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Study in China
beijing - chinese language + culture

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paris - critical studies

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managua - liberal arts

Study in the Czech Republic
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Study in Italy
naples - liberal arts

Study in Italy
naples - classical studies

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berlin - language + culture

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khon kaen - community public health

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perth - sustainability + the environment

Is this program right for you?

This program is designed for students from all academic disciplines who have at least three years of college-level Spanish or the equivalent in advanced Spanish. It is designed for relatively independent students who seek to matriculate in regular university courses at the Universidad Católica de Valparaíso and who have a keen interest in contemporary Chilean coastal city life and society. This program is most appropriate for students who want to take courses in literature, history, environmental studies, oceanography and psychology, although other majors are also offered. There also exists the possibility, in certain situations, for students to take courses in instrumental music and the conservatory. This program is not appropriate for students who have the intention of studying political science, anthropology, or sociology because they are not offered at the Universidad Católica de Valparaíso.

Program Snapshot

  • Gain an understanding of Chile through CIEE courses that focus on Chilean heritage, identity, literature, cinema, and history; get a language partner
  • Take advantage of community service and volunteer opportunities, including working in local schools, shelters, and nongovernmental organizations
  • Participate in educational field trips to Pucón and Santiago de Chile, as well as in cultural and educational activities, including city tours, concerts, museums, theater performances, soccer matches, and a visit to a rural community

Subject Areas

  • Art
  • Biological Sciences
  • Business
  • Chilean Studies
  • Cultural Studies
  • Education
  • Engineering & Technology
  • Environmental Studies
  • Geography
  • History
  • Latin American Studies
  • Law/Legal Studies
  • Literature
  • Music
  • Philosophy
  • Psychology
  • Religion
  • Spanish Language
  • Theology

About Valparaiso

Valparaíso and its twin city of Viña del Mar are located on the Pacific coast, just two hours by bus from Santiago. Valparaíso is a port city, housing the Chilean Congress, and Viña del Mar is a modern resort city, with shops, beaches, and recreational facilities, as well as a residential area. The two cities each consist of 600,000 inhabitants, of which more than 60,000 are university students. With affordable mass transportation between the two cities, students find them friendly locations in which to live and study.

Where You'll Study

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso

The Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso is ranked among the top regional universities in Chile. In 2003, it received its designation as a “Pontificia,” a distinction given to Catholic universities by the Vatican. The University has campuses in both Valparaíso and Viña del Mar and offers more than 50 undergraduate and 30 postgraduate degrees. Of the 13,000 students at PUCV, only three percent are international students, giving CIEE participants a great opportunity to immerse themselves in the Chilean higher education system.

Thoughts From Abroad

Valparaíso, ciudad puerto, ubicada a una hora y media de Santiago es bañada y perfumada constantemente por el Océano Pacifico. En esta ciudad se entremezcla el presente y el pasado, conviven armoniosamente lo antiguo con lo moderno, y lo real con lo bohemio. Valparaíso con sus sinuosas escaleras les permiten estar en contacto con lo simple y lo cotidiano de sus habitantes. Son estas escaleras junto con sus funiculares que llevan al centro de la ciudad y conectan con sus cerros. Valparaíso es también poesía ya que uno de los más grandes poetas de nuestra historia, Pablo Neruda, construyó una de sus tres casas en el cerro Bellavista.

Valparaíso se une con la ciudad balneario llamada Viña del Mar, conocida también como la Ciudad Jardín. Viña es famosa por sus extensos jardines y playas con modernas construcciones, variados restaurantes y clubes nocturnos. Al interior de la región también pueden encontrar apacibles lugares para aquellos que les gusta la vida al aire libre. Te invitamos a conocer el programa de CIEE Valparaíso.

— Marcia Vera, Resident Director

Staff Bios

Marcia Vera, Resident Director, received her B.A. from PUCV in English Language and Literature. Before joining CIEE, she worked as Program Director of International Abroad (ITA)-Chile at PUCV International Programs. In addition, Marcia was an International Counselor at a YMCA branch in Pennsylvania. She also teaches international students Spanish conversation and Chilean culture at PUCV. In addition to Spanish language acquisition, her academic focus is in gender and culture studies. She is currently pursuing an M.A. in Gender and Culture at the Universidad de Chile.

Dr. Haydee Ahumada, Academic Director, teaches the core course and helps students with course selection and academic support. She has a Ph.D. in literature from PUCV and a postgraduate title in Gender and Cultural Studies from the Universidad de Chile. Dr. Ahumada is a literature professor at both PUCV and the Universidad de Chile in Santiago, and her research interests focus on the Spanish exiles in Latin America and their literary production.

In addition, the CIEE Resident Coordinator, Administrative Assistant, and Program Assistant help students with homestay placements, volunteer opportunities, and cultural activities.

Recommended Credit

semester: 16–20 semester/24–30 quarter hours
academic year and calendar year: 32–40 semester/48–60 quarter hours

Eligibility Requirements

  • Overall GPA 2.75
  • 6 semesters of college-level Spanish or equivalent
  • Spanish language course within the past year recommended

Program Dates

Fall 20097/20/2009 - 12/11/2009
Academic Year 2009-107/20/2009 - 7/24/2010
Spring 20103/1/2010 - 7/24/2010
Calendar Year 20103/1/2010 - TBA

Application Deadlines

Fall 20094/1/2009
Academic Year 2009-104/1/2009
Spring 201011/1/2009
Calendar Year 201011/1/2009

Click here to check for deadline extensions.

