How to Study Abroad in Mexico

Quick Answer

In this article you will learn all about studying abroad in Mexico and how to do so!

Questions This Article Answers

How to study abroad in Mexico?

Where to study in Mexico?

What are some Spanish words to talk about studying abroad?

Why Study Abroad?

Studying abroad is not only an excellent way to become a Spanish pro. It’s also a fantastic way to open your eyes to realities that were previously unknown to you. You’ll come home with a more open mind and a deeper understanding of what it is to be a citizen of this interconnected world.

How to Study Abroad in Mexico

Step 1: Decide Where to Go

Mexico is a big country, with a great deal of regional diversity. Let’s take a quick look at the major areas where you could go!

Mexico Cholula church and Popocatépetl

Mexico consists of 32 states. While we are not going to go state by state, we’ll take a look at larger geographical subdivisions of the country.

Northern Mexico

Northern Mexico includes the states of Baja California(Baja California), Sonora(Sonora), Chihuahua(Chihuahua), Coahuila(Coahuila), Nuevo León(Nuevo Leon), and Tamaulipas(Tamaulipas).

Monterrey(Monterrey), in Nuevo León is often cited as a major educational hub in the north. In fact, Tecnológico de Monterrey(Monterrey Technological University) is one of the top universities in the world! The north is one of the warmer regions in the country, and the land is more arid than in other parts of Mexico.

Northwestern Mexico

Northwestern Mexico includes the states of Baja California Sur(Baja California Sur), Sinaloa(Sinaloa), Nayarit(Nayarit), Durango(Durango), and Zacatecas(Zacatecas).

The city of Durango, located in the state of Durango, is an ideal location for outdoorsy types. The region of Durango is not only rich in cultural history, but also offers gorgeous landscapes such as mountains, canyons, and waterfalls.

Central-Northern Mexico

Central-Northern Mexico includes the states of Jalisco(Jalisco), Aguascalientes(Aguascalientes), Colima(Colima), Michoacán(Michoacán), and San Luis Potosí(San Luis Potosí).

Guadalajara(Guadalajara), located in the state of Jalisco is a great spot for students. It’s the second-largest city in the country, with around 1.5 million residents. Compare that to the nearly 9 million residents in Mexico City, and it’s obvious that Guadalajara is great for those looking for a city but not a major metropolis.

Morelia(Morelia), the capital of Michoacán, is also a very special place—so special, in fact, that it has been declared a UNESCO Cultural Heritage of Humanity site!

Central Mexico

Central Mexico includes the states of Guanajuato(Guanajuato), Querétaro(Querétero), Hidalgo(Hidalgo), Estado de México(State of Mexico), Ciudad de México(Mexico City), Morelos(Morelos), Tlaxcala(Tlaxcala), and Puebla(Puebla).

Cuernavaca(Cuernavaca), located in Morelos, is popular with students from around the world. It has a semitropical climate, making it a comfortable spot year-round. It’s an ideal location for history buffs, and its proximity to the mountains makes it a great spot for nature fans.

The city of Puebla, and surrounding towns like Cholula(Cholula), are ideal locations to study abroad. You’ll be in the shadow of the volcano Popocatépetl(Popocatépetl) and the dormant volcano mountain Iztaccíhuatl(Iztaccíhuatl) (also known as la mujer dormidaor the sleeping woman). You’ll have these stunning views from the historic downtown, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Southern Mexico

Southern Mexico includes the states of Guerrero(Guerrero), Oaxaca(Oaxaca), Chiapas(Chiapas), Veracruz(Veracruz), Tabasco(Tabasco), Campeche(Campeche), Yucatán(Yucatán), and Quintana Roo(Quintana Roo).

Southern Mexico has multiple locations that are popular with study-abroad students, one of which is Cancún(Cancún). While the city’s name may conjure images of spring break, Cancún is an ideal spot to study abroad. It’s a great place to study the local history, given its relative proximity to Tulum(Tulum) and Chichén Itzá(Chichén Itzá)!

If you’d rather escape the beach-resort vibes, be sure to check out the city of Oaxaca, located in the state of the same name. Like other cities previously mentioned, Oaxaca’s historical center has also been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site

If you need to brush up on your Spanish before you go, learn about the resources SpanishDictionary.com has for university students in this article.

Learn about Spanish words of Nahuatl origin, an indigenous Mexican language, in this article!

Santiago de Querétaro Mexico

Mexico is a foodie’s paradise—there’s no doubt about it. From tacosto top international chefs, the country has some of the best cuisine on the planet! Learn how to make Mexican tacos in this article.

Step 2: Pack Your Bags

Once you’ve been accepted, you can start making a list of things to pack. There is no need to go overboard, as you can easily find personal care items at local supermarkets and stores.

Step 3: Your First Day

The first day in Mexico can be daunting. Remember that you can always ask your host family or university for help! Asking for help when necessary can enrich the experience—be it help with the language or academics or help with navigating the culture.

¡Mucha suerte!(Best of luck!)

Spanish Words to Talk About Studying Abroad in Mexico

The following words and phrases will help you brush up on your academic vocabulary in Spanish:

Spanish	English	Notes
aprobar	to pass
alquilar	to rent
la asignatura	subject
el auxiliar, la auxiliar	assistant
la beca	scholarship, grant
el becario, la becaria	scholarship student, grant holder
el catedrático, la catedrática	professor
el crédito	credit
el departamento	apartment	Used in Latin America
el doctorado	doctorate
entregar	to turn in
la facultad	department
la familia de acogida	host family
la fecha límite	deadline
el grado	degree
el horario	schedule, timetable
la licenciatura	degree
la maestría	master’s degree	Used in Latin America
el máster	máster’s degree
la materia	subject
la matrícula	enrollment, tuition
el plazo	deadline
el postgrado	postgraduate degree
el profesor, la profesora	professor, teacher
reprobar	to fail	Used in Latin America
la residencia	dorm
el semestre	semester
titular	tenured, permanent

Are you looking for an interactive vocabulary list to study? Check out our list of college and university vocabulary!

No matter where you study in Mexico, you'll have the opportunity to learn a lot. It'll be a great chance to acquire better Spanish skills, and a greater understanding of this world. ¡Buen viaje! (Bon voyage!)