Study in Santiago, Chile

  Chile

• Santiago: 
Santiago

Term: Academic Year, Fall, Spring, Throughout the year 
Dates: AY: Mid July-Mid July; Fall: Mid July-Late December; Spring: Late February-Mid July; CY: Late February-Late December

Description: The UW-Madison program at the Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile (La Catolica) in Santiago, Chile is jointly sponsored by the University of Michigan. This program allows students the opportunity to take regular university courses alongside Chilean and other international students at one of the most prestigious universities in South America. Through this program students will be continuing a long tradition of educational exchange at La Catolica, which has brought together students from around the world since its founding in 1888.

Santiago is Chile's cultural, political, and economic center; it is a dynamic, cosmopolitan metropolis with a population of approximately five million people. The unique environment in Santiago combines European influences in architectural and cultural traditions with its Latin American heritage.

La Catolica is a thriving university with more than 20,000 students in 17 different facultades (schools) spread across four campuses in Santiago. Students can choose from a full range of courses in the humanities and social sciences. The program begins with a two to three week Spanish course at La Catolica prior to the start of La Catolica's semester. This course helps students get accustomed to hearing Chilean Spanish as well as helps prepare students for taking courses at La Catolica. During the course of the regular semester, students directly enroll in courses at la Catolica with Chilean and other international students. To maintain a balance of international students in all the courses, participants will be encouraged to take a range of courses from a variety of disciplines.

Highlights: Santiago offers a wide range of activities. Students might decide to attend an opera, a rock concert, shop in one of the city's international department stores or enjoy the city's ambiance from a sidewalk cafe or by strolling through one of the local marketplaces. Like many modern cities, Santiago also faces the contemporary urban problems of smog and traffic jams. Located in the central valley between the Andes and the coastal mountains, Santiago offers opportunities to explore the Pacific beaches and the mountains outside the city.

Participants have the option to live with a host family, live in student residencias or rent an apartment. Participants are provided with resources on each of the housing options after acceptance and make their housing arrangements prior to arriving in Chile.

As part of the program, two to three excursions are planned each semester. Past locations have included: Pomaire, Valparaiso, Cajon del Maipo, Vina Concha y Toro, and Isla Negra. The Quincena Cultural, a bi-weekly bulletin of cultural events for students, published by La Catolica is a great resource for finding out what activities are taking place on campus.

Degree Level: Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Experience Required: yes

Fifth Semester Spanish with a 3.0 cumulative GPA in all Spanish language coursework.

This Program is open to American Participants.

Scholarships are Available. Contact us for more information.

Application Process Involves:

• Essay
• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Transcript

Post-Program Services Include:

• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home