Sandwiched between the Pacific and the Andes and stretching 4,300 km from the Peruvian border in the north to Cape Horn and the Strait of Magellan in the south, encompasses every kind of environment from tropical to desert to sub Antarctic.  The long, impossibly thin line of Chile boasts a magnificent Pacific coastline, Andean peaks with over 50 active volcanoes, the inhospitable Atacama Desert, and Chilean Patagonia.  Since the end of military rule and the return of a stable democracy in 1990, Chile has proven an attractive site for university-level study. Chilean history covers all phases and models that students may have studied and wish to learn about first-hand.

Students have the option of directly enrolling in nine different universities in six locations.  Students should be prepared for the different educational environment in Chile.  Classes are generally large and lecture based with less emphasis placed on class participation.  The universities located in the smaller metropolitan areas often have fewer international students and therefore a more authentic Chilean educational experience. 

Academic Program

Although students do not register for courses until they arrive in Latin America, there is limited course information available on each university's website. Students should use these listings as guides to the types of courses that will be available to them and as a basis for discussion with their academic advisors. In addition to three university courses and an internship (or four university courses), students are required to take the writing course during their first term of study in Latin America.  Students from colleges and universities other than Middlebury must receive pre-approval in order to participate in a for-credit internship.

Universidad de Concepción
A lovely campus in the center of the city of Concepción, Universidad de Concepción is a private university that boasts the most unified campus among Chilean universities.  Because it hosts few internationals, students enrolled here have the opportunity to take advantage of a full linguistic and cultural immersion experience.  The university specializes in Spanish literature, history, and biological, environmental, and marine sciences.  For available courses, choose a carrera and select ver plan de estudio at the top of the page.

Universidad de la Serena
Five thousand students strong, the university based in La Serena attracts students with a demonstrated interest in astronomy, biology, ecology, and geography, but offers courses across the disciplines of sciences, humanities, and engineering.  There are currently no other study abroad programs operating in La Serena, increasing the appeal of this site for more independent students.  For available courses, select carrera on the left, select a facultad, then select descargar plan de estudios at the bottom of the page.

Santiago
Known for its quality courses and non-political atmosphere, international students find themselves in the company of foreigners at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile where students have the opportunity to study at Chile's leading private institution while living in a thriving metropolis.  A full selection of liberal arts courses is available.  First select a facultad, then select pregrado, then programa.  Under pregrado is the option for descripción de cursos; descriptions are available for many by selecting a specific course.  In contrast to Pontificia, the students at Universidad de Chile, a public university, take their political involvement seriously since the return of civilian governance to Chile in 1990.  There is a full curriculum available to the students, but due to the nature of the sprawling campus, it is easier for students to take all of their courses within one facultad.  For available courses, select a department from the facultades and scroll down for the courses.

Universidad de la Frontera
One of the best kept secrets of the southern universities, La UFRO in the city of Temuco is well known for its programs in sociology and anthropology, and especially indigenous studies.  There are very few international students enrolled at La UFRO, making it ideal for the more independent student. It is located ten minutes by bus from the downtown area and enrolls roughly 5,000 students in its schools of Medicine, Engineering and Administration, Education and Humanities, and Agricultural Sciences.  For available courses, choose a specific carrera, then ver plan de estudios at the bottom.

Universidad Austral de Chile
This private university serves as the cultural center of Valdivia.   Its 60-acre setting on the Isla Teja between the Calle-Calle, Cruces, and Cau-Cau rivers makes it an enviable location for the university's excellent rowing program.  The university is located one mile from the center of town and transportation is readily available.  The university boasts strong programs in ecology, marine biology, and forestry and offers a variety of liberal arts courses, including a faculty of fine arts.  For available courses, select from among the 41 alternativas profesionales, then selectplan de estudios at the top. 

Valparaíso
Most of the Universidad de Valparaíso is located near the national congress building in central Valparaíso, but some buildings and classes, especially those in the facultad de humanidades and económicas y administrativas, are found in nearby Viña del Mar.  The university has a strong focus on business, but there is a Latin American regional/cultural department that offers history, economics, and sociology courses appropriate for liberal arts credit; other strengths include psychology, philosophy, and marine biology.  For available courses, first select from among the carreras, then select docencia (above the introduction), finally select asignaturas. The Universidad de Playa Ancha affords students the opportunity to study art, literature, history, anthropology, sociology, political science, ecology, and music in a close setting where they have easy access to their professors.  For available courses, first select a facultad from the top right menu, then select a departamento.  Choose diurnas, and select a subject of interest; finally, select plan de estudios, horario, or malla curricular (depending on the facultad). The Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso enrolls 13,000 students and the main campus hosts approximately 400 international students each year, which has resulted in more structure and guidance from the university.  Particular university strengths are in business, history, and public administration, though courses are found throughout the spectrum of the liberal arts curricula.  For available courses, select a facultad under facultades y carreras.  Courses will be found under regimen de estudios or programa de estudios and some offer descriptions under ramos at the bottom of the page.

For general university information, see:
www.udec.cl/ Universidad de Concepción
www.userena.cl/ Universidad de la Serena
www.puc.cl/ Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile www.chileedu.com Universidad de Chile
www.ufro.cl/ Universidad de la Frontera
www.uach.cl/ Universidad Austral de Chile
www.uv.cl/ Universidad de Valparaíso
www.upla.cl/ Universidad de Playa Ancha
www.ucv.cl/ Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso