Overview
Click to OpenThis program has been suspended for summer 2021.
Explore our other active study abroad programs for summer 2021, or check out our travel assurances and updated health and safety guidelines.
Explore our diverse portfolio of summer programs to find another program that also meets your personal and academic goals. You might be particularly interested in our summer programs in Latin America or the Caribbean.
On one side of Santiago, the towering Andes loom in the distance, while on the other, the dazzling Pacific laps the shore. No matter where you are, you’ll enjoy world-class cuisine, neoclassical architecture, exotic parks, and a bustling urban environment. Summer in Santiago invites students of all majors to take one social science course per session, taught in English at CIEE Global Institute – Santiago and complemented with co-curricular activities designed to increase intercultural understanding.
Unique Experiences
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Experience
classic Chilean cuisine via the “picadas” route – with stops at small eateries around the city.
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Discover
the economic potential of Chile by visiting a nearby vineyard and learning about wine production and export strategy.
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Spend
the morning hiking through the Andes and the afternoon enjoying the beaches at Viña del Mar and Valparaíso.
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stations make up Santiago’s subway system, divided in six lines
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highest active volcano in the world - Ojos del Salado
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wineries in Chile, the 5th largest exporter of wine in the world
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Location & Culture
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Your Destination
Santiago de Chile is the capital and largest city in Chile, as well as one of the largest cities in Latin America. The capital is located in the country’s central valley and hosts more than 7 million residents. Downtown Santiago features 19th-century neoclassical architecture and winding side streets, dotted by art deco, neo-gothic, and other styles. The cityscape is shaped by several stand-alone hills and the fast-flowing Mapocho River, and is lined by beautiful parks like Parque Forestal and Parque de las Esculturas. From most points in the city, views of the magnificent Andes can be enjoyed.
The Culture

Excursions & Activities
All programs feature frequent cultural excursions and a multi-day study tour uniquely designed to complement your academics. Students in Santiago can …
- Explore the city with CIEE-trained guides and staff and discover the culture and history of Santiago and its surroundings.
- Visit a natural reservation like Cajón del Maipo, located just at 45 minutes from Santiago, and consider the contrasts to city life.
- See firsthand where Nobel Prize Winner Pablo Neruda lived and worked in Santiago and Valparaíso.
- Discover the Open Sky Museum of San Miguel, with more than 5,000 mt2 of outdoor graffiti and murals.
- Take an excursion outside the city to a vineyard and see why Chile is renowned as a top wine exporter.
Daily Life
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HOUSING
Homestays: Living with a Chilean family is your ticket to integration into life in Santiago. Your host family provides housing, two meals a day, laundry service, and a support system for cultural adaptation. Students can opt to live with a CIEE student in the same homestay or be the only CIEE student in the house. Each student enjoys a private bedroom.
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MEALS
Meals: Students receive two daily meals, breakfast and either lunch or dinner.
Santiago, Chile Where You'll Study
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A
San Cristobal Hill
The peak is the second highest point in the city, after Cerro Renca, and was named by the Spanish conquistadors for St Christopher, in recognition of its use as a landmark.
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Plaza de Armas Square
The Plaza de Armas is the main square of Santiago, the capital of Chile. It is the centerpiece of the initial layout of Santiago.
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C
Barrio Lastarria
An historical neighborhood in the center of Santiago, Chile. Now a popular tourist hub, and a center for cultural activity, with cinemas, theaters, museums, restaurants and bars.
Academics
Click to OpenAcademics
In Session I, students take the required course, Development, Poverty, and Human Rights to explore human rights in Latin America and the impact social movements have on public policies. In Session II, students take the required course, Media, Gender, and Identity to explore the representation of gender and identity in pop culture and mainstream media. Students can also enroll in an optional Communicative Spanish Language course taught in Spanish (1 credit). 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.
CIEE Global Institute – Santiago boasts spacious classrooms, comfortable lounge, quiet study areas, and common spaces to do coursework and get to know fellow students. Students enjoy Parque Bustamante, cafés and restaurants, shops, and much more surrounded by the beauty of Cerro San Cristobal.
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 enroll in the one 3-credit CIEE course per session
Program Credit
Total credit: 3-4 U.S. semester/4.5-6 quarter credits per session
Course Credit
- CIEE courses: 3 U.S. semester/4.5 quarter credits; 45 contact hours per session
- CIEE Communicative Language course: 1 U.S. semester/1.5 quarter credits; 15 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
Each course is a full semester in content hence the pace is accelerated and the workload is demanding. CIEE courses follow U.S. academic culture and standards. The class environment typically features a combination of traditional lecture and discussion with co-curricular excursions and activities. Heavy emphasis is placed on student participation. To avoid falling behind, students should not plan personal travel out of Santiago when classes are in session and should plan trips for the long weekends in between sessions.
Class Format
Courses are taught in English by CIEE faculty at the CIEE Global Institute and are for CIEE students only. Classes are scheduled Monday to Friday and meet either three, four, or five times per week. Attendance is strictly enforced for both classes and required co-curricular excursions. Students should expect an average of two hours of preparation required for each hour in class. Instruction is supported and augmented online by our Canvas e-learning platform.
Grading
The U.S. grading scale of A-F is used. Students are graded on the basis of 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.
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
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Course Notes
- Students studying in Santiago for more than one session may only take Communicative Spanish once.
- “(GI)” denotes courses that originated at CIEE’s Global Institutes and are offered at multiple Global Institutes and CIEE Sites.
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 Global Institutes and CIEE Centers.
Scholarships
Click to OpenScholarships & 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:
- Ping Scholarships for Academic Excellence
- Global Access Initiative (GAIN) Grants
- CIEE Gilman Go Global Grant
To be considered, submit the CIEE Scholarships & Grants application within your CIEE program application. Learn more at the Scholarships & Grants section of our website.
See more scholarship infoDates & 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 Herrera is the Director of the CIEE Global Institute - Santiago and is responsible for the success of all programs.
Get Started
Here's what you need to do to take the next steps:-
1
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.