The Dominican Republic is the most popular destination in the Caribbean and one of the fastest-growing economies in the region.
However, this country is much more than touristic beaches in Punta Cana and sandy beaches. Baseball, bachata, merengue, delicious food, traditional celebrations, and kind people are some of the best elements of the Dominican culture.
This is why the Dominican Republic is a great place for international students because they will be able to discover a whole different world. And, of course, universities in the Dominican Republic are very cheap.
The government of the Dominican Republic has been making important efforts to better their education system and improve the performance of their students. As a result, public universities are free for local students. Many private institutions have been opened in recent years. They have established cooperation programs with universities abroad to offer more programs.
In this article, we listed the cheap universities you can consider if you want to study in the Dominican Republic.
How Much Does it Cost to Study in Dominican Republic for International Students?
The tuition fee at Dominican universities for international students may range from USD 1,500 to USD 5,000 anually. The exact fees depend on your degree, program and institution.
Next, if we’re talking about the cost of living for international students, starting from accommodation, travel and food, it may range from USD 600 to USD 1,000. You can also prepare for language courses and other expenses in your chosen university.
Check Also: Available Programs for International Students
Is Education Free for International Students at Dominican Universities?
No. International students are required to pay the tuition and other educational fees in the Domican Republic. The free tuition fees are only applicable for local students.
On a brighter side, scholarships are open to international students. In each university, you can check for scholarships that are open to both local and international students.
The Higher Education System in the Dominican Republic
Bachelor’s degree programs in the Dominican Republic last from three to five years. Programs in the technology and health fields last for no less than four years. In the case of medicine, programs usually last for six years, which includes a year of hospital internships.
Specializations last for a year and master’s degree programs usually last for two years. The amount of doctorate degree programs are not very large. In general, these are offered in affiliation with universities abroad or are only available in specific areas, like medicine.
It has five public higher education institutions, which include the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD), the most important in the country. There are also around 40 private universities.
The Admissions Process at Universities in the Dominican Republic
The admissions process at Dominican universities depends on the institution. Public universities usually have entrance exams, but some private universities don’t have them.
In some cases, you’ll only have to fill out an application form online, submit the documents and wait for the results. This process may also include interviews. Before your admission process, make sure to complete the requirements or documents needed for your application. Usually, they will require you to present academic records, passports, and visa-related documents.
The Language of Instruction at Dominican Universities
The official language in this country is Spanish; therefore, that’s the language of instruction at most universities. Finding a program that is entirely taught in English will be hard, especially at public universities. So, this is a good destination for those who want to learn Spanish or already speak it.
There are a few international campuses in the country that have programs in English or universities with assistance in this language. We’ll only include universities that have information available in English in our list.
Tuition Fees at Dominican Universities
As we mentioned above, public universities are completely funded by the state, so they are free for local students. Tuition fees for international students at public and private universities are usually between 1,500 USD to 5,000 USD. It depends on the way the university calculates fees, which could be per year, per semester, or every four months. Compared to universities in other countries, the universities in the Dominican Republic are very cheap.
Living Costs in the Dominican Republic
The official currency of this country is the Dominican Peso (DOP). As for 2019,10,000 DOP are around 192 USD.
Depending on the area, renting a one-bedroom apartment can cost between 200 USD and 450 USD. Prices rise significantly close to the city center and in most tourist areas. In the case of transportation, if you use public transportation, your budget should be around 40 USD per month.
As for food, you should budget between 100 USD to 160 USD if you live alone. Some products are affordable, like vegetables in local markets, but many things are imported.
Cheap Universities in the Dominican Republic
1. Santo Domingo Institute of Technology (INTEC)
Established almost 50 years ago, the Santo Domingo Institute of Technology (INTEC) is a private higher institution located in the capital city.
This cheap university in the Dominican Republic offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in the areas of health sciences, engineering, economy and businesses, basic and environmental sciences, and social sciences and humanities.
They also have international programs in affiliation with universities in the U.S. in the areas of engineering. For post-graduate international programs, they are affiliated with universities in Puerto Rico, Spain, and Costa Rica.
The admissions process includes submitting all the documents listed here and taking an academic entrance exam and an English exam. The last one is not required if you have an English proficiency certificate.
Tuition fees are calculated per trimester. For international students, the cost per trimester plus registration and laboratories is 17,200 DOP (330 USD approx.).
2. Technological Institute of the Americas (ITLA)
Founded almost 20 years ago in 200, the Technological Institute of the Americas (ITLA) offers short majors, courses, and certificates.
This affordable university in the Dominican Republic has programs that last from two to three years with an additional internship. They are specialized in the field of technology, in areas such as manufacturing, software, networks, and data sciences, among others.
This institute has residences for 280 students, which cost between 2,500 and 3,500 DOP per month. It also has its own system of transportation.
Besides submitting the required documents, admissions include an entrance exam, an English exam, and a math course.
Tuition fees are calculated according to credits. Programs are divided into periods of four months, and payments are divided into three installments. Programs have between 126 to 181 credits, and each credit costs 520 DOP (10 USD). This means that the total cost of programs is between 65,520 DOP (1,300 USD) 94,120 DOP (1,810 USD).
Visit their website to learn more, and don’t forget to select your preferred language by clicking the flags next to the search box in the upper bar.
3. Charles Bekeev International University (CBIU)
The Charles Bekeev International University (CBIU) is an international higher institution with three campuses in the U.K., Nigeria, and the Dominican Republic.
Programs at this cheap university in the Dominican Republic were designed by following the British model, and most of the materials and books used are also British.
The campus in Puerto Plata is a Business School that grants bachelor’s degrees in International Business Management, Leadership and Management, Social Policy, and Sociology, among others.
The admissions process is very simple. Students only have to submit the required documents, fill out an online form, and wait for the results. If the student gets an offer of admission, they will have to go through an interview to be admitted.
Tuition fees are expressed in British Pounds (GBP). Undergraduate degree programs cost 2,500 GBP (3,080 USD approx.) per year. Masters’s degree programs cost 3,000 GBP (3,700 USD approx.) per course, and Ph.D. programs cost 5,000 GBP (6,200 USD approx.) per course. Contact them to learn more.
We hope that this article on cheap universities in the Dominican Republic was helpful. To know more information on studying abroad, check out the Available Programs for International Students.
