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Study Abroad in Santiago de los Caballeros

College Study Abroad

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study abroad in santiago dominican republic

Explore Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic

Santiago de los Caballeros, also called Santiago, is the second-largest city in the Dominican Republic beaming with small-town charm. Just steps away from places of historical, cultural, and ecological interest, Santiago is the commercial and cultural center of the fertile Cibao Central Valley region.

When you study abroad in Santiago de los Caballeros, you’ll experience all that the Dominican Republic has to offer, from its warm, Caribbean climate to its complex culture, history, and politics. In Santiago, students can enroll in Spanish language courses, go on excursions around the country, live with a host family, and so much more!

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  • farming volunteer day santiago dr
  • outdoor class study abroad santiago dr

Study Tours & Cultural Excursions in Santiago de los Caballeros

Every CIEE semester program has frequent cultural activities and an overnight excursion uniquely designed to complement the program’s academics and enhance students’ cultural immersion. In Santiago de los Caballeros, past activities and overnight excursions have included:

  • Weekend trip to the growing eco-paradise on Samaná Peninsula and Los Haitises National Park
  • Visit to Santo Domingo and its Zona Colonial, including the first Cathedral of the Americas
  • Day trips to explore several sites, including the Hermanas Mirabal Museum in Salcedo, the town of La Vega during Carnaval Dominicano season, the market town of Dajabón on the Haitian-Dominican border, and the Centro Leon Museum in Santiago
  • Trips to the world-renowned 27 Waterfalls of Damajagua

If you’re a student looking to improve your Spanish skills, visit beautiful natural sites across the Dominican Republic, or learn more about the complex history of Santiago, CIEE’s tours and excursions allow you to do just that! 

About the Center

Situated on the Dominican Republic's Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM) campus, CIEE Santiago DR proudly shares space with one of the most prestigious universities on the island and one of the most beautiful campuses in the entire country. The Center sits at the ecological lung of the region, giving students access to a stunning garden-campus hybrid that promotes study and research.

Inside the Center, students will find classroom space, a student lounge, a study space, a student life and academic advising office, an outdoor space, and complimentary WiFi and printer access. Outside the Center, students are within walking distance to most homestays and just a 15-minute drive from downtown Santiago where they can access ATMs, banks, eateries, bookstores, cafés, and a small pharmacy.

santiago de los caballeros office ciee

Where Students Study

CIEE Santiago de Los Caballeros
Located on the PUCMM campus, just 15 minutes’ drive from downtown Santiago and within walking distance from most homestays.

Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM)
Founded in 1962, PUCMM is one of several colleges in the Dominican Republic dedicated to serving the social and economic development of all Dominicans. It has been ranked by the Inter-American Development Bank as the best academic institution in the Dominican Republic and enrolls about 8,000 students.

student interns abroad santiago dr

Internships & Volunteering

Depending on their program of study and availability, students may be able to participate in an internship or volunteer work. Students interested in interning in Santiago de los Caballeros may be able to work with a local business in a variety of areas, including environmental studies, marketing, sustainability, and more.

Students looking to volunteer in Santiago may be able to care for challenged infants and children, help young boys at a baseball academy, assist elementary school teachers, and more. In addition, students will have unique opportunities to hear from people at the center and forefront of the country’s issues to enhance their experience.

Study Abroad Programs in Santiago de los Caballeros

santiago dr colonial building
  • Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic
  • Study Program

Study in the DR this January and immerse yourself in the daily life of a vibrant developing Caribbean Island, where fascinating historical, commercial, and ecological treasures intersect.

Program Interests
  • Mountains to Hike
  • Small City
santiago dr art
  • Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic
  • Study Program

Take your Spanish language skills to the next level while immersing yourself in the rich culture of the Dominican Republic.

Program Interests
  • Mountains to Hike
  • Small City
beads santiago dr
  • Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic
  • Study Program

Spend your summer in the Dominican Republic learning about the complexities of healthcare in developing nations.

Program Interests
  • Language Immersion
  • Mountains to Hike
  • Small City
santiago dr gargoyle over city
  • Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic
  • Study Program

Raise your already strong Spanish language skills

Program Interests
  • Host Institution
  • Mountains to Hike
  • Small City
Pocket Guide to Santiago de los Caballeros

Currency 
Dominican peso

Spoken Languages 
Spanish

Available Transportation 
Subway, taxis, bus

Famous Local 
Luis Polonia – former professional baseball player in the Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame

Climate 
Tropical climate with a warm and humid year-round temperate averaging 78°F

Places to Explore 
Monumento a los Héroes de la Restauración – the highest hilltop monument in Santiago

Airport 
Cibao International Airport (STI)

Social Norms 
Avoid giving a gift to someone that is black or purple as they’re considered signs of mourning

What to Pack 
Comfortable walking shoes and sandals, mosquito repellent, shorts, beach towel

Frequently Asked Questions

With a complex history, vibrant biodiversity, Spanish language studies, and more, Santiago de los Caballeros is a good place to study abroad for students looking for adventure. The second-largest city in the Dominican Republic, Santiago de los Caballeros offers students a tropical destination where they can advance their studies and learn about Dominican culture.

Santiago is regarded as one of the safest places in Latin America that is welcoming to everyone. As with any study abroad city, we recommend that students travel in groups when possible, keep their belongings secure, and stay aware of their surroundings.

Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic, is located in the northwest region of the country in the heart of the Cibao Valley. Nearby attractions to Santiago include the town of Jarabacoa, Pico Duarte trail, Parque Nacional Valle Nuevo, and the Armando Bermúdez National Park.

Santiago, Dominican Republic, offers a variety of activities for students, such as visits to the Centro Cultural Eduardo León Jimenes art museum, Monumento a los Héroes de la Restauración, Puerto Plata beach, Duarte Park, Jardín Botánico de Santiago Profesor Eugenio de Jesús Marcano Fondeur, and more.

In order to ensure our students feel welcomed, supported, and empowered while studying abroad, CIEE staff completes comprehensive diversity equity and inclusion (DEI) training. Staff provide students with advice, resources, and ongoing support both before and during their study abroad program in Santiago de los Caballeros.
For more detailed information on diversity in Santiago de los Caballeros, visit our Diversity in Santiago de los Caballeros page.

Study Abroad Scholarships & Grants

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Apply in 1,2,3!

You may be wondering if there are any scholarships to study in Santiago de los Caballeros. CIEE offers scholarships and grants for study abroad programs in Santiago de los Caballeros to students with demonstrated financial need, proven academic merit, and for specific CIEE programs. Students can apply for scholarships through 3 simple steps:

  1. Search for and apply to your dream program
  2. Review all available funding opportunities
  3. Complete the Scholarship & Grants portion of your application
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Study Abroad Scholarships

NEED-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS

Based on students' Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) from their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and enrolled institution. Complete the Scholarships & Grants portion of your program application to be considered for all awards to which you are eligible.

MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS

Based on academic achievement. Complete the Scholarships & Grants portion of your program application, along with an essay, to be considered for all awards to which you are eligible.

OTHER SCHOLARSHIPS

Other scholarship awards are based on program or alumni status.

VIEW OUR SCHOLARSHIPS & GRANTS

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Santiago de los Caballeros Study Abroad Reviews

  • "It was a very informative experience with amazing programming."

    Jesse A., University of Richmond

  • "The internship placements and support from staff are top notch."

    Mark L., Texas Christian University