Semester in Santiago
New for Spring 2025!
Unique Experiences
Take a deep dive into Latin American pre-Columbian and colonial art
with CIEE excursions to world-class specialized art museums
Take a gondola ride in Parque Metropolitano
the 4th largest metropolitan park in the world
Explore award-winning contemporary architecture
and enjoy breathtaking views of Santiago from the only Bahá’í temple in South America
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CULTURAL AND NATURAL LANDMARKS AS UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES IN CHILE
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BEACHES LOCATED AT THE CENTRAL COAST OF CHILE, NEAR SANTIAGO
22 +
OFFICIAL TRAILS TO TREK IN THE ANDES AND THE OUTSKIRTS OF SANTIAGO
Your Destination
Santiago de Chile is a city of wonders, where the past and present intertwine to create a tapestry of culture, history, and natural beauty. The city is framed by the majestic Andes Mountains, their snow-capped peaks providing a breathtaking backdrop to the urban landscape. Within the city, you will explore the historic neighborhoods of Barrio Lastarria and Barrio Bellavista, where colonial architecture blends seamlessly with modern art galleries, boutique shops, and vibrant street art. Santiago's culinary scene is equally rich, offering a tantalizing array of flavors, from traditional Chilean dishes to international cuisine, mixed with food offerings from all over Latin America! And when it’s time for disconnecting and recharging, Santiago's multiple parks and green spaces provide a tranquil escape from the bustling city streets.
As an international student, you will embark on your daily routines commuting by an efficient metro system or cycling along dedicated bike lanes with the Andes surrounding and providing a framework for your daily adventures. College campuses at partner universities offer an array of activities and opportunities to their students, and courses in English will allow you to pursue your required credits without the hardships of a language barrier. At lunchtime, the college cafeteria will surprise you with healthy, hearty, homemade food, and an opportunity to catch up with new friends. Afternoons are often spent exploring Santiago's cultural attractions, such as museums and art galleries, with friends or CIEE peers in customized cultural outings. Evenings in Santiago begin with the tantalizing aromas of fresh-baked bread and tea at “once” time with friends and family, to later enjoying gatherings in parks, cafés, or theaters to socialize and appreciate the city's rich cultural offerings, from live music performances to theater productions.
Whether exploring the city's historic sites, indulging in its culinary delights, or simply soaking in the natural beauty that surrounds it, Santiago de Chile is a city that never fails to captivate and inspire.
The Culture
Excursions & Activities
- Visit Pomaire, a picturesque Chilean village known for its traditional pottery and rustic charm. A CIEE study trip to Pomaire typically includes a pottery-making workshop guided by experienced local artisans, with both direct sculpting work and pottery-wheel work. There also are opportunities to try Chilean delicacies and partake in a cooking workshop!
- Take a trip to Aconcagua Valley, a serene Chilean valley nestled in the Andes Mountain range celebrated for its agricultural heritage and scenic beauty. This study trip explores the history of Chile’s independence through walking tours along its old and picturesque streets. A short trek takes CIEE students to the top of a hill/art park where they enjoy views of the valley and fields. Given the agricultural nature of the area, previous trips have also included a stop by a local, small-scale vineyard to learn about and taste the terroir of Chilean wine.
- As part of the cultural offerings of our center, CIEE students may attend plays and performances reflecting artistically and aesthetically on current hot issues such as feminism, human rights, and ecology/sustainability.
- Santiago’s diverse “comunas” (districts) offer a peek into the lives and perspectives of a diverse body of citizens. Our local staff facilitates insightful tours into neighborhoods that foreigners may otherwise miss. One of them is the art district in San Miguel district, or a guided visit to explore historical migrations in Santiago’s Patronato neighborhood.
- Chile’s history unfolds around the exploitation of natural resources, from land to mines. Visits to selected museums advance this history to CIEE students in a friendly and approachable way, such as the Cousiño Palace Museum.
- While a predominantly Catholic country, Chile’s spirituality has drastically changed in the last 10 years. Students have the chance to explore and gain a deeper understanding of the topic by guided visits to spiritual centers such as the Cathedral of Santiago, the Baha’i temple, or the As-Salam Mosque.
Academic Projects
A for-credit internship (in English or in Spanish) allows students the opportunity to have practical work experience in a company or NGO within a variety of industry sectors. In addition, students participating in an internship program have a weekly classroom component, which provides academic support to their practical experience.
