Diploma in Geotechnical Engineering

Introduction

The Diploma in Geotechnical Engineering is a program designed to provide students with the best technical tools to contribute to the development of high-level engineering, allowing them to contribute to the human, technical, and economic development of the country. The program has been running annually since 2025 and is aimed at engineers and geologists interested in specializing and developing professionally in Geotechnical Engineering.

Program Details

• Duration: The program runs from April 10, 2026, to October 23, 2026, with classes on Fridays from 18:00 to 21:00 hrs and Saturdays from 09:00 to 12:00 hrs.
• Modalidad: The program is offered online with synchronous classes.
• Target Audience: The program is directed at Civil Engineers, Constructors, Miners, Geologists, Geophysicists, and those interested in specializing and developing professionally in Geotechnical Engineering.

Plan of Studies

The program consists of 9 courses of 15 hours each and 1 module of 9 hours, totaling 144 hours of lectures and 288 hours of personal work. The courses include:

1. Applied Geology to Engineering (15 hrs.)
2. Geotechnical Characterization in-situ and Laboratory (15 hrs.)
3. Soil Deformation (15 hrs.)
4. Water Flow in Porous Media (15 hrs.)
5. Foundation Design (15 hrs.)
6. Containment Structures and Slope Stability (15 hrs.)
7. Geotechnical Engineering of Earthquakes (15 hrs.)
8. Geosynthetics (15 hrs.)
9. Computational Geotechnics (15 hrs.)
10. Integrative Geotechnics Project (9 hrs.)

Teaching Team

The program is taught by a team of experienced professionals, including:

• Sebastian Boldrini L: Ingeniero Civil, M.Sc. PUC
• Roberto Gesche S: Ingeniero Civil, M.Sc. U. Hannover
• Marisol Lara C: Geóloga y MSc en Geología U. de Chile
• Felipe Ochoa C: Profesor y Coordinador Académico, Ingeniero Civil, Ph.D. Purdue University
• Cesar Pastén P: Ingeniero Civil, Ph.D. Georgia Institute of Technology
• Francisco Pinto V: Ingeniero Civil e Ingeniero Geólogo, Ph.D. PUC
• Patricia Rodríguez S: Ingeniera Civil y M.Sc. PUC, PhD U. Sao Paulo
• Sergio Sepúlveda V: Geólogo, Ph.D. U. Leeds
• Jorge Zornberg: Ingeniero Civil U. Nacional de Córdoba, M.Sc. PUC, PhD U. of California Berkely

Evaluation and Approval

• Attendance: Minimum 75% attendance required.
• Individual Work: Study of cases in each course.
• Final Note: Average of individual work notes.
• Approval: Final note above 4.0 (on a scale of 1.0 to 7.0).
• A digital Certificate of Approval and Certificate of Notes will be awarded upon completion.

Admission Requirements

To apply, candidates must submit:

• Photo of ID, DNI, or Passport (both sides).
• Certificate of relevant degree.
• Curriculum Vitae with relevant professional experience (minimum 1 year desirable).
• Letter of motivation.

Payment Methods

• Cash Payment: Transfer or WebPay with debit card.
• Installments: Up to 10 installments with credit card (national or international).
• Company Payment: Invoice and transfer for companies in Chile or internationally.

Discounts

• Early Bird Discount: 30% discount until January 31, 2026.
• Cash Payment Discount: 5% additional discount for cash payment (not cumulative with early bird discount).
• Other discounts available.

Value

The total value of the program is 140 UF / 5,700 USD, with a 30% discount for early registration until January 31, 2026.

University of Chile Summary

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Overview:

Founded in 1842, the University of Chile is the oldest and most prominent institution of higher education in Chile. It is a public university with a national character, meaning it serves the entire country.

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Services Offered:

The University of Chile offers a wide range of services to its students, faculty, and staff. These include:

Academic Support:

U-Cursos (online learning platform), Ucampus (course catalog), Biblioteca Digital (digital library), Repositorio Académico (academic repository), Libros electrónicos (e-books), Tesis U. de Chile (thesis database), Revistas académicas (academic journals), Portafolio académico (academic portfolio).

Student Services:

Matrícula en línea (online enrollment), Inscripción y cambio de asignaturas (course registration and changes), Consulta y certificado de notas (grade inquiry and certificate), Certificado de alumno regular (student status certificate), Servicio médico y dental (medical and dental services), Pago de arancel y crédito alumnos (tuition and student loan payment), Pago de arancel y crédito exalumnos (tuition and loan payment for alumni).

Faculty Services:

Postulación a concursos internos de investigación (internal research competition application), Consulta a bases de datos (database access), Perfeccionamiento (professional development), Editar Portafolio Académico (academic portfolio editing), Evaluación docente (faculty evaluation), Calificación académica (academic qualification), Postulación al AUCAI (AUCAI academic assignment application).

Staff Services:

Cursos internos de capacitación (internal training courses), Bienestar del personal (staff well-being), Portal de movilidad interna (internal mobility portal), Certificado de renta (income certificate), Certificado de renta honorarios (honorarium income certificate), Gestión de correo uchile (institutional email management), Editar páginas blancas (Mi uchile profile editing).

International Student Services:

Revalidación y reconocimiento de títulos (title revalidation and recognition), Postulación al Programa de Movilidad Estudiantil (student mobility program application), Inscripción de asignaturas (course registration), Cursos de español (Spanish language courses).

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Student Life and Campus Experience:

The University of Chile has multiple campuses located in Santiago, offering a diverse and vibrant campus experience. Students can participate in various activities, including:

Cultural Events:

Artistic and cultural activities, museums, theaters, orchestra, ballet, and choir performances.

Sports:

Sports facilities and programs.

Student Organizations:

Student clubs and organizations.

Community Engagement:

Opportunities to participate in community outreach programs.

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Key Reasons to Study There:

Academic Excellence:

The University of Chile is renowned for its high academic standards and strong research programs.

National Reputation:

As the oldest and most prestigious university in Chile, it holds a strong national reputation.

Diverse Programs:

Offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs across various disciplines.

International Recognition:

Has strong international partnerships and collaborations.

Community Impact:

Plays a significant role in Chilean society through its research, outreach, and cultural contributions.

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Academic Programs:

The University of Chile offers a wide range of academic programs, including:

Undergraduate Programs:

Bachelor's degrees in various fields, including architecture, arts, sciences, agriculture, engineering, forestry, chemistry, pharmacy, social sciences, veterinary medicine, communication, law, economics, business, philosophy, humanities, government, medicine, and dentistry.

Postgraduate Programs:

Master's degrees, doctoral programs, professional specialization programs, and post-title specialization programs.

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Other:

• The University of Chile has a strong commitment to social responsibility and community engagement.
• It has a rich history and plays a significant role in Chilean culture and society.
• The university has a strong focus on research and innovation.
• It offers a variety of scholarships and financial aid opportunities to students.
• The University of Chile is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion.