Program Duration

Academic Year: Mid July - Mid July
Fall semester: Mid July - Late December
Spring semester: Late February - Mid July
Calendar Year: Late February - Late December

Program Description

The UW-Madison program at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (La Católica) in Santiago, Chile is jointly sponsored by the University of Michigan. This program allows students the opportunity to take regular university courses alongside Chilean and other international students at one of the most prestigious universities in South America. Through this program students will be continuing a long tradition of educational exchange at La Católica, which has brought together students from around the world since its founding in 1888.

Santiago is Chile’s cultural, political, and economic center; it is a dynamic, cosmopolitan metropolis with a population of approximately five million people. The unique environment in Santiago combines European influences in architectural and cultural traditions with its Latin American heritage.

Santiago offers a wide range of activities. Students might decide to attend an opera, a rock concert, shop in one of the city’s international department stores or enjoy the city’s ambiance from a sidewalk café or by strolling through one of the local marketplaces. Like many modern cities, Santiago also faces the contemporary urban problems of smog and traffic jams. Located in the central valley between the Andes and the coastal mountains, Santiago offers opportunities to explore the Pacific beaches and the mountains outside the city.

Academics

La Católica is a thriving university with more than 20,000 students in 17 different facultades (schools) spread across four campuses in Santiago. Students can choose from a full range of courses in the humanities and social sciences. The program begins with a two to three week Spanish course at La Católica prior to the start of La Católica’s semester. This course helps students get accustomed to hearing Chilean Spanish as well as helps prepare students for taking courses at La Católica. During the course of the regular semester, students directly enroll in courses at la Católica with Chilean and other international students. To maintain a balance of international students in all the courses, participants will be encouraged to take a range of courses from a variety of disciplines.

Housing

Participants have the option to live with a host family, live in student residencias or rent an apartment. Participants are provided with resources on each of the housing options after acceptance and make their housing arrangements prior to arriving in Chile.

Excursions and Activities

Along with La Católica’s International Academic Relations Office, a part-time UW-Madison Program Liaison coordinates the on-site orientation, organizes activities and excursions for program participants, serves as the contact in cases of emergency and maintains communication with the UW-Madison campus. After arrival in Santiago, orientation sessions cover specific topics related to academics and local issues.

As part of the program, two to three excursions are planned each semester. Past locations have included: Pomaire, Valparaiso, Cajon del Maipo, Vińa Concha y Toro, and Isla Negra. The Quincena Cultural, a bi-weekly bulletin of cultural events for students, published by La Católica is a great resource for finding out what activities are taking place on campus.