About UCIMED
We believe that health sciences education can change our communities, country and region. We’ve been striving for excellence for over 45 years because we believe that we can make a difference in the world.

Dra. María del Carmen García
Principal
When the University of Medical Sciences was created, its founders had an extremely important motivation: to train young people in careers in health sciences under the highest and most solid quality standards and, in this way, guarantee excellent professionals to the country. That inspiration and that commitment today… 45 years later remain intact.
Our greatest satisfaction lies in the titles that our graduates proudly display in their offices, laboratories, clinics, pharmacies and many other places of work, because we are certain that each one of them works with passion, ethics, with capacity and with deep knowledge, since they were formed with excellence.
Today, continuing to honor this commitment poses great challenges and high demands, and for this reason, at UCIMED we spare no effort or resources to ensure our students the infrastructure, teaching capacity, academic content, alliances, technology, and everything that is required, to guarantee that solid training that prepares them for the best performance and, as is currently required, that they be globalized professionals.
As rector of this University, which I carry in my heart, I invite you to get to know us, to learn about our careers and courses, to share the thousands and thousands of professional success stories that accompany our graduates, to be part of the satisfaction that day Our students reflect on a daily basis, since we are united by pride and the motivation to guarantee the patient the conditions for a better quality of life, thanks to the humanization, comprehensiveness and quality of care they receive.
Mission
Inspire leadership and spread knowledge to promote good health among the population.
Vision
Position ourselves as the regional academic choice that links all of the health-related efforts.
Values
- Integrity
- Excellence
- Service
- Discipline
- Change Management
Our history
The visionary attitude of our founder Dr. Andrés Vesalio Guzman Calleja, a professional costa rican in the field of healthcare with a prestigious career, motivated him to create a spanish speaking university: Escuela Autónoma de Ciencias Médicas de Centro America in 1976.
Together with Don Andrés, a select group of medical professionals from the country managed to demonstrate that academic excellence and the most solid ethical principles could also be fundamental components of Costa Rican private education, at a time when a discussion was taking place on the legality of opening private universities, with powers to grant academic degrees and train liberal professionals.
Initially, the Autonomous School of Medical Sciences of Central America was located in the old Chapuí Asylum.
The commitment assumed by Dr. Guzmán Calleja, with excellence and academic quality, when giving life to the first private School of Medicine in Costa Rica, continues to be the main path of UCIMED today.
In 1998 the Pharmacy degree was created, and once again, the highest standards of academic quality were the tone that marked its development, to guarantee the training of pharmacists absolutely committed to health and quality of life.
These components are synonymous with the prestige and track record of our Institution in the academic field of health, which is why in July 1999 CONESUP granted us with the distinction of University of Medical Sciences (Authorization with license No. 378-99 of 24 of June 1999 and No. 381-99 of August 26, 1999).
UCIMED was conceived as a non-profit foundation. Therefore, income funds improvements in teaching process, administrative support, infrastructure and other essential elements for proper teaching of health sciences.
After developing solid institutional structure, facilities, technology and world-class educational environment, UCIMED takes a new step, by opening Physiotherapy, Nutrition and Microbiology degrees. These three additional options guarantee that the path layed by Dr. Andrés Vesalio Guzmán Calleja remains 39 years later; we are stronger than ever and committed to academic excellence.
Learn deeply.
International
Accreditation
Simulation
Hospital
Physiotherapy
Clinic
Certified AHA
Center
Research
Center
Industry
Development Center
Clinical
Lab
Ethical & Scientific
Committee
Global support
UCIMED is the only institution in central america that belongs to Galileo Global Education, one of the largest corporate education groups worldwide.
Social Responsibility
UCIMED is committed to contributing to social development of communities and helping with the different challenges that Costa Rica may face. We ensure spaces that promote active participation of our student body in the search of integral solutions around our fields of knowledge.

UCIMED talent
Campus tour
Our campus tour allows future students to obtain more information about the main characteristics of our institution, enrollment, tuition fees and financial support. It’s also the best way to learn about the different opportunities they will have to build an outstanding professional resume.