Exchange Students

International Affairs Office at UDLAP aims to attract the most outstanding students from all over the world. We expect these students to meet the following requirements:

1. To be currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at a university.
2. Have completed at least one full-year for undergraduate students or one semester for graduate students.
3. Have the official approval to study abroad from their home institution.

Step 1: Seek Approval

An Exchange Student willing to study at UDLAP for a semester, a year or more must be approved.

Step 2: Fill out the Application Form

The UDLAP application form must be filled and completed using the following instructions:

• The name must be used exactly as it appears on the passport.
• The citizenship information must be entered correctly. If the student is a dual citizen, it is important to inform us of both citizenships.
• Under Permanent Address, the address where the student lives when he/she is not at school must be used. This is most likely the parent's address.
• Mailing Address: The address where the student lives while at school must be used. If this is also the permanent address, it is not necessary to fill out this section.
• When selecting the number of semesters the student is applying for under Academic Information, make sure the correct option is selected. If the student is applying for two semesters or more, he/she should select the Full Academic Year (Aug-May or Jan-Dec) option.
• Current Level of Study:
• If the student is enrolled in a university, please indicate the current level (undergraduate or graduate) and year of study (first though fourth).
• If this is not the case, please select “Undergraduate Student” and “First Year”.

Complete the Application Form though our Incoming Platform:

• Platform of Incoming Students

1. 1

   Spanish placement test

   All exchange students interested in learning Spanish as a foreign language has to take a placement test during Orientation Week in order to confirm the correct level. Please send an email to incoming.udlap@udlap.mx, to ask about the process to follow to schedule the placement test.

2. 2

   Accommodation

   The student will decide if he/she will live on campus. Student must apply directly to Residential Colleges (colegios.universitarios@udlap.mx) for on-campus accommodation once they receive their acceptance letter, which contains their ID student number. If the agreement with his/her home university includes dormitories, he/she must apply through the International Affairs Office. It is important to note that Graduate students taking 500-level courses are not allowed to stay in Residential Colleges unless they come to UDLAP as Undegraduate students taking 400-level courses. Students applying to Residential Colleges must also be younger than 24 years old.
   
   Accommodation options in Cholula are vast, either on campus (Residential Colleges) or off campus (private housing). Accommodation at UDLAP Residential Colleges may be consulted at www.udlap.mx/colegios/?idioma=2. Note: Accommodation is subject to availability and the Residential Colleges’ Rules and Regulations. During the Online Orientation Program, the Amigos Internacionales will support international students that opt to stay on external facilities for finding proper accommodation.

3. 3

   Health Insurance

   The Health Insurance section must be read carefully. An international student must have a health international insurance including repatriation in case of death, sanitary and emergency evacuation.

Step 3: Send all required documents to UDLAP

Fill out the Application Form. Once your home institution has approved and nominated you, and you receive an email from UDLAP, enter our incoming platform and complete our application format: https://aplicaciones.udlap.mx/IncomingUDLAP/

Upload all your documents in a PDF file in our incoming platform before the application deadline. Let us know if you want to stay at on campus dormitories, the roomswill be subject to availability.

• Copy of Passport (valid throughout the entire stay at UDLAP).
• Official academic transcript from the student’s home university with the institution’s signature and stamp (transcript must be translated into Spanish or English). Transcripts must be received with an issue date no more than 3 months prior to their entry into the program
• UDLAP’s medical form approved and signed by the student’s doctor or healthcare provider.
• ONE FRONT VIEW PASSPORT- SIZE PHOTO, IN COLOR AND WHITE BACKGROUND, WITH A MINIMUN RESOLUTION OF 300X300This photo is mandatory and must be delivered in JPG format with your full name: first name(s), last name(s). We cannot accept cropped photos from trips, social media, events, selfie, etc.
• Copy of the student’s international medical insurance policy (it must include name, date of birth, policy number and coverage details. It must also include repatriation in case of death, emergency and sanitary evacuation).

UDLAP’s Health Services Form approved and signed by the student’s doctor or healthcare provider. Download and complete the Health Form in the language of your choice:

• English version
• Spanish version

ONLY FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS:

Copy of Bachelor’s degree from the student’s home University with stamp and program coordinator’s signature or letter from institution.

DEADLINES FOR SENDING ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

Check the language requirements, application dates, start of classes, as well as the catalog of courses that
you can take at our institution in our FACT-SHEET.

Please ALL application materials must be received at the International Affairs office on the application deadline.

In case you want to stay at on-campus dormitories, you must apply before October 1, for the Fall term, or April 20, for the Spring term. After these dates applications will be subject to availability.

