Degrees
23 Feb 2007
Técnico superior universitario
These higher technical programmes take two years of full time study and grant direct admission to the labour market. An internship is part of this programme. The degree makes a person eligible for licenciatura and exempts them from certain subjects.
Licenciatura
Licenciatura are undergraduate courses which normally require four years of study. Some licenciatura programmes take longer, for example architecture and medicine. They can take up to five or six years. Licenciatura programmes tend to be highly specialized, reflecting the emphasis on professional training. The licenciatura normally requires the successful completion of all coursework, as well as thesis and a period of social service. However, nowadays there are several possibilities to skip the thesis, especially in private universities. Some alternatives for doing a thesis are taking a specialization course or passing for the national (Ceneval) exam. Some universities exempt students from a thesis when they have excellent grades. The licenciatura is generally seen as the equivalent of a bachelors degree.
Maestría
Maestría programmes usually take two years of study and can be compared with a masters degree. A licenciatura is required to access a maestría programme. The maestría programme is far more research-oriented than the licenciatura. The degree can be obtained by completion of coursework and by doing a thesis.
Doctorado
A doctorate takes an average of three years. The doctorate is typically a programme of specialized research followed by a period of original research and the preparation and oral defense of a dissertation. A maestría or licenciatura degree is required to access the doctorate programme.