January in Santiago
Unique Experiences
Discover Chile
through engaging cultural activities, urban tours with Santiago student ambassadors, and hikes in the Andes foothills
Live with a Chilean Family
where students learn the language and enjoy delicious cuisine from a host family
Explore World-Class Museums
such as the Chilean National Museum of Fine Arts or the Human Rights Museum
Your Destination
Santiago is Chile’s cosmopolitan capital, celebrated for its sunny summer weather and vibrant cultural scene. January is the perfect time to experience the city's charm with fewer crowds, open-air festivals, and stunning views of the Andes. Explore colorful neighborhoods, visit world-class museums, and enjoy delicious Chilean cuisine. Whether you are majoring in business, science, engineering, technology, communications, psychology, health sciences, liberal arts, language, or fine arts, Santiago is the perfect place to study abroad on winter break.
Program Highlights
- Academic Courses: Choose from CIEE courses that align with your academic major.
- Immersive Experiences: Participate in activites, excursions, study tours, and more that showcase your host city's culture, values, and local art, film, music, cuisine, and sports scenes.
Excursions & Activities
CIEE’s excursions and cultural activities in Santiago will open doors for you to explore Chile's rich diversity, language, culture, history, and timeless beauty in ways that will enhance your time abroad.
Samples of past excursions and activities:
- Visit a vineyard and learn about the wine industry and exporting business
- Wander through Santiago’s neighborhoods and get insider tips with CIEE-organized activities with cultural ambassadors
- Take a boat ride to witness the beauty of the nearby twin cities: Valparaiso with its architectural wonder and Vina del Mar with its high residential towers
Please note: Activities are based on past programs and subject to change at CIEE's discretion to adapt to local circumstances and participant feedback. Our goal when arranging activities is always to enhance your experience.
Program Blogs
Study Abroad Chile: The Ultimate Guide
Ready to take your study abroad experience to the next level? Say hello to Chile, the long, skinny gem of Latin America, where adventure meets education in the heart of... 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
Valparaiso Reflection
Author: Emma Denny University of South Carolina During their trip to Valparaíso, another Capstone scholar student from the University of South Carolina wrote the following reflection on the architecture of... keep reading
Housing & Meals
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.
Academics
CIEE Santiago: Study on the main campus of University Diego Portales (UDP), CIEE’s partner institution, surrounded by the beauty of Cerro San Cristóbal Hill. CIEE Santiago boasts a student-friendly campus with spacious classrooms, a comfortable lounge, quiet study areas, and common spaces for coursework and socializing with fellow students.
Course 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.
Scholarships & Grants
CIEE offers scholarships and grants annually to help students like you make your study abroad dream a reality.
Students who apply to this program are eligible for the following scholarships and grants:
- Global Access Initiative (GAIN) Grants
To be considered, submit the CIEE Scholarships & Grants application within your CIEE program application.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Program January 2026 3 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.
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.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
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
Travel Protection
CIEE iNext travel protection
24/7 emergency on-site support
Our Staff
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...
Get Started
1
2
Connect With Your Campus Study Abroad Office
Share your plans and confirm you're on track to meet all required steps to go abroad.
3
Contact Us
Send us an email if you still have questions or need information about applying to this program.
You might also like
- Santiago, Chile
- Full-Time Internship
Your CIEE Semester Global Internship program in Sanitago lasts 12 weeks and features three key components: A full-time internship with an international organization (30-40 hours per week), an internship seminar, and a 3-credit academic course taught online through CIEE’s global academic partner, ASU.
- Santiago, Chile
- Study Program
- Full-Time Internship
Intern abroad in Santiago, one of Latin America's most economically significant cities. Home to Chilean companies, NGOs, startups, and international businesses, Santiago is an excellent place to gain work experience. Choose English- or Spanish-speaking placements in human rights, business, engineering, astronomy, sciences, education, arts, and more.
- Santiago, Chile
- Study Program
- Part-Time Internship
Spend your summer earning academic credits toward your degree while simultaneously gaining practical real-world work experience in one of Santiago’s top industries, including business management, education, finance, marketing, and science.