Medical Insurance is Mandatory to come to UDLAP. Without exception, all International students are required to have health insurance coverage at their own expense that meets all the international coverage requirements (it must include COVID-19, full repatriation of remains and sanitary or emergency evacuation, as a minimum) necessary to cover them during the entire duration of their stay in Mexico. That must include:

• International emergency and sanitary evacuation.
• Repatriation of remains in case of death.

Once purchased the student’s own international health insurance in his/her home country, he/she will have to provide us with:

• A copy of the policy, including name, date of birth, policy number, emergency phone number of the insurance company, coverage dates and at least 4 hospitals at Puebla where the insurance is accepted, prior to the arrival at UDLAP.

Before coming to Mexico

• If the student’s academic program at UDLAP lasts more than 180 days,  and the student’s nationality is registered on the following list https://www.inm.gob.mx/gobmx/word/index.php/paises-no-requieren-visa-para-mexico/, it is possible to enter in Mexico as a VISITOR and obtaining a VISA is not necessary. The student only needs a valid passport. This condition of stay authorizes students to remain in Mexican territory uninterruptedly for up to 180 days from the date of entry, without permission to engage in remunerated activities. Foreigners who come to Mexico as Visitors without permission to perform remunerated activities cannot change their migratory status and will have to leave the country by the end of the authorized period of stay.
• If the student’s academic program at UDLAP lasts less than 180 days and the student’s nationality is registered on the following list https://www.inm.gob.mx/gobmx/word/index.php/paises-requieren-visa-para-mexico/, he/she has to obtain a VISITOR VISA* (Visa de Visitante*)  in the embassy or consulate of Mexico nearest to his/her place of residence.

All Visas (either ’’Visitor without permission to perform paid activities” and/or ’’Temporary Resident - Student”) are issued in the Student’s country of origin by an Embassy or Consulate of Mexico, and cannot be obtained at their arrival in our country. Please check the location of the Mexican Embassy or Consulate that is closest to the Student or the Home University:

• EMBASSIES: https://portales.sre.gob.mx/directori o/embajadas-de-mexico-en-el- exterior
• CONSULATES: https://portales.sre.gob.mx/directori o/consulados-de-mexico-en-el- exterior

In order to know the requirements needed to obtain the visa, the student will be able to contact his/her home university or the embassy or consulate of Mexico in his/her country.

* Students with VISITOR status cannot change or extend their stay in Mexico and will not receive any type of remuneration in the country.

Arrival in Mexico

During the trip to Mexico, the migration staff will deliver a Multiple Migratory Form (MMF) “Forma Migratoria Múltiple (FMM)”, which must be filled by the student with his/her personal information.
Once in the port-of-entry, the migration staff will ask the student to show the following documents:

• The Multiple Migratory Form (FMM)
• The valid passport

Both documents will be stamped with the date of arrival and the student will be allowed to stay in Mexico for a period of 180 calendar days.

Stay in Mexico

During the entire stay in Mexico, the student must preserve the part of the Multiple Migratory Form (FMM) given by the staff of migration back at the port-of-entry. This form will be required to travel within Mexico and return to the home country.

Mailing Address

Immigration Services
Fundación Universidad de las Américas Puebla
Ex Hacienda Sta. Catarina Mártir, 72810
San Andrés Cholula, Puebla, México.
1 Building
migratory.services@udlap.mx

Before coming to Mexico

Due to the fact that the student’s study program in Mexico lasts more than 180 days the student must obtain a STUDENT TEMPORARY RESIDENT VISA “Visa De Residente Temporal Estudiante” in the embassy or consulate of Mexico nearest to his/her place of residence.

Students in this case will need to complete a 3-step process:

• Request for a visa at the nearest Mexican Embassy or Consulate. The visa will be originally issued for 180 days, valid for a single entry to Mexico during this period.
• When students enter Mexico, they will be provided a “Forma Migratoria Multiple (FMM)”. They will need to present this FMM to the “Instituto Nacional de Migracion (INAMI)” once they are in Mexico to get the Temporary Residence Permit.
• This Temporary Residence Permit must be requested from the INAMI within the first 30 calendar days from the date of entry into Mexico. This card will be valid for one year and allows multiple entries to the country. If this procedure is not completed within the designated time, the student will be subject to pay a fine to the INAMI.

In order to know where are located the embassies and consulates of Mexico in the student’s country, the following links can be checked.

• EMBASSIES: https://portales.sre.gob.mx/directorio/embajadas-de-mexico-en-el-exterior
• CONSULATES: https://portales.sre.gob.mx/directorio/consulados-de-mexico-en-el-exterior

In order to know the requirements needed to obtain the visa, the student can contact his/her university or the embassy or consulate of Mexico in his/her country.

Arrival in Mexico

During the trip to Mexico, the migration staff will deliver a Multiple Migratory Form (MMF) “Forma Migratoria Múltiple (FMM)”, “Forma Migratoria Múltiple (FMM)”, which must be filled by the student with his/her personal information.