For-credit Directed Independent Research is for qualified students who have demonstrated academic rigor and curiosity toward a particular research topic. Independent research topics will be approved by the CIEE Santiago Director and home institution and should ideally reflect a topic that is relevant to Chile. To be accepted into this course, students must submit a structured proposal with topic of exploration, significance of research topic as it relates to Santiago/Chile, methodology, a literature review, and a schedule of research milestones. Upon research completion, students will present their findings to a panel of academics.
Program Blogs
Princess Peluda
One of the first things I noticed about my house in Chile was that it was much like the country itself: long, narrow, and full of opportunities to make mistakes... keep reading
CIEE Santiago Open Campus Block 1/2
Santiago, Chile is such a beautiful city! From going to the hill of San Cristobal, the numerous artisan markets, seeing the wonderful architecture, going to vibrant parks, and countless fascinating... keep reading
Embarking on a Cultural Odyssey: The CIEE Santiago January Exchange Unveiled
Santiago's vibrant tapestry provids the backdrop for weeks filled with enriching encounters and memorable moments. Although, not primarily a language-oriented program, the immersion component stands out as daily interactions with... keep reading
Housing & Meals
Housing
Standard Housing: Includes a room in a homestay or residence hall.
Select Housing: Includes a single room in a residence hall. This accommodation option has limited availability. Select housing requires an additional fee.
- Homestays: This is the perfect option for students who wish for a fully immersive experience in Chile! Our hosts represent the landscape of current Chileans and include families with adult children living at the homestay; monoparental families; same-sex couples; young or older couples; retired people; etc. Regardless of your language level, we have the perfect family for you; that is, families with one or more family member who are fluent in English, or families who prefer to communicate solely in Spanish. Students are greeted and welcomed into the dynamics of these families, which include weekend activities at relatives’ homes, day trips to other cities, shared meals, or simply watching soap operas while having “once!”
Whether you are placed in a single or double placement with another CIEE student, you will have your own private room (bathroom may be shared with other host family members or your CIEE mate). Other amenities include weekly laundry, two meals per day, and Wi-Fi access. All homestays are located in residential areas near supermarkets, coffee shops, and parks. Bus stops or a metro station are guaranteed to expedite your access to public transportation, however, commuting to your host institution may take up to one hour (off-peak). - Residence Hall: This is the best option for students who wish more independence and to meet other Chilean and international college-level students at their own pace. The residence hall is located in a residential area, just footsteps from a commercial district with amenities such as cafés, theaters, supermarkets, exchange houses, restaurants, shopping malls, etc.
The residence hall is a three-story building with 30+ bedrooms, a common kitchen, shared bathrooms, a complimentary laundry room, lounge areas, Wi-Fi access, and a small yard. Students will be placed in a double room with another college-level student (not necessarily a CIEE peer). Students are responsible for providing their own meals as they are not included. A metro station is within walking distance of the residence hall, and commuting to your host institution may take up to 45 minutes (off-peak). This accommodation option has limited availability.
A note: The default criterion to assign housing is first-come, first-served; however, other factors may also be considered. If we cannot accommodate your first housing choice, we'll let you know before you arrive.
Meals
Residence Hall: Meals are not included. However, students have access to a fully furnished kitchen, complete with utensils and cleaning supplies, to prepare their meals. Additionally, there are plenty of restaurants in the surrounding areas for students to enjoy.
Homestay: Students residing with host families typically enjoy two daily meals, which are agreed upon with the host family (choosing from breakfast, lunch, or dinner). Any additional meals or snacks are the responsibility of the student. Students are welcome to utilize the kitchen facilities provided by the homestay, and families will allocate a cabinet or storage area for their food and ingredients.
Academics
Students have wide flexibility to design their own academic load-taking options from the following scheme:
- Courses taught in English at top Chilean universities: Universidad de Chile, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, and Universidad Diego Portales
- For those proficient in Spanish, there is the option to take courses in Spanish at all three local universities
- Students can also opt for courses delivered in English and/or Spanish by CIEE
Before your arrival onsite, you will have a one-on-one academic counseling with local staff to review your options and decide whether your proposed schedule is logistically feasible (commuting between campuses may take between 30-45 minutes).
Course Information
The following list of courses constitutes a representative sample of course offerings in English through our partner universities and is subject to change. Some courses are offered once a year, in either the spring or fall semester.
