Information general

The maximum grade that can be received at the University of Azuay is 50 points, the minimum passing grade is 30 points. Students can receive grade equivalency of 50 points in GPA and Letters: 

It is recommended that students obtain international medical insurance for the entire study period at the University of Azuay in their home country before traveling. In case the student needs local medical insurance, the Department of International Relations of the University of Azuay will provide the corresponding advice.

BIKES

There is currently a public bicycle network, however it does not reach every corner of the city. The majority of streets and avenues do not have a separate place dedicated to them, although their circulation in car areas is allowed. Some main avenues, such as Solano or Remigio Crespo have special bicycle lanes, either in a separate lane or on the sidewalk. Use caution when using this means of transport, especially on high-traffic roads.

AIR TRANSPORT

Cuenca has the Mariscal Lamar Airport, located north of the city. Currently only receives domestic flights from the cities of Quito and Guayaquil. The companies that operate the route to Quito are LATAM Ecuador and TAME EP and they do it every day. In Guayaquil the service is lower and it is only operated by TAME EP. You can find more information at www.aeropuertocuenca.ec.

RENT A CAR

The companies that offer this service are located especially in the area near the Airport. To rent it is necessary to have at least 18 years, a driving license recognized by Ecuador and to take out insurance.

TOWARD THE CENTRAL CAMPUS

UDA's Central Campus is located south of the city.

ARRIVING IN PRIVATE VEHICLES AND MOTORCYCLES

The main access roads are Av. 24 de Mayo, Calle Hernán Malo and Av. Circunvalación Sur. UDA has a private parking space with space for approximately 250 vehicles. In addition, there is also a public parking lot with space of about 100 vehicles in front of the main entrance and other private parking lots to the surroundings. It is also allowed to park in the surrounding streets. Parking lots usually charge a price of $ 1 per ticket and caretakers of nearby streets $ 0,50. In the case of motorcycles, the cost is less or even free.

CAMPUS HOSPITAL DEL RÍO

The Hospital del Río campus is located within the hospital facilities, northeast of the city.

ARRIVING IN PRIVATE VEHICLES AND MOTORCYCLES

The main access routes are Av. 24 de Mayo, Av. De las Américas and Av. Circunvalación Sur. The hospital has its own parking lot that students can access.

ARRIVING IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND BIKES

The 11, 16 and 50 bus lines arrive and depart directly from the hospital's exterior. It is not advisable to go by bicycle if you plan to use Av. De las Américas or Av. Circunvalación Sur since these roads have high traffic and do not have an exclusive space dedicated to bicycles.

CONNECTION WITH THE CENTRAL CAMPUS

The 16 bus line is the most direct connection between the two campuses. You can also use other means such as taxis.

Cuenca, officially Santa Ana de los Rios de Cuenca and known as "the Athens of Ecuador" because of its cultural importance, is a city located in the southern zone of the Republic of Ecuador. It is located at an altitude of 2 500 meters above sea level and has a spring-like climate throughout the year with temperatures between 14ºC and 18ºC. It has a population of more than 500 000 inhabitants in the whole canton, of which 350 near 000 are located in its urban area. The city is known for its historic center, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO; its museums, its churches, its architecture, the rivers that surround the city, the nearby natural areas such as El Cajas National Park; its cultural activities, the archaeological ruins of Inca and Cañari origin as Pumapungo, among others.

The city was built on the ruins of the Inca city of Tomebamba, which in turn was built on the ruins of the Cañari city of Guapondelig. In this area today is located the historic center of the city, of Spanish origin and born with its founding in the sixteenth century.

The city is the capital of Azuay Province, which also has many attractions in its other cantons. In its western part it has cities with coastal climate like Santa Isabel, with temperatures that pass the 26ºC and in its eastern part cantons specialized in the artisan production of products such as jewelry and shoes.

More information is available in https://ecuador.travel/es/ and www.cuenca.com.ec.

CULTURE

There are many events and places for the promotion of culture in the city. Cuenca is known as "Atenas del Ecuador" partly because of its cultural aspect. Museums, archaeological sites, heritage buildings, squares, craft markets, churches and more places abound in the city.