Once in the port-of-entry, the migration staff will ask the student to show the following documents:

• The Multiple Migratory Form (FMM)
• The passport

Both documents will be stamped with the date of arrival and the student will have a period of 30 calendar days to obtain a temporary residence card.

Stay in Mexico

From the arrival in Mexico, the student has 30 calendar days to request a TEMPORARY RESIDENCE CARD AS A STUDENT “Tarjeta De Residencia Temporal Como Estudiante” at the National Migration Institute in Puebla.

This card allows the student to stay in Mexico for one year from the date of arrival and permits multiple enterings and outgoings of Mexico during the validity of the document. The expiration date will appear on the front of the card.

If the student wants to extend the exchange, the TEMPORARY RESIDENCE CARD AS A STUDENT must be renewed within 30 calendar days prior to its expiration. If not, the student could be liable to a financial penalty by the National Migration Institute.

At the request of the student, the area of immigration services at UDLAP can undertake the necessary steps to obtain or renew the student’s TEMPORARY RESIDENCE CARD AS STUDENT.

For more information, please contact the area of immigration services at UDLAP.

Mailing Address

Edit Maupome Huerta
Immigration Services
Fundación Universidad de las Américas Puebla
Ex Hacienda Sta. Catarina Mártir, 72810
San Andrés Cholula, Puebla, México.
1 Building
migratory.services@udlap.mx

Before arriving at UDLAP, the student’s UDLAP Incoming Coordinator will send him/her a course selection form that must be filled out. According to this form, the UDLAP Incoming Coordinator will sign the student up for his/her courses 1 month prior to the begining of the semester. The student will receive an email with his/her class schedule and it will be possible to make changes.

Adds and Drops

During the first 3 days of classes at UDLAP, the student will be able to add and/or drop courses. After this time, there will be no additional changes.

1. 1

   Degree courses

   An International Student may enroll in courses from any of our degrees, according to his/her level of study (undergraduate or master).

2. 2

   Study-area courses

   An International Student may enroll in courses from any level of any study area, as long as his/her study degree (graduate or undergraduate) is maintained.

3. 3

   Course languages

   UDLAP offers courses in Spanish and English, please check the availability of courses in each language.

4. 4

   Study Plans

   In order to see the study plans of each degree, click Study Plans: https://www.udlap.mx/ofertaacademica/mapaoferta.aspx?idioma=2

All courses in the catalogue are available for international students (some exceptions apply), as long as all course pre requisites are met and a minimum B2 Spanish level can be proven.

Please consult the Institutional Course Catalog in https://online.udlap.mx/inscripciones/ Some disciplinary courses in each School are taught in English and are available for international students.
Please contact the incoming coordinator in order to have the list of courses taught in English.

Undergraduate students with a fluent level of Spanish Proficiency are entitled to enroll in English, French, Italian and/or German language courses.

IMPORTANT: The courses’ availability is subject to demand. Therefore, the International Affairs Office cannot guarantee a spot in the student’s selected courses

Course Restrictions

If the Exchange Student is wishing to take courses of Culinary Arts, Anthropology, Medicine and Nursing, he/she must ask for approval before applying.

1. 1

   Publication date

   The catalogue for each semester is published about one month before the semester begins.

2. 2

   General Course Catalogue

   The student will be notified via e-mail; if necessary, it also can be checked directly by clicking on General Course Catalogue*: https://online.udlap.mx/inscripciones/.
   
   * Course availability is subject to change even if it is published in the General Course Catalogue. UDLAP reserves the right to open or close courses depending on the course demand.
   * These courses are from previous semesters and might not be available by the students’ arrival period.

3. 3

   English Course Catalogue

   If the student wishes to take only courses taught in English, he/she should take a look at the English Course Catalogue:

   • Fall 2026 English Courses
   • Spring 2025 English Courses
   • Fall I Graduate Courses Trimestrial
   • Fall I Graduate Courses Bimestrial

   * These courses are from previous semesters and might not be available by the students’ arrival period.

4. 4

   Additional course information

   If additional course information or syllabus is needed, please contact the UDLAP incoming coordinator with the UDLAP course name and number.

At UDLAP, all courses are classified as units and most of them are equivalent to 6 units. However, there will be some with higher or lower units depending on the field of study.

Maximum Credits per Level of Study

• Undergraduate courses (only levels 100-490)

  30 UDLAP units per semester*

• Master (only levels 500-590)
  24 UDLAP units per semester (12 UDLAP units per trimester)

* Please, the number of units must be checked with the UDLAP incoming coordinator

What do the course number mean?

Undergraduate courses at UDLAP typically have course numbers from 100-400.

