Overview
Click to OpenSpend January studying abroad during Chile's summer! Designed for students who want to travel with students from all over the U.S. to Chile's capital, this three-week program invites you to earn academic credits while living in one of Latin America's most incredible cities.
All courses are taught in English at CIEE Santiago by local faculty who are mindful of students' academic needs and interests. Your courses will be complemented with co-curricular activities and guest lectures to make learning more interactive, engaging, and contextualized. CIEE staff will make every effort to infuse your academics with local culture to ensure the themes of your classes create a meaningful learning experience abroad!
Follow our Travels:
Unique Experiences
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Discover Chile
through engaging cultural activities, urban tours with Santiago student ambassadors, and hikes in the Andes foothills.
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Live
with a Chilean family, the place where students learn the real language and deep values and enjoy delicious cuisine given by a “cariñosa” host family.
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Explore
Santiago’s many world-class museums such as the Pre-Christopher Columbus Art Museum, the Chilean National Museum of Fine Arts, or the Human Rights Museum, among others.
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vineyards in Santiago region
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first-division soccer fields in the city
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Subway lines connect the most modern city in Latin America
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Location & Culture
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The Destination
Santiago de Chile has been a major contributor to Latin America’s economic and social rights movement advancement, and a regional center for political and economic stability by being a hub for many multinationals and large corporations. Santiago de Chile is ringed by the lofty Cordillera de Los Andes and is marked by emblematic national institutions such as the Palacio de La Moneda, where the Executive President’s offices are, the Costanera Center, which is the largest in-house mall in the southern hemisphere in Latin America, World Heritage buildings, internationally acclaimed novelist Pablo Neruda`s house, “La Chascona”, and the business district locally known as “Sanhattan” as it is a small version of Manhattan, among others.
CIEE wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. Local CIEE staff have provided details about conditions and cultural attitudes that students with specific identities might encounter in Santiago.

Excursions & Activities
- Participate on day trips that will guide you to discover Chile's diverse geography and natural richness. Enjoy the possibility to be within an hour and a half ride to the stunning Pacific coast of Viña del Mar or indulge your artistic interests by visiting the picturesque hills of Valparaiso and taking a boat ride by the port to witness the beauty of the twin cities: Valparaiso with its architectural wonder and Vinas del Mar with its high residential towers.
- Wander through Santiago’s neighborhoods and get insider tips with CIEE-organized activities with cultural ambassadors.
- Explore Chile's rich history and impressive art with cultural activities including visits to museums, craft fairs, historic neighborhoods, theater districts, and walking tours in the varied neighborhoods recognized as landmarks of the city of Santiago.
- Chile is world-famous for its wine. Visit a vineyard and learn about the wine industry and exporting business
- Eat authentic Chilean dishes like pebre, Chilean hot dog, pastel de choclo (corn), sopaipillas, torta de mil hojas (“a thousand leaves cake”), among others, in picturesque restaurants, bistros, and cafés around Santiago or during Chilean afternoon teatime “la once”.
Program Blogs
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Daily Life
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Housing
Homestays: Living with a Chilean family is your ticket to integration into life in Santiago de Chile as it provides an excellent opportunity for immersion into the local culture. Although families may be able to communicate in English, they foster communication in Spanish to motivate language and cultural learning.
You may be placed in a host family with or without another CIEE student. Your host family provides a single room with a desk, laundry once a week, Wi-Fi, and a copy of the house keys. Students benefit from the proximity to subway stations, coffee shops, convenience stores, ATMs –also available in metro stations-, and restaurants. -
Meals
Homestays include two meals per day. Host families and students arrange their own meal schedules. Students are responsible for the remaining meal, either preparing them at home or eating in one of many restaurants and cafés throughout the city.
Santiago, Chile Where You'll Study
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Palacio de La Moneda
Presidential Palace
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COSTANERA TOWER
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CERRO SAN CRISTOBAL AND PLAZA DE ARMAS
Academics
Click to OpenAcademics
During the January in Santiago program, all students take the required course (3 credits), in areas like social studies, sustainability, economics or human rights. In-class work is augmented with co-curricular visits to the city’s rich variety of cultural institutions and organizations relevant to the course offering.
GPA
2.5
Language Prerequisites
There are no specific language requirements for this program.
Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.
Program Requirements
All students take the required CIEE course.
Program Credit
Total credit: 3 U.S. semester/4.5 quarter credits
Course Credit
CIEE course: 3 U.S. semester/4.5 quarter credits; 45 contact hours
Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.
Academic Culture
The program is made up of three weeks of classes with an intensive orientation beforehand. CIEE classes are designed to follow U.S. academic culture and standards. Each course is a full semester in content, so the pace is accelerated, and the workload is demanding. Heavy emphasis is placed on student participation. Students should expect an average of two hours of preparation required for each hour in class. The class environment typically features a combination of traditional lecture and discussion with co-curricular excursions and activities. Class attendance is strictly enforced both for classes and required co-curricular excursions. To avoid falling behind, students should not plan personal travel out of Santiago when classes are in session.
Class Format
Courses are taught to CIEE students only. Courses are taught Monday-Friday. Instruction is supported and augmented online by our learning management system, Canvas. We do not know where we are going to have the office nor if it will have classrooms
Grading
Assessment is based on the individual’s overall performance in the course, including attendance, class participation, homework, project work, presentations, and midterm and final examinations. Learning outcomes assessment is continuous through personal reflections, evaluation feedback, self-assessment, and requirements as set out in course syllabi. Under no circumstances will CIEE alter deadlines or exam dates for study abroad students who have made conflicting travel plans. The U.S. grading scale of A-F is used.
Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.
Language of Instruction
English
Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.
Courses
Click to OpenCourse Information
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
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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.
What's Included
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Our Staff
Click to OpenOur Staff
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Alejandra Herrera
Center Director
Alejandra is a passionate and experienced educator in higher education in Chile with more than 10 years in the field of International Education.
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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 for her.
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Natalia Castro
Program Coordinator
Natalia Castro holds a BA in English Language and a Minor in International Business. Natalia has been part of CIEE Santiago and Valparaiso Centers an experienced facilitator of cultural activities and educational initiatives.
Get Started
Here's what you need to do to take the next steps:-
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START AN APPLICATION
Apply Now
You're one step closer to an amazing study abroad experience! -
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CONNECT WITH YOUR CAMPUS STUDY ABROAD OFFICE
Share your plans and confirm you're on track to meet all required steps to go abroad. -
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Contact Us
Send us an email if you still have questions or need information about applying to this program.