NATURE

El Cajas National Park is the biggest reference in terms of activities in nature near the city but it is not the only one. Other places, such as Laguna de Busa, El Chorro or even a visit to more distant places such as the Galapagos Islands or the Amazon are interesting options. There are also routes in the urban area.

FEEDING

Great variety of food places that offer all kinds of food and prices exist in the city. In terms of prices, it is possible to get lunches from prices of $ 2,00 to $ 4,00. The most expensive restaurants usually offer dishes with prices above $ 25,00. It is not advisable to eat in street stalls since they do not always meet the requirements in health issues. Be careful with dishes that you have not tried before.

TOURISTIC BUS

Some tourist agencies offer scheduled tour bus services among their services. They usually start from stops established at different times in the mornings, afternoons and evenings. The buses usually start at times with great difference between each route, so the payment is usually made by full travel, without the possibility of switching to other buses at any stop (the hop-on hop-off service is not usually available).

ADVENTURE TRIP

There are activities such as bungee jumping, paragliding, canopy, canyoning, among others available in the province, a short distance from Cuenca.

For more information you can consult the page https://ecuador.travel/es/ o https://www.cuencaecuador.com.ec/.

ACCOMMODATION

SUITES AND APARTMENTS FOR RENT

There are suites and apartments for rent in Cuenca that can be rented in periods of weeks or months. There are furnished and unfurnished options. Prices vary between $ 300 to $ 700.

LIVING WITH A FAMILY

There are families interested in receiving foreign students. A representative of the Department of International Relations visits the houses and preferably those located near the University are offered. 

These families can provide accommodation at lower prices than apartment rentals or within hotels. The approximate cost is $ 15 per night or $ 360 if it is per month.

HOUSES FOR STUDENTS AND HOSTELS

There are houses and hostels in which foreigners and students from other universities usually arrive. The cost per night is usually between $ 10 to $ 20, including in some cases breakfast. The rooms can be individual or shared.

HOTELS

There is a great diversity of hotels and hostels in the city of Cuenca of various categories. The most expensive hotels usually cost more than $ 100 per night, depending on the time of year in which the reservation is made. Additional information is available on the page www.hotelescuencaecuador.com of the Azuay Hotel Association.

COST OF LIVING

The cost of living depends on the expenses that the person makes. The expenses shown below are only indicative and the UDA is not responsible for the use that is given to them.

Approximate monthly spend is usually between $ 500 to $ 600. Below is an approximate cost of $ 575 based on the following information:

Accommodation: $ 270

Transportation: $ 50

Feeding: $ 120

Cell phone plan with internet: $ 15

Leisure: $ 60

Additional costs: $ 60

This estimate is made considering the use of public transport, food in low-price places, low cost cell phone plans and additional expenses, including purchases, minors.

REDUCING LIVING EXPENSES

To reduce the cost of living it is necessary to take into account the following recommendations. When moving within the city try to do it on foot or by bus, they are the cheapest alternatives. Similarly, you can get lower prices for accommodation if you move away from the city center and share with other people. As for food, if you buy and prepare your own food you can reduce costs. In the markets of the city it is possible to get food at lower prices although you have to be careful with the quality of the food, especially if you have not consumed it before. Marketers in the markets like to negotiate prices so they can get better costs than in large chain stores like Supermaxi or Coral.

HOW CAN LIVING EXPENSES INCREASE?

The cost of living in the city of Cuenca is high by national standards, although internationally it may seem cheap. This is why it is important to measure the consumption of food in restaurants and alcoholic beverages because it may be attracted by low costs, but they can accumulate at the end of the month. The use of taxis to move can also increase the cost. Also, if you are looking for accommodation near the center of the city, the costs can increase significantly.

NOTIFY US BEFORE YOUR ARRIVAL

For information on accommodation available in any category and special discounts in the case of hotels and hostels, please send an email to international@uazuay.edu.ec to receive advice.

LIBRARY

The University of Azuay has the Hernán Malo Library, one of the largest libraries in the city, with a wide variety of academic content. In order to carry out research, the University offers computers with Internet access to its students. 

