With a population of about 120 million, Mexico is by far the largest of all Spanish-speaking countries. According to top universities, Mexico is considered to be one of the most affordable places for students to study abroad, thanks to the lower cost of a higher standard of living.
So, this article will give you more reasons to choose Mexico in order to enjoy these benefits and more. Also, you get vital information on the best universities and colleges in Mexico for international students, including online schools.

Why Study In Mexico?

Officially called the United Mexican States (UMS), Mexico is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and to the east by the Gulf of Mexico. Generally, education in Mexico was historically influenced by the Catholic church, which provided education during the colonial era. Dating back to 1551, the church established the first university in North America, the Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico, in Mexico City. The Catholic education system was, however, mainly reserved for the aristocracy, clergy, and other ruling elites. Therefore, shortly before her independence and the formation of a modern state, Mexico’s government began to slowly establish tighter control over education and form a modern system that would address the needs of the broader segments of society. Today, the Mexican higher education system is gaining serious momentum as it takes 31st place in the latest edition of the QS Higher Education System Strength Rankings.
Here are some reasons why you should choose Mexico as your study abroad destination:

You will get a more affordable World-class education and college experience altogether.Get to study with lower costs of living.Some colleges in Mexico are also recognized in the US and other parts of the world.You will get an International experience.You will get to practice or learn Spanish.Also, you will learn and know a different culture and country.Mexico is also known for delicious and affordable food.

One of the reasons you should choose Mexico as your study abroad country; Mexican Government Scholarships for International Students

How Many Universities And Colleges Are There In Mexico?

Over time, the higher education system in Mexico has experienced rapid growth. According to the Mexican government data, tertiary enrollments have more than doubled since the late 1990s. From the reports of World Education News+Reviews (WENR), there are presently over 3.9 million tertiary students enrolled in regular programs, and another 696,000 studying in distance education mode (up from 125,000 in 1997/98).  However, as in all parts of Mexico’s education system, enrollment gains are heavily skewed toward wealthier states. For example, tertiary enrollment ratios in Chiapas are fully 60 percent below those of Mexico City. Also from WENR, there are more than 3,800 degree-granting HEIs with over 7,400 connected teaching institutions in Mexico. Furthermore, many new private providers have sprung up across the country in recent years as their number now exceeds that of public providers by a wide margin. Notwithstanding, enrollments are primarily concentrated in the public sector unlike in other Latin American countries. For example, in Chile, private enrollments now outnumber those at public HEIs. This is because Mexico’s public autonomous universities and state and federal institutions have expanded their capacities at a slightly faster clip than smaller private HEIs. As of 2017/18, 30 percent of tertiary students studied at private institutions (it went down from 33 percent in 2009), while 70 percent attended public HEIs. Autonomous institutions enrol 36 percent of tertiary students; state institutions, 21 percent; and then, federal institutions, 13 percent.

Do Universities In Mexico Offer Courses In English?

As an international student who wants to study in Mexico, one of the largest Spanish speaking countries in the world, it’s normal to want to know if courses are offered in English especially if you are coming from an English speaking country. To feed your curiosity, yes, some top public and private universities in Mexico offer courses in the English Language. Although most university study programs are usually offered in Spanish, however, the major universities such as Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México and Polytechnic Institute (IPN) also provide some courses in English.
Other State universities in Mexico that offer courses in English:

Universidad de GuadalajaraUniversidad Autónoma Metropolitana

Here is a list of big private universities in Mexico that offer courses in English:

Universidad Iberoamericana (including ITESO)Tecnológico de MonterreyUniversidad de las Américas en PueblaLa SalleUniversidad Anahuac

You may like to read this – Study In Mexico: List of Undergraduate and Graduate Scholarships for International Students

Which Universities In Mexico Offer Online Programs?