• 100-290 level courses are introductory, first and second year courses.
• 300-390 level courses are intermediate, third year courses.
• 400-490 level courses are advanced undergraduate level courses taken by students during their final year.

Graduate courses at UDLAP typically have course numbers from 500 upwards and may be conducted on a trimester basis.

All students who come from a non-Spanish speaking country must complete an online placement test. Your results will not affect the acceptance of your application.

Most courses at UDLAP are taught in Spanish and some others are offered in English. If you want to take courses in English and you come from a non-English speaking country, you must proof at least a B2 level proficiency.

Spanish Language Courses

Spanish courses for foreigners are available every semester for Undergraduate Students willing to learn Spanish. After receiving your letter of acceptance you will receive instructions on how to take the online placement test.

The offer of Spanish courses as follows:

Spanish Proficiency Test

Undergraduate students interested in taking courses taught in Spanish, who come from a non-native Spanish speaking country are required to take the UDLAP Online Spanish Proficiency Test, Spanish Proficiency Test.

Spanish Language Coordination

Dra. Carolina Urizar Ocampo, PhD. Spanish Language Coordinator
Phone number: +52 222 229 20 00 ext.3124
e -mail: carolina.urizar@udlap.mx.
Office location: Humanities Building, HU303-I

https://www.udlap.mx/web/comunidad/calendarioEscolar.aspx

Credit equivalencies are:

• 1 Unidad UDLAP = ½ of USA credits
• 1 Unidad UDLAP = 1 ECTS

Whether or not credits for course work will be accepted by the student´s university is determined by the home institution. It is his/her responsibility to confirm which classes he/she can transfer credits for.

Keys and Equivalences for Grading Scores at UDLAP

This additional information will be found in the UDLAP transcript:

Undergraduate-level students may enroll up to 5 courses per semester (30 credits). Graduate-level (Master) students may enroll up to 2 courses per trimester (12 credits).

All courses are 6 UDLAP Academic units (equivalent to 6 ECTS), which include weekly guided instruction and independent study hours for the entire duration of the 16-week semester or 10-week trimester. The total duration of each course is 48 guided hours and 48 independent study hours.

An official academic transcript will be provided as follows:
Only one official transcript can be issued for each student at the end of his/her period at UDLAP. The transcript will be sent to the home institution.

• If the student’s studies at UDLAP end on FALL semester, the transcript will be sent by the end of January.
• If the student’s studies at UDLAP end on SPRING semester, the transcript will be sent by the end of July.

IMPORTANT

• UDLAP will not release any transcript if the student fails to complete the pre-departure process, or leaves any outstanding debts at UDLAP. There are no exemptions to this.
• UDLAP Official Transcript will only be issued in Spanish and English. In case the transcript is required in other language, the student must contact a certified translator.

Additional Transcript

If the student needs an extra copy of his/her UDLAP transcript, there will be an additional cost.

In order to request additional transcripts, the student must:

• Go to the Registrar Office in order to request the cost of the additional transcript/s.
• Make the payment for the transcript/s at Unicaja.
• Hand the Unicaja payment receipt in to his/her UDLAP Incoming Coordinator.
• His/Her Administrative Coordinator will ship the additional transcripts to him/her according to the dates mentioned above.

If the student is seeking for an unforgettable experience that will create a positive impact among people in need or being part of a Mexican company as an intern, UDLAP proposes Internships and Community Service Programs.

Both programs will:

• Increase the student’s experience in Mexico.
• Allow the student to know more of its culture.
• Enhance the student’s professional experience.
• Improve the student’s level of Spanish.

An exchange student can choose one of these programs as part of his/her 5 classes available and revalidate the credits (6 ECTS/3 USA credits) during his/her semester(s) at UDLAP.

Thanks to the Internships, the student will work as an intern in a company and develop skills in the application of theory to practical work situation in Mexican companies.

The academic areas covered for Internships are: Business, Social Sciences and Humanities.

The student can do many social activities such as helping and working with disadvantaged communities in Puebla surroundings, teaching and working with orphan kids, teaching lessons in a public school, helping the environment or supporting nonprofit Organizations in Cholula and Puebla, as well as many other options.

Any student subscribed in the semester and interested in the program can participate.

How to apply

• Minimum level of proficiency in Spanish of B1 (Low Intermediate).
• To be enrolled as an undergraduate student in one of our programs.

Process once arriving at UDLAP

• General informative meeting.
• Course registration (Internship or Community Service).
• Individual interview with the International Affairs Office staff.
• Informative group meeting.
• Interview with the company or organization.
• Instructional classes with a qualified professor that will guide and advise the student in everything that he/she may need for a complete experience in an internship or community service.
• The student chooses his/her own schedule to go to the companies or organizations!