To access the great diversity of books, you must provide an identification document: Identity Card, Passport or Student Card.

Schedules: 08: 00 to 13: 30 / 14: 00 to 21: 00

WIFI AND TECHNOLOGICAL RESOURCES

The entire campus has high speed WIFI coverage, to get your username and password ask upon arrival. Computers are available for use in the offices of student associations and in the library.

The university has an application available for iPhone and Android that allows access to news, campus information and query notes under the name of UDA.

FEEDING

There are two cafeterias on the central campus as well as one on the Hospital del Río campus. In the Central Cafeteria there are two food stores, with healthy, vegetarian and other options.

Food venues are also located next to the central campus.

Times: 07: 00 - 21: 00 (Central Campus).

HEALTH AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT

There is a medical and dental department that provides free service to all students of the UDA. There is also a psychological assistance service available. 

Hours: 07:00 - 12:00 / 14:00 - 21:00 (Medical), 12:00 - 13:00 / 15:00 - 17:00 (Dentistry), 08:30 - 12:30 (Psychological support ).

COPIES AND PRINTS

There are two centers of copies and impressions in the central campus. One located in the B1 Philosophy Building and the other in the A1 Central Administration. 

STUDENT LIFE

Studying at the UDA is to study in an environment of cultural diversity. 

Our more than 6600 students come from different ethnic groups and places in the country, with people coming from as far away as the Ecuadorian Amazon or the Galapagos Islands. 

For a foreign student is the opportunity to know different realities and customs that will allow you to understand the world in a different way.

• University Hospital of the River

(593 7) 2459555

Av. 24 de Mayo and Av. De las Américas

• Medical Corporation Mount Sinai

Miguel Cordero Dávila 6-140 and Av. Solano

(593 7) 2814813

• Clinica Santa Ana

Av. 12 of April 1-104 and Av. Paucarbamba

(593 7) 4103333

• Paucarbamba Medical Specialties Clinic

Av. Paucarbamba 4-138 and Santiago Carrasco

(593 7) 2818111

• Santa Inés Hospital

Av. Daniel Córdova and Agustín Cueva

(593 7) 2827888

• IESS Regional Hospital José Carrasco Arteaga

Popayán and Andean Pact

(593 7) 2861500

• Vicente Corral Moscoso Hospital (Public)

Av. Los Arupos and Av. 12 de Abril

(593 7) 4096000

Clear

www.claro.com.ec

Movistar

www.movistar.com.ec

CNT EP

www.cnt.gob.ec

Tuenti

www.tuenti.ec

EP STAGE

www.etapa.net.ec;

Note: To dial a landline in Ecuador from a cell phone, you need to prefix the 0 number plus the area code. In the case of Azuay, the area code is 7. 

(593 7) 1234567> 0 7 1234567

To dial international numbers, precede the + or 00 sign followed by the country code and the number you wish to dial.

• Mall del Río

Av. Felipe II and Av. Circunvalación Sur

(Less than 5 minutes in UDA vehicle)

• Monay Shopping 

Av. González Suárez and Emiliano Zapata

• Racar Plaza

Av. Abelardo J. Andrade

• Multiplaza Miraflores

Av. Elia Liut

• Millenium Plaza

Cornelio Merchán 2-13 and Av. José Peralta

• Plaza de las Americas

Av. De las Américas and del Tejar

• CC El Vergel

Alfonso Cordero 2-66 and Av. Manuel J. Calle

Requirements for the student visa: 

• Passport (must be valid at least 6 months after arrival)
• Passport size photo
• Letter of acceptance from the university in Ecuador
• Proof of sufficiency of funds
• Legal request of the representative if the student is a minor

Visa validity:

Minimum 6 months, maximum 1 year (can be renewed). The effective date will depend on the institution where the application was made (Zonal Department: from the date of issue; Consulate of Ecuador abroad: from the date of entry to Ecuador). 

Type of visa: Multiple entry.

costs:

Application fee: $ 50 non-refundable

Visa cost: $ 100

Important: The visa application is a personal procedure.