Several universities in Mexico now offer online students to both domestic and international students. According to BestColleges, below are the top 5 online colleges in New Mexico:

Eastern New Mexico University – Portales, NMUniversity of New Mexico – Albuquerque, NMNew Mexico State University – Las Cruces, NMWestern New Mexico University – Silver City, NMNew Mexico Highlands University – Las Vegas, NM

Top Universities in Mexico for Undergraduates

A good number of universities in Mexico offer several programs at the undergraduate level. However, as an international student who wants to get the best from the country, here is a list of the top 5 universities in Mexico for undergraduate students:

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)Tecnológico de Monterrey (ITESM)Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPNUniversidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM)Benemerita Universidad Autonoma de Puebla

What Are The Best Universities in Mexico for Masters Students?

Just like the undergraduate programs, many universities in Mexico offer several programs at the master’s level. Below is a list of the best universities in Mexico to pursue a master’s program:

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)Tecnológico de Monterrey (ITESM)Universidad Iberoamericana (UIA)Instituto Tecnologico Autonomo de Mexico (ITAM)Universidad Iberoamericana PueblaUniversidad de Quintana Roo

Keep reading to learn more about the above-listed schools. Several bodies offer scholarships for international students. See the numerous International Scholarships available on our platform.

What Are The Best Universities in Mexico for International Students 2022?

To effectively rank the best universities in Mexico for international students, we used the following factors. For your degree to count, it’s of essence you attend an accredited college or university. In line with this, the accreditation of each Mexican university counts in making it one of the best or top schools you should attend.

Research Areas

This specifically means the number of schools, faculties or colleges in the school. The research areas consist of the various departments and programs offered in the school. Basically, this looks at how many students each academic staff can take if the total students are shared among the total academic staff. This takes cognizance of the recognition given to the school by various ranking bodies. Here is a list of the best universities in Mexico for international students in 2022:

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)Tecnológico de Monterrey (ITESM)Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPNUniversidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM)Benemerita Universidad Autonoma de PueblaUniversidad Autonoma de San Luis PotosiUniversidad Iberoamericana (UIA)Instituto Tecnológico Autonomo de México (ITAM)Michoacán University of San Nicolás of HidalgoUniversidad de Guadalajara (UDG)Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (UANL)La Universidad de GuanajuatoUniversidad de las Américas Puebla (UDLAP)Universidad AnahuacLa Universidad Autonoma del Estado de MexicoUniversidad Autonoma de Baja California

#1 Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)

The students to Faculty Ratio: 17:1 Research Areas: 15 Reputation/Rankings:QS Ranking – 1THE – 1USNews – 1 Founded in 1910, the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (the National Autonomous University of Mexico) is a public research university in Mexico. It ranks #1 in our best universities and colleges in Mexico ranking. It also ranks highly in world rankings based on the university’s extensive research and innovation. That is to say, in the academic world, it is recognized as a university of excellence.  Basically, UNAM is a space of freedom; respect, tolerance, and dialogue are practiced daily. The plurality of ideas and thinking is appreciated as a sign of their wealth and never as a factor of weakness. UNAM offers several plans and study programs at various levels. At the Postgraduate level, it offers 41  postgraduate programs with 92 master’s and doctorate curricula and also 42  specialization programs with 262 orientations. For the Bachelor’s degree, there are 128  careers with 231 educational options to take them. At the Professional technician level, there are 37 races or technical terminal outputs and also, 3 high school curricula. It is also important to note that the UNAM’s campus is a UNESCO World Heritage site that was designed by some of Mexico’s best-known architects of the 20th century.

