Guatemala is a small Latin American country that's rich in history and cultural diversity. The population is 65 percent indigenous, made up of 24 different indigenous groups speaking 24 different languages and keeping their traditional customs, clothing, and religious ceremonies. Guatemala is extremely diverse in climate and geography as well. The Guatemalan landscape ranges from Caribbean to volcanic to urban to jungle. You can go from hot coastal plains and beaches to cool highland regions and the tropical jungles of the Petén. From ancient Mayan ruins to Spanish colonial monuments, you won't be lacking areas to study in Guatemala.

Higher Education in Guatemala
The University of San Carlos de Guatemala is the only public university in the country. Established more than 300 years ago, it is one of the oldest universities in Latin America. There are many private universities in Guatemala, whose monthly tuition ranges from 40 to 100 dollars depending on the university and field of study. Obviously, it's much less expensive to study in Guatemala than in other Latin American countries. All Guatemalan universities have a central campus in Guatemala City.

Guatemalan universities offer the following academic degrees: technical (3 years); licenciatura, which is a degree between the bachelor's degree and master's degree (6 years); master's (2.5 years); and doctorate (2.5 years). Approximately 75 percent of university graduates earn the academic title of licenciatura.

Study Spanish in Guatemala
The majority of those who choose to study in Guatemala do so to learn Spanish and discover Mayan and Hispanic cultures. Universities in Guatemala offer the opportunity to learn Spanish through the one-to-one system of education (one teacher per student), as well as participation in extracurricular activities such as cooking classes, salsa classes, and  trips to volcanoes, hot water springs, indigenous communities, and more. Some students perform volunteer work for social organizations while they study Spanish in Guatemala.

Though 23 countries in the world use Spanish as their official language, many students choose to study Spanish in Guatemala because the Guatemalan accent is clear and easy to understand.

Places to Study in Guatemala
There is no lack of places to study throughout Guatemala. Many of Guatemala's best musicians, writers, and scholars have lived Quetzaltenango ("Xela") and consider it their home. Xela is home to many indigenous people as well. Because of the great number of Spanish schools in Xela, coffee shops, Internet cafes, and restaurants are plentiful. However, Xela has kept the tourist market out, making the city a calm and laidback place to learn Spanish and enjoy the culture of Guatemala.

Antigua is a colonial yet contemporary city filled with upscale hotels, salsa clubs, and restaurants. Its beauty, affordability, and program variety has made Antigua one of Latin America's most popular study abroad destinations. The city is home to more than 40 language schools.

Often called the "land of wonders," Tikal is Guatemala's most famous Mayan archaeological site. Recent collaborations between U.S. universities and the Guatemalan government have led to mammoth excavations and reconstructions to uncover the centuries-old secrets of this historical landmark.

Surrounded by mountains and volcanoes, Lake Atitlan is one of Guatemala's top tourist destinations. Taking field trips to visit the villages surrounding the lake is a terrific opportunity to partake in present-day Mayan culture.

When you study in Guatemala, you'll discover a country where people of many different beliefs, languages, and cultures coexist. Will you become one of them?