“I chose IFSA because I wanted to live with a host family and direct enroll in university as well. I also wanted a more focused program that would be able to help and communicate closely with me as an individual.“
Santiago, Chile
Chilean Universities Program, Santiago





- ABOUT
- ACADEMICS
- EXCURSIONS
- DAY-TO-DAY-EXPERIENCE
- DATES AND FEES
About Chilean Universities Program, Santiago

Mix and match classes from among Latin America's top universities for business, history, sociology (and more) during the day, while taking in a vibrant, modern art scene by night. Want to be part of the café culture while working on research? You'll find yourself at home in Santiago!
Academics at Chilean Universities Program, Santiago
Looking for specific classes? Explore CHART, our exclusive class database — if the Chilean Universities Program, Santiago is pre-approved at your institution, you’ll find classes recently taken by other IFSA students.
We offer semester and full year study on the Chilean Universities Program in Santiago, where you'll take classes alongside local students at up to 3 different universities: the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Universidad de Chile and Universidad Diego Portales. To complement your learning, we offer an exclusively-designed program course and a directed research project option. These classes, taught in Spanish by local professors, are intended to provide you with an understanding of the events and issues that make Chile what it is today.
- Advanced Spanish: Grammar, Composition and Conversation (4 U.S. semester credit hours) This mandatory Spanish class is designed for especially for IFSA students on the Chilean Universities Program in Santiago. The main objective of this course is improving communicative competence and precision in speaking, listening, reading and writing (both formally and informally), while also taking integrating elements of Latin American and Chilean culture. Chilean instructors teach the course, which lasts the duration of the semester.
- Directed Research Project (6 U.S. semester credit hours): Students who have a special interest in a particular subject area may opt to complete a directed research project. By working closely with IFSA staff and Chilean university faculty members, students will be able to develop a substantial research project by the end of the semester. Students will attend methodology seminars and meet with their research sponsor during the semester.
To complete your courseload alongside Chilean students at our local partner universities, you can explore each of the three universities' online course catalogs. Keep in mind that these listings are provisional.
Universidad de Chile
Browse through classes offered in previous semesters.
- You can browse by Primer Semestre (US Spring) and Segundo Semestre (US Fall).
- Courses listed are not guaranteed to be offered for your time abroad, but this will give you a good idea of what can be offered.
- All course schedules are provisional until you arrive in Chile.
View the list of all majors offered at U.Chile.
- Select a major (carrera) of your interest.
- Scroll down to the middle of the page for the "Programa de Estudio" and corresponding courses.
Pontifica Universidad Católica de Chile
Access PUCC's online course catalog from the previous semester.
- You can browse by Primer Semestre (US Spring) and Segundo Semestre (US Fall).
- You can narrow down a search by "Escuela."
- All course schedules are provisional until you arrive in Chile.
View the list of all majors offered at PUCC.
- Click on a major (carrera) of your interest.
- Select the most recent year.
- This malla curricular (degree plan) will show you a list of courses required for that major at the university
Universidad Diego Portales
- Click here to access UDP's online course catalog.
- Click on the Facultad in which you are interested.
- On the top, left-hand side of the page, click on the link for the "Escuela" to see course listings.
- Under Carrera, click on the subject (i.e. Historia)
- Click on Malla Curricular to see the core classes for each major. UDP also offers elective classes which you will be able to see during the program orientation in Santaigo.
If a particular course you are looking for is not listed, contact your program advisor for more information. Course availability changes every semester.
*Students can choose to take all of their classes at one university or can divide them up between any of the three universities.
Courses taught in English:
We think you should be living your life in Spanish (after all, you're in Chile!), but we understand that there are some specific courses that might be beneficial to your degree plan in English. Our partner, the Universidad del Chile offers a portfolio of Business and Economics classes taught in English alongside Chilean degree-seeking students. You will only be permitted to enroll in one of these, and our resident director will discuss your options (and how to register) when you arrive.
Example courses:
- Finance 1 & 2
- Human Resources Management
- Intercultural Business Challenges in Latin America
- Globalization Treaties and Trade Agreements
- Latin America in the World's Affairs: Strategic Alliances
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- Business Intelligence and Analytics Database Application
- Micro & Macro Economics
- Business Skill Sets for a Thriving Global Environment
- Marketing Metrics
- International Management
*If you think you may want to take one of these courses, be sure you have permission from your home college academic advisor to take a course in English while in Chile.
As an IFSA student, you may enroll in undergraduate courses for which you are qualified and space is available. Additionally, you may enroll in open courses as long as you meet any prerequisites and have the adequate level of Spanish. There are no restricted departments for IFSA students at any of the three universities with which we work. You can choose to take all courses at one university or a course at multiple universities associated with the program.
Keep the following in mind:
- Yearlong courses are open only to students who plan on taking both semesters of the course.
- Some courses are only offered during certain semesters. If a course includes an odd number to denote the semester it will be offered (i.e. I, III, V, etc.), that means it will be offered during semester 1 (corresponds to the U.S. spring semester). Even numbers correspond to semester 2 (corresponds to the U.S. fall semester).
- Course syllabi may not be available until the beginning of your semester.
- Fine art, studio art and music courses may require an audition or a portfolio.
DIRECTED RESEARCH
Each semester, a small number of highly qualified participants in our programs opt to conduct in-depth research on a contemporary issue of their choosing. Students work closely with IFSA staff to hone their proposals and identify suitable faculty sponsors to guide their work. Before students begin to conduct interviews and collect data, they attend two mandatory sessions on research methodology taught by a local faculty member. During the course of their research, students are also required to meet with their faculty sponsor every 15 days to assess progress and garner further advice.
Click here to download more specific information regarding the optional Directed Research opportunity.
After you return to the U.S., IFSA will send an official Butler University transcript to your home university with your coursework converted to the U.S. credit system. You will also have access to an unofficial transcript in your IFSA Student Portal. The transcript reflects courses taken, credits attempted, and grades earned during your term abroad. This service is included in your study abroad program at no additional cost.
Excursions

Day-To-Day Experience
Dates and Fees













This program may have supplemental fees. Please check with your IFSA Program Advisor.
Meet Your Program Advisor

What Our Students Say

Diala Abboud
Student, Chile
Unpacked: Student Stories
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