Architecture FacultyFaculty of Arts and DesignScience FacultyFaculty of Political and Social SciencesFaculty of Accounting and AdministrationLaw SchoolFaculty of MusicEconomy facultyFaculty of Higher Studies (FES)Faculty of Philosophy and LettersThe School of MedicineFaculty of EngineeringFaculty of veterinary medicine and zootechnicsSchool of DentistryFaculty of PsychologyFaculty of Chemistry

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#2 Tecnológico de Monterrey (ITESM)

The students to Faculty Ratio: 16:1 Research Areas: 7 Reputation/Rankings:QS Ranking – 2THE – 1USNews – 5 Established in 1943 by a group of local businessmen, the Monterrey Institute of Technology (Tecnológico de Monterrey (ITESM)) is one of the largest private, non-sectarian and co-educational campus universities in Latin America. It ranks #2 in our best universities and colleges in Mexico ranking. The school boasts of more than 90,000 students at the high school, undergraduate and postgraduate levels. As of 2010, the Institute was offering over 57 undergraduate degrees, of which 37 are taught in English and are generally awarded after nine semesters of study (except for Medicine and Architecture); 33 master’s degrees, generally lasting three to five semesters (and can also be structured in three-months terms), and 11 doctorate degrees varying in length according to their academic field.

School of Social Sciences and GovernmentSchool of Engineering and SciencesEGADE Business SchoolSchool of Government and Public TransformationSchool of Humanities and EducationBusiness SchoolSchool School of Medicine and Health Sciences

Commission on Colleges of the Association of SchoolsColleges of the Southern United States

VISIT SCHOOL If you are an exceptional social entrepreneur or nonprofit leader engaged in building sustainable solutions to poverty and injustice globally, then see Cordes Fellowship in Cancun Mexico

#3 Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN)

The students to Faculty Ratio: Research Areas: 3 Reputation/Rankings:QS Ranking – 4THE – 1USNews – 4 Founded in 1936, Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN) also called the National Polytechnic Institute is one of the largest public universities in Mexico. It ranks #3 in our best universities and colleges in Mexico ranking. The school has about 171,581 students at the high school, undergraduate and postgraduate levels. IPN was created to consolidate, through education, the Economic, Scientific, Technological, Cultural and Political Independence to achieve the social progress of the Nation, in accordance with the Historical objectives of the Mexican Revolution, contained in the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States. Basically, the Institute offers 80 undergraduate programs leading to four- or five-year bachelor’s degrees and 135 postgraduate programs leading to 29 postgraduate diplomas, 70 master’s degrees and 36 doctorate degrees.

Engineering and Mathematical Physical SciencesBiological Medical SciencesSocial and Administrative Sciences

Secretaría de Educación Pública, Mexico

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#4 Benemerita Universidad Autonoma de Puebla

The students to Faculty Ratio: 33:1 Research Areas: 4 Reputation/Ranking:QS Ranking -13THE – 4USNews – 2 Founded in 1587, the Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla also known as the Meritorious Autonomous University of Puebla is the oldest and largest university in Puebla, Mexico. It ranks #4 in our best universities and colleges in Mexico ranking.
It was established as Colegio del Espíritu Santo and sponsored by the Society of Jesus during most of the Spanish colonial era before turning into a public college in 1825 and eventually into a public university in 1937.
Basically, the university research and the creation and dissemination of knowledge, it promotes social inclusion, equal opportunities, and social outreach. Currently, it is one of the 105 institutes participating in the Alice Experiment at CERN. BUAP has a number of campuses throughout the state of Puebla. Its four major zones in the city of Puebla include the University City (which houses the faculties of physical sciences) and the Health Area, where the Schools of Nursing and Medicine are based. It also has nine regional sections, three near-autonomous ‘foreign academic units’, and six high schools. Currently, the Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, offers 77 undergraduate degrees, 2 Associate degrees (Técnico Superior Universitario and Associate in Music) as well as Preparatory school studies. At the graduate level, it offers 14 specializations, 55 master’s programs, and 18 doctorates.

