Academic Study Abroad

The South American country of Chile stretches 2,800 miles from the Atacama Desert in the north to glaciers and fjords in the south. About 125 miles wide, Chile lies between the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Andes to the east. Although its population is mainly European in origin, there remains an indigenous presence a few hours south of Santiago. Gaining its independence from Spain in 1818, Chile’s agriculture and mining industries have helped Chile be an economically dynamic country from early in its history. In 1973, Santiago was the hub of the military coup that brought General Augusto Pinochet to power. While his 17-year dictatorship brought brutal repression to the country, today Chile is a prosperous democracy. Chile is well-known for its wines, skiing and beaches.

Vina Del Mar, known as "The Garden City," is a gorgeous beach town in the Valparaiso region of Chile, 70 miles North of Santiago. The greater Valparaiso/Vina Del Mar metropolitan area is the second largest urban center in Chile, and is often referred to as Chile's Riviera due to it's popularity amongst Chilean and international tourists. Aside from its beauty, the region offers top-rate musical performances and other artistic happenings and is considered the Cultural Capitol of Chile.

The Universidad de Vina del Mar's two campuses offer students a typical "college feel," stretched across 50 acres of highland just outside the city center. The study abroad program will engage students in important, timely subjects such as religious freedom, human rights, indigenous movements, environmental issues, migration, global market integration, and artistic expression.

School Facilities: Viña del Mar University consists of three campuses: the main Campus Rodelillo, in the upper part of the city, the Agua Santa site, located in the central part of the city; and the San Felipe site, situated in San Felipe commune. The university includes schools of architecture, art and design, agricultural sciences, communications, law, education and the humanities, engineering, kinesiology, business, and technology.

Study Abroad students will take most of their classes in the Campus Rodelillo, which contains a large library, several laboratories, a beautiful amphitheater, sports complex, cafeteria, banking services and bookstores. Free wireless is also available throughout the campus grounds.

Participants: The majority of the students attending the University are degree seeking native Chilean students. The Study Abroad program hosts a diverse mix of international students from North and South America, Europe, and Asia.

Requirements: Minimum 2.5 grade point average and completion of freshman year

Transcript & Credit: We recommend that students take 12-15 credits/semester or 6 credits/summer which are issued on an official transcript from the Universidad de Vina del Mar, and are fully accredited by the National Commission of Accreditation (CNAP), a branch of the Ministry of Education of Chile.