Duration

Fall 200921 weeks
mid-July - mid-December
Academic Year 2009-1052 weeks
mid-July - mid-July
Spring 201021 weeks
 late February - mid-July
Calendar Year 201045 weeks weeks
late February - early December

CIEE Costs

CIEE program fees, inclusions, and estimated additional costs, are outlined below. Please note that CIEE reserves the right to adjust its fees in the event of significant change in exchange rates or other factors beyond its control. The actual cost of the programs may vary slightly for students from different institutions.

For comprehensive fee breakdowns and estimated additional costs, click the costs below:

  • Fall 2009 $12,100
    The CIEE fee includes tuition, housing, most meals, an optional on-site airport meet and greet, full-time leadership and support, orientation, immersion activities including language partners and volunteer opportunities, a comprehensive student handbook, pre-departure advising, scheduled activities, field trips, host institution identity card, and a CIEE iNext travel card which includes insurance and other travel benefits.

    Program Fees

    This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

    Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed below.

    Housing and most Meals$3,050
    Medical Insurance$74
    Educational Costs (direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students; including $300 non-refundable Participation Confirmation Fee)$8,976
    Total$12,100

    The CIEE fee includes tuition, housing, most meals, an optional on-site airport meet and greet, full-time leadership and support, orientation, immersion activities including language partners and volunteer opportunities, a comprehensive student handbook, pre-departure advising, scheduled activities, field trips, host institution identity card, and a CIEE iNext travel card which includes insurance and other travel benefits.



    Estimated Additional Costs

    The estimated additional costs indicated below are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

    Additional Meals$250
    Personal Expenses$2,000
    Student Visa (average cost)$200
    Transportation (round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure)$1,600
    Books and Supplies$200
    Local Transportation$720
    Total$4,970


  • Academic Year 2009-10 $21,800
    The CIEE fee includes tuition, housing, most meals, an optional on-site airport meet and greet, full-time leadership and support, orientation, immersion activities including language partners and volunteer opportunities, a comprehensive student handbook, pre-departure advising, scheduled activities, field trips, host institution identity card, and a CIEE iNext travel card which includes insurance and other travel benefits.

    Program Fees

    This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

    Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed below.

    Educational Costs (direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students; including $300 non-refundable Participation Confirmation Fee)$15,626
    Housing and most Meals$6,100
    Medical Insurance$74
    Total$21,800

    The CIEE fee includes tuition, housing, most meals, an optional on-site airport meet and greet, full-time leadership and support, orientation, immersion activities including language partners and volunteer opportunities, a comprehensive student handbook, pre-departure advising, scheduled activities, field trips, host institution identity card, and a CIEE iNext travel card which includes insurance and other travel benefits.



    Estimated Additional Costs

    The estimated additional costs indicated below are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

    Additional Meals$500
    Transportation (round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure)$1,600
    Personal Expenses*$4,000
    Local Transportation$1,440
    Student Visa (average cost)$200
    Books and Supplies$400
    Total$8,140

    *Academic and Calendar Year students are responsible for housing and meals during the break between semesters. For the February to December program, this is approximately two weeks and costs are estimated at $350. For the July to July program, this is two and a half months and costs are estimated at $1,750. These additional expenses are not included in the Estimated Additional Costs listed above.


  • Spring 2010 $12,300
    The CIEE fee includes tuition, housing, meals, an optional on-site airport meet and greet, full-time leadership and support, orientation, immersion activities including language partners and volunteer opportunities, a comprehensive student handbook, pre-departure advising, scheduled activities, field trips, host institution identity card, and a CIEE iNext travel card which includes insurance and other travel benefits.

    Program Fees

    This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

    Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed below.

    Educational Costs (direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students; including $300 non-refundable Participation Confirmation Fee)$9,106
    Housing and Meals$3,120
    Medical Insurance$74
    Total$12,300

    The CIEE fee includes tuition, housing, meals, an optional on-site airport meet and greet, full-time leadership and support, orientation, immersion activities including language partners and volunteer opportunities, a comprehensive student handbook, pre-departure advising, scheduled activities, field trips, host institution identity card, and a CIEE iNext travel card which includes insurance and other travel benefits.



    Estimated Additional Costs

    The estimated additional costs indicated below are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

    Transportation (round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure)$1,500
    Books and Supplies$200
    Local Transportation$720
    Student Visa (average cost)$150
    Personal Expenses$2,000
    Total$4,570


  • Calendar Year 2010 $23,400
    The CIEE fee includes tuition, housing, meals, an optional on-site airport meet and greet, full-time leadership and support, orientation, immersion activities including language partners and volunteer opportunities, a comprehensive student handbook, pre-departure advising, scheduled activities, field trips, host institution identity card, and a CIEE iNext travel card which includes insurance and other travel benefits.

    Program Fees

    This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

    Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed below.

    Educational Costs (direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students; including $300 non-refundable Participation Confirmation Fee)$17,086
    Housing and Meals$6,240
    Medical Insurance$74
    Total$23,400

    The CIEE fee includes tuition, housing, meals, an optional on-site airport meet and greet, full-time leadership and support, orientation, immersion activities including language partners and volunteer opportunities, a comprehensive student handbook, pre-departure advising, scheduled activities, field trips, host institution identity card, and a CIEE iNext travel card which includes insurance and other travel benefits.



    Estimated Additional Costs

    The estimated additional costs indicated below are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

    Personal Expenses*$4,000
    Transportation (round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure)$1,500
    Local Transportation$1,440
    Books and Supplies$400
    Student Visa (average cost)$150
    Total$7,490

    *Academic and Calendar Year students are responsible for housing and meals during the break between semesters. For the February to December (Calendar Year) program, this is approximately two weeks and costs are estimated at $350. For the July to July Academic Year) program, this is approximately three months and costs are estimated at $2,100. These additional expenses are not included in the Estimated Additional Costs listed above.


Scholarship Information

For a complete list of scholarships available, please vist our Scholarships section.