Universidad San Sebastián (USS, St. Sebastian University) is a Chilean private autonomous university founded in 1989 in Concepción and accredited at the Advanced level. Its headquarters situated in Santiago de Chile. It is also located in Concepción (its previous headquarters), Valdivia and Puerto Montt. As of 2025, these facilities serve over 52,000 students. In 2001, USS gets a formal state recognition as autonomous university. Since 2017, has participated in Chile's Unified Admission System (Sistema de Acceso a la Educación Superior).
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Overview
San Sebastián University forms part of the private higher education sector that developed in Chile following regulatory reforms enacted in the late twentieth century. The institution was established under the legal framework that authorized the creation of private universities (DFL No. 1).
Since achieving institutional autonomy in 2001, the university has adopted a multi-campus structure and expanded its academics offerings. Its activities include undergraduate and postgraduate education, research, and community engagement.
History
San Sebastián University was founded in 1989 in Concepción. Academic activities began in 1990 with an initial cohort fewer than 200 students and degree programs Commercial Engineering and Psychology.
During the 1990s, the university expanded its academic offerings to include programs in law, education, journalism, social work, and health-related disciplines. This period also saw gradual enrollment growth and the establishment of additional teaching facilities in southern Chile.
In 2001, USS obtained full institutional autonomy, enabling it to independently grant academic degrees and broaden its institutional scope. Following this milestone, the university expanded beyond its regional origins, opening campuses in Santiago, Valdivia, and Puerto Montt, and consolidating its presence at the national level.
During the 2000s and 2010s, the university further diversified into areas such as medicine, dentistry, engineering, and veterinary medicine, while increasing its involvement in postgraduate education and research activities.
Values
The USS stands by seven values instilled in its students, these are:
Búsqueda de la verdad "The search of truth"
Vocación por el trabajo bien hecho "Vocation for well-done work"
Honestidad "Honesty"
Responsabilidad "Responsibility"
Solidaridad "Solidarity"
Alegría "Happiness"
Superación "Improvement"
Careers
By 2009, Santiago counted with 32 careers, Concepción 39, Valdivia 16, Osorno 14 and Puerto Montt 17. Some of these are:
Architecture
Physical Education
Differential Education
Preschool Education
History and Geography
English
Language and Communication
Education in Mathematics
Speech Therapy
Kinesiology
Nutrition and Dietetics
Medical Technology
Occupational Therapy
Political Science and Public Management
Social Work
Law
Nursing
Medicine
Veterinarian Medicine
Bachelor of Health Sciences
Biochemistry
Chemistry and Pharmacy
Obstetrics
Dentistry
Psychology