Long and slender, Chile stretches for some 2,700 miles down the south-west coast of South America. The country is no more than 150 miles wide in places, sandwiched between the Andes and the Pacific Ocean. Its unique geography explains Chile’s broad range of climates; as you travel south, vineyards and farmland give way to forests, volcanoes, and lakes, and eventually to icebergs.

Chile is a Spanish-speaking country, having been settled by Spaniards as well as Italians, Germans, Irish, French, British, Swiss, and Croatians. It also has a small indigenous population. The country gained its independence from Spain in 1818. Under General Pinochet, Chile endured a military dictatorship that lasted from 1973 until the late 1980s. Today, however, and despite a major earthquake in February 2010, it is one of South America’s most prosperous and stable nations. In addition to the mainland, Chile controls Easter Island and a number of other South Pacific islands.

The Chilean capital, Santiago, was founded as a Spanish colony in the sixteenth century. Today, it has a population of almost five million, making it South America’s fifth-largest city. The city has hot, dry summers (November to March) with colder, wetter winters, and occasional snow. Santiago has a spectacular location, set against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains, and South America’s most comprehensive metro system. A few colonial-era buildings remain, mostly around Plaza de Armas.

Cultural highlights include the Fine Arts museum and a central station designed by Gustave Eiffel. Santiago is a thoroughly pleasant city, with numerous parks and a network of urban bike trails. Barrio Bellavista is a bohemian district where you’ll find lively cafés, music, and art galleries. For a weekend vacation, take your pick! Both the beach and the ski slopes are readily accessible from the city.

Program Description

The Liberal Arts program in Santiago is run by CIEE (the Council on International Educational Exchange), which is the foremost U.S. non-governmental international education organization. Its mission is to “help people gain understanding, acquire knowledge, and develop skills for living in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse world.” The program begins with a 2 credit course on Contemporary Chile before the start of the university semester. During the semester, you’ll be taking one Spanish class and up to two elective classes at the CIEE Study Center. You’ll take the remaining course work at either the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (PUC) or the Universidad de Chile.

PUC, also known as “la Católica,” is Chile’s leading private university, with some 18,000 students. It has a considerable reputation in Latin America. PUC has four campuses in Santiago. Founded in 1842, the Universidad de Chile, also known as “la Chile,” is the country’s foremost public university, with 24,000 undergraduates. The university has 14 faculties distributed over five campuses. Among its famous alumni are the poet Pablo Neruda and no fewer than 19 former Chilean presidents. As a student at Universidad de Chile you can register for courses in any department, based on your fluency in Spanish and existing command of the subject.

Information at a Glance

• Academics
  

• Academic Calendar

• Accommodations and Meals

• Excursions

• Program Costs

• Scholarships

• Travel Brochure

For more information about this program, please visit the CIEE website.