Cuenca University Adds an Alicante Double-Degree Path for Biomedical Systems

Universidad Católica de Cuenca has presented an international double-degree program for its Biomedical Systems Engineering course, developed with the University of Alicante in Spain.

The program is part of the university’s internationalization efforts and is designed to give students an academic pathway that extends beyond Ecuador. The university presented the program on August 7, 2026, during an event attended by university authorities.

How the pathway works

According to rector Agustín Borja Pozo, students complete eight cycles at Universidad Católica de Cuenca and then take one cycle at the University of Alicante for free. Students receive a degree from each university.

The program’s dean, Leopoldo Pauta Ayabaca, said students who are currently in the seventh cycle can begin applying.

The university says the Biomedical Systems Engineering course combines engineering, computer science, and health sciences. Its curriculum includes software for the health sector, management of medical systems and devices, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in hospitals and health centers.

Why it matters locally

For families in Cuenca, this is a concrete example of an international education option being built into a local university program. It is also relevant to students interested in the overlap between technology and healthcare without starting their entire degree abroad.

The rector said the double qualification would enable graduates to work in Ecuador and across the European Union. That is the institution’s stated objective, not a guarantee of employment or automatic professional recognition in every country.

Prospective students should ask the university for the current application requirements, eligibility rules, and the schedule for the Alicante cycle before making enrollment decisions.

Source: El Mercurio