Universidad Diego Portales | *This brochure corresponds to 2024. |
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Engineering | Python for Engineers |
Environment | Environment and Sustainable Development |
History | Indigenous Population in Chile and the Americas |
Astrophysics | Exploring the Solar System and Beyond |
Zooming in and out: Scaling the Universe | |
Social Science | Women’s Rights Movements: From Alaska to Patagonia |
United States of America: A nation of Migrants | |
Law | International criminal law |
Current trends on migration | |
International courts and politics | |
Economy | Doing Business in Latin America |
Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile
Introduction to gastronomic engineering
Fintech: financial applications
Number theory
Algebraic Topology
Research, innovation and entrepreneurship
Comparative Constitutional Law
Research seminar: International and Comparative Law
China: Business, Law, Technology and Society
Litigating Before International Courts and Tribunals
Persuasive Communication
English for Small Children
Strange Tales in Narrative and Film
Language and the Brain: Discourse Comprehension and production
English and Spanish Contrasts
English Phonetics and Phonology II
Applied Grammar II
Drama
Poetry
Classical and Medieval Literature
Narrative I
Research in Literature/Linguistics
Applied Phonetics II
Multimedia Journalism Workshop
Universidad de Chile | |
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Philosophy and Humanities | Chilean History and Culture through Literature and Film |
American Culture Through Literature and Film | |
Culture and Power: Mechanisms of Social and Cultural Control | |
Government | |
The Chilean Political Crisis | |
Law | European Union and Latin American Integration Law |
Agricultural Sciences | Nano Agriculture |
Arts | History of Art: Chilean Heritage |
International Studies | Latin American Politics and World Affairs |
Business School | |
Advanced Accounting | |
The Economic Way of Thinking | |
Urban Economics | |
Environmental Economics | |
Finance I | |
Corporate Financial Management | |
Business Intelligence and Analytics | |
Business Intelligence and Data Base Applications | |
Business Process Management | |
Chilean Economic Development | |
International Business | |
Marketing | |
Business Negotiations | |
Latin America´s World Affairs | |
Business Strategy | |
Managing Multinational Corporations in LATAM | |
Intercultural Business Challenges in Latin America |
Note: This course listing is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract between CIEE and any applicant, student, institution, or other party. The courses, as described, may be subject to change as a result of ongoing curricular revisions, assignment of lecturers and teaching staff, and program development. Courses may be canceled due to insufficient enrollment.
"(GI)" denotes courses that originated at CIEE's Global Institutes and that are offered at multiple CIEE sites.
Dates & Fees
You get more for every dollar when you study abroad with CIEE, because our high-quality programs include everything from excursions to insurance. There are no hidden charges, and no disappointing surprises when you arrive.
Program |
Application Due |
Start Date |
End Date |
Fees & Housing |
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Program Spring 2025 18 weeks | Start Date | End Date |
To help you budget, keep in mind that students are responsible for the cost of international airfare, local transportation, books and supplies, visas, and personal expenses. In addition, your college or university may charge additional fees for study abroad, or may require you to receive a transcript via CIEE's School of Record, which carries an additional fee of $500.
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
What's Included
Tuition
Housing
Pre-departure Advising
Advising before you depart to set goals and answer questions
Optional on-site airport meet-and-greet
Orientation
Introduction to your program plus practical information about living in your host city
On-site Staff
Full-time program leadership and support in your city
Cultural and/or Co-curricular Activities
Excursions and/or Study Tours
Travel Protection
CIEE iNext travel protection
24/7 emergency on-site support
Our Staff
Maria Paz Montes Monsalve
Program Coordinator
Maria Paz holds a degree in English from Universidad de Chile where she had the opportunity to spend a year abroad in the United States, which was a life-changing decision...
Victor Muñoz
Programs and Finance Manager
Víctor is passionate about studies. He graduated in Business and Economy, has a master's degree on Strategic Management and Project Evaluation, and certifications on Data Science in Python. He also...
Camila Soto
Program Coordinator
Camila Soto has a BA in Literature with experience in independent publishing, language teaching and international education. At CIEE she has worked at the Teach in Chile program and as...
Alejandra Herrera
Regional Director of Operations for Latin America, Interim Center Director, Santiago Chile
Alejandra is a passionate and experienced educator in higher education in Chile with more than 10 years in the field of International Education.