cultural Centre offers a programme that addresses current topics related to film, photography, literature, design, and architecture. The Cultural Centre is also part of the Performing Arts Festival (FAE) in the city of Lima which hosts a two-week public event which showcases various performing arts.

Students can also attend free, artistic workshops in Afro-Peruvian Dance, Andean and Amazon Dances, Northern Dance (Marinera), contemporary dance, drawing and cartoon, improv, music, musical ensemble, narrative and poetry, painting and drama.

While university can be some of the best years of your life, they can also be some of the most expensive (but you already knew that).

For those looking to head to Peru’s capital city of Lima, you might be pleased to learn that it ranked 22nd for affordability in the QS Best Student Cities 2019 ranking. This is largely due to the capital’s affordable tuition fees for international students and living costs compared to other student cities.

Lima is home to one of South America’s largest financial and industrial districts, attracting companies from all over the world to set up offices here. Employment opportunities for graduates are plentiful as a result and sees Lima rank in the top 50 in the employer activity indicator in the QS Best Student Cities 2019 ranking.