Social Sciences and the HumanitiesEngineering and Exact SciencesHealth and Natural SciencesEconomic and Administrative Sciences

Secretaría de Educación Pública, Mexico

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#5 Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosi

The students to Faculty Ratio: 10:1 Research Areas:15 Reputation/Rankings:QS Ranking – 15THE – 4USNews – 3 Founded in 1624, Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosi also known as the Autonomous University of San Luis Potosi (UASLP) is a Jesuit college in the city of San Luis Potosí. It ranks #5 in our best universities and colleges in Mexico ranking. It was founded to teach literacy, secondary and high school studies. However, in 1923, Governor Rafael Nieto issued a decree that established the university in faculties, schools, coordinations, academic units, and departments. Currently, the university is divided into 15 faculties, one school, four coordinations, one department, seven institutes, 12 research institutes, and two academic units. Each faculty offers both undergraduate and graduate study programs. UASLP also has a student population of more than 32,000 and offers 99 undergraduate programs and 88 postgraduate programs.

Accounting and AdministrationAgronomy and VeterinaryChemistryCommunicationEconomicsEngineeringHumanities and Social SciencesInformation SciencesLawMedicineNursing and NutritionPsychologySciencesStomatologyHabitat (for architecture, design, and, building-related studies).

Secretaría de Educación Pública, Mexico

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#6 Universidad Iberoamericana (UIA)

The students to Faculty Ratio: Research Areas: 3 Reputation/Rankings:QS Ranking – 5THE –USNews – Founded in 1943, Universidad Iberoamericana (UIA) also known as Ibero-American University is one of the most prestigious universities in Mexico and in Latin America. It ranks #6 in our best universities and colleges in Mexico ranking. It is a private institution of higher education that is sponsored by the Society of Jesus. Notwithstanding its affiliation to the Jesuit University System, IBERO respects and accommodates all ideology, and does not intend to use its academic activities for the benefit of any particular doctrine. It is also recognized as having an international-grade level of excellence Currently, the IBERO (Universidad Iberoamericana) offers 36 degrees and six TSU degrees; 28 masters, 11 doctorates and five specialties; as well as various diplomas and languages.

Division of Science, Art, and TechnologyThe Social Studies DivisionThe Humanities and Communication Division

Secretaría de Educación Pública, Mexico

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#7 Instituto Tecnológico Autonomo de México (ITAM)

The students to Faculty Ratio: Research Areas: 5 Reputation/Rankings:QS Ranking – 6THE –USNews – Founded in 1946, Instituto Tecnológico Autonómo de México (Autonomous Institute of Technology, Mexico) is a non-profit private higher education institution located in the urban setting of the metropolis of Mexico City. It is commonly known as ITAM and is a private Ph.D.-granting research university. It ranks #7 in our best universities and colleges in Mexico ranking. Basically, its mission is to contribute to the integral formation of the person and to the development of a freer, fairer and more prosperous society. In order to carry out its research, teaching and extension functions, ITAM intends to reach the highest levels of academic excellence, within the plurality of ideas and also, respect for ethnic, cultural and religious differences. Currently, the institute has 38 academic programs dependent organized on 5 academic divisions, subdivided into 14 academic departments (equivalent to Schools). The academic programs include Licenciaturas and Ingenierias (equivalent to B.A., B.Sc., and LL.B.), as well as Masters (M.A., MBA, and M. Sc.) and a Ph.D. program.

Actuary, Statistics and MathematicsAdministration and AccountingEconomy, Law and Social SciencesGeneral Studies and International StudiesEngineering

Secretaría de Educación Pública, Mexico

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#8 Michoacán University of San Nicolás of Hidalgo

The students to Faculty Ratio: 30:1 Research Areas:8 Reputation/Rankings:QS Ranking – 21THE – 4USNews – 7 Founded in 1540 as a religious institution, the Michoacan University of San Nicolas of Hidalgo (UMSNH) is a public university in Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico. It later became a public institution in 1847 and was finally established as a university in 1917. It ranks #8 in our best universities and colleges in Mexico ranking.  The University has several campuses, located at Morelia, Ciudad Hidalgo, and Apatzingan. It grants law, economics, computer science, medicine, architecture, and dentistry degrees, plus several other additional fields of study, mainly in Humanities, Science and Arts.

