The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between life skills and social intelligence in students from a private university. It was developed under a quantitative approach, with a non-experimental design, descriptive-correlational, and cross-sectional. The population was made up of 506 university students enrolled in the first semesters (1, 2, and 3) of a private university. The sample was non-probabilistic and was made up of 278 students. The life skills test and the short social intelligence scale were used as instruments. To analyze the relationship between the variables studied, the Spearman-Brown correlation was used (since the data do not follow a normal distribution (Kolmogorov- Smirnov; P<0.05), it was proposed as a null hypothesis (P≥0.05) the independence of the variables studied (life skills and social intelligence), and as an alternative hypothesis (P> 0.05), the relationship between the variables studied (life skills and social intelligence), according to the Spearman correlation -Brown, it was found that there is a relationship between the dimensions of the variables studied (P<0.05), in the same way, it was also found that said relationship is directly proportional. Life and social intelligence are necessary variables in the processes of academic training, and according to the results obtained, it is considered pertinent to develop training and intervention actions in them, to favor adaptation to the university context, student permanence, and scope of graduate professional competencies. © 2021 Academia Nacional de Medicina. All rights reserved.