Health SciencesEconomic Administrative SciencesLawExact SciencesMetallurgy and MaterialsHumanitiesEngineering and ArchitectureAgricultural Biological Sciences and Agricultural SciencesSecretaría de Educación Pública, Mexico

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#9 Universidad de Guadalajara (UDG)

The students to Faculty Ratio: 11:1 Research Areas: 6 Reputation/Rankings:QS Ranking – 7THE – 4USNews – 8 Formed in 1792, Universidad de Guadalajara (University of Guadalajara) is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the urban setting of the large city of Guadalajara, Jalisco.
Basically, Universidad de Guadalajara is a fundamental institution in the formation of human resources and in the production of scientific and technological knowledge, both regionally and nationally. The school offers the greatest coverage at all educational levels in the state of Jalisco, ranging from high school to quality postgraduates enrolled in the PNCP-CONACYT. It has about 1,178 members of the National System of Researchers, 176 postgraduate programs recognized by the National Science Council and 27 undergraduate programs with international recognition.

Art, Architecture, and DesignBiological and Agricultural SciencesHealth SciencesAdministrative Economic SciencesExact Sciences and EngineeringSocial Sciences and HumanitiesSecretaría de Educación Pública, Mexico

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#10 Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (UANL)

The students to Faculty Ratio: 31:1 Research Areas: 26 Reputation/Rankings:QS Ranking – 8THE – 4USNews – 9 Founded in 1933, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (Autonomous University of Nuevo León) is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the suburban setting of the large town of San Nicolás de Los Garza, Nuevo Leon. It ranks #10 in our best universities and colleges in Mexico ranking. Also, it is considered as the third-largest public university in Mexico and has the largest educational offer in the northeast of the country. Currently, UANL offers 324  educational programs at the upper, upper and postgraduate middle levels, of which 20 undergraduate and 12 graduate programs offer double degrees with foreign institutions. In total, there are more than 206 thousand students offering these programs, under the advice of six thousand 988 teachers.

AgronomyArchitecturePerforming ArtsVisual artsBiological Sciencescommunication SciencesEarth sciencesPhysical-Mathematical SciencesForest SciencesPolitical Science and International RelationsChemical sciencesPublic Accounting and AdministrationLaw and CriminologyEconomyNursingPhilosophy and LettersCivil EngineeringMechanical and Electrical EngineeringMedicineVeterinary MedicineMusicodontologySports OrganizationPsychologyPublic Health and NutritionSocial Work and Human DevelopmentSecretaría de Educación Pública, Mexico

VISIT SCHOOL Still, stuck with your preparation to go study in Mexico? Then, see the Best Study Abroad Packing List

#11 Universidad de Guanajuato

The students to Faculty Ratio: 17:1 Research Areas: 7 Reputation/Rankings:QS Ranking – 14THE – 4USNews – 10 Founded in 1945, Universidad de Guanajuato (University of Guanajuato) is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the urban setting of the large town of Guanajuato. It ranks #11 in our best universities and colleges in Mexico ranking.
Currently, the university offers about 153 academic programs, including 13 doctorates, 39 master’s programs, and 65 bachelor’s degrees. Also, the university has schools in fourteen cities throughout the state of Guanajuato.

ArtsAgricultural SciencesHealth SciencesEconomic-Administrative SciencesNatural and Exact SciencesSocial Sciences and HumanitiesEngineeringSecretaría de Educación Pública, Mexico

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#12 Universidad de las Américas Puebla (UDLAP)

The students to Faculty Ratio: 12:1 Research Areas: 5 Reputation/Rankings:QS Ranking – 9UniRank – 10USNews – Founded in 1940, Universidad de las Américas Puebla (University of Las Américas, Puebla) is a private higher education institution located in the suburban setting of the large town of San Andrés Cholula, Puebla. It ranks #12 in our best universities and colleges in Mexico ranking. UDLAP is considered to be one of the most prestigious universities in Latin America, having been ranked the best private and single-campus university in Mexico by the newspaper El Universal, as well as being one of the only seven universities in Latin America accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Currently, the school offers 75 academic programs: 51 degrees and 24 postgraduate degrees which are 100% accredited.

EDAH – School of Arts and HumanitiesEDCS – School of Social SciencesEDEC – School of SciencesEDEI – School of EngineeringEDNE – School of Business and EconomicsSecretaría de Educación Pública, Mexico

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#13 Universidad Anahuac

The students to Faculty Ratio: Research Areas: 18 Reputation/Rankings:QS Ranking – 10THE – 1USNews – 1 Founded in 1964, Universidad Anáhuac México Norte (Anahuac University of North Mexico) is a non-profit private higher education institution located in the suburban setting of the large town of Huixquilucan, Estado de Mexico.  It ranks #13 in our best universities and colleges in Mexico ranking. Basically, Universidad Anahuac México is part of the Anahuac Universities Network, an international network of Catholic universities led by the Legionaries of Christ, which share a mission and an educational model. It has two campuses, one at Notre and the other at Sur. Currently, the school has 18 schools and faculties located at its two campuses.

Architecture FacultyArt schoolFaculty of BioethicsFaculty of Actuarial SciencesSchool of CommunicationFaculty of Health SciencesLaw SchoolFaculty of DesignFaculty of Economics and BusinessEducation FacultyFaculty of Humanities, Philosophy, and LettersFaculty of EngineeringLanguage schoolFaculty of PsychologyFaculty of Global StudiesSchool of Sports SciencesFaculty of Social ResponsibilityFaculty of Tourism and GastronomySecretaría de Educación Pública, Mexico

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#14 Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Mexico

The students to Faculty Ratio: 20:1 Research Areas: Reputation/Rankings:QS Ranking – 11THE – 4USNews – 11 Founded in 1956, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México (Autonomous University of the State of Mexico) is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the urban setting of the medium-sized city of Toluca, Estado de Mexico.  It ranks #14 in our best universities and colleges in Mexico ranking.  It is also the largest university institution in the state with over 84,500 students, with its central campus located in the state capital of Toluca.  Secretaría de Educación Pública, Mexico VISIT SCHOOL

#15 Universidad Autonoma de Baja California

The students to Faculty Ratio: 17:1 Research Areas: 16 Reputation/Rankings:QS Ranking – 23THE – 4USNews – 12 Founded in 1957, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (Autonomous University of Baja California) is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the urban setting of the medium-sized city of Mexicali, Baja California. It’s one of The top Mexican schools and it ranks #15 in our best universities and colleges in Mexico ranking. Furthermore, the school offers several undergraduate and graduate programs in its three(3) campuses.

School of Health SciencesFaculty of ArtsScience FacultyFaculty of Administrative and Social SciencesFaculty of Marine SciencesNursing SchoolFaculty of SportsFaculty of Oenology and GastronomyLaw SchoolFaculty of LanguagesFaculty of Engineering and BusinessSchool of MedicineFaculty of DentistryFaculty of Pedagogy and Educational InnovationInstitute of Social ResearchInstitute of Agricultural SciencesSecretaría de Educación Pública, Mexico

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Conclusion

In recent times, Mexico has become one of the top choices of international students who want to study abroad. However, most of them find it difficult to decide which school to attend out of the numerous universities in Mexico. Therefore, to make it easier for international students, we have compiled the 15 best universities in Mexico with the necessary information to help them. Conclusively, I hope the information above helps you in your decision-making process. Good Luck And Success!!!

References

Wikipedia – List of Universities in MexicoQSRanking – Top 10 Universities in MexicoQSRanking – Top Universities Destination Guides: Study in Mexico USNews – Best Global Universities in Mexico TimesHigherEducation – Best universities in Mexico TopUniversities – 11 Reasons Why You’ll Love Studying a Master’s in Mexico Quora – What Are Some Good Reasons To Study In Mexico? UniRank – Top Universities in Mexico Quora – What Universities In Mexico Teach Courses In English?

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