PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

• Experience the unique culture of Chile’s second largest city: Valparaíso, a UNESCO world heritage site filled with world-renown coastlines, street art, and hillside elevator systems. 

• Enhance your language proficiency by living in a homestay while taking classes taught in Spanish alongside local students. 

• Engage with an inclusive campus environment that offers learning support, and resources to accompany underrepresented students. 

• Deepen your fluency in Spanish and broaden your understanding of Chilean life by taking language and culture classes, or direct enroll in an expansive number of classes spanning a broad range of academic fields. 

LIFE ABROAD  

Valparaíso is a vibrant city known as the “hidden gem” of Latin America that is surrounded with breath-taking panoramic views and beaches. Chile is filled with incredible natural wonders and offers a never-ending list of adventurous activities to take part in such as surfing, sandboarding, or touring Penguin Island! 

LIVE 

Live in Viña del Mar, a city located 15-20 minutes from Valparaíso, and enjoy its exquisite food and breathtaking natural and urban views. Experience the Chilean community first-hand by living in a homestay and developing lifelong relationships with a host family.  

DINE 

Taste mouth-watering traditional dishes prepared by a host family such as Ajiaco (soup), Chilean beef empanadas, and Kuchen (Chilean fruit pie)! All meals will be provided by the host family during this program and bag lunches are provided to take to campus lunch as needed. 

EXPERIENCE 

PUCV offers cultural programming highlighting events and activities to fully experience Valparaíso. PUCV also offers opportunities to get involved on campus by joining cultural clubs, faith-based organizations, or meeting new friends while practicing a healthy lifestyle by taking group workout classes or joining a student sports teams to play basketball, volleyball, frisbee, and more! 

EXPLORE 

Valparaíso is a colorful city with a captivating arts scene and limitless natural beauty! When it is warm, enjoy weekly musical performances at Central Park Plaza while gazing at the beautiful city backdrop alongside the city’s local and international communities, or head to the coast to watch the sunset while enjoying the ocean’s breeze. 

THRIVE 

Embrace a balanced lifestyle by participating in a sports tournament or the cultural program organized by PUCV. Engage with a campus community that supports students by offering learning support services and resources to support underrepresented students. 

Volunteer 

PUCV hosts a Volunteer Job Fair every semester to provide opportunities to meet with representatives and learn about what opportunities are available to get involved in the community. 

What We Love About PUCV 

PUCV is filled with dedicated staff members and host families who provide hands on support throughout the program. From language acquisition to identity concerns, PUCV is available to help navigate cultural experiences in a new host city.

See ISEP Direct budget and estimated expenses

Course Description

Deepen your fluency in Spanish and broaden your understanding of Chilean life by taking language and culture classes at PUCV.  For those who already have an advanced Spanish language skillset, direct enroll in almost any program at PUCV including Psychology, Political Science, Biology & Natural Sciences, Aquaculture, Food Engineering, Business and many more! To help get you started exploring the possibilities, the chart below highlights some of the more popular classes students have taken in the past. 

Credits Earned 

Students who complete the program in good standing can expect to take 180-225 hours of classes (4-5 classes) which ISEP recommends is the equivalent of 12-15 U.S. Credit Hours. Each course will be worth approximately 45 hours. 

If you use financial aid, please speak with a qualified financial aid advisor to understand your academic obligations and the requirements for using financial aid. 

Sample Classes Available: 

Area Studies 

Foreign Languages and Literatures (Spanish) 

 
International Relations 

 

History (in Spanish) 

Modern History of Chile 

Spanish as a Second Language  

(I-VI) 

 

Human Rights in Latin America 

History of Modern Chile 

Pre-Hispanic Art & Society in Chile 

Political & Social Change in Chile and Latin America 

Historical Research Methodology 

Regional & Urban History of Valparaíso 

Modernization and Revolution: The Bases of the Contemporary World 

History of Chile 19th Century 

Latin American History 

Cross- 

Cultural Encounters with the Native Mapuche People 

First Cultures of America and Chile 

For detailed instructions on how to search for all available courses, please click on the "other academic conditions" dropdown link below.

ISEP STUDENT SERVICES OFFICER Kira Hakanson 703-504-9991 | KHakanson@isep.org Thanks for your interest in ISEP Study Abroad! I’m your Student Services Officer and main point of contact here at ISEP. As you search for programs, I'll be available to answer any questions you might have. Feel free to contact me at any point in your search process for help, tips or advice.

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, founded in 1928, has established itself as one of the most prestigious, traditional higher educational institutions in Chile. The student body numbers over 14,000 students....

Academics

Undergraduate
(in English)

*This program is OK for Sophomores

Fields of Study

  • Area Studies Recommended!

    Latin American Studies

  • Business

  • Foreign Languages and Literatures Recommended!

    Spanish Language and Literature

  • History Recommended!

  • Law/Criminal Justice

  • Liberal Arts and Sciences

    Humanities

  • Social Sciences

Academic Requirements

  • U.S. GPA: 2.75 or higher
    *accepts lower GPA with explanation

Special Application Instructions

Students are required to complete an internal course pre-registration process following their placement which is required of the host institution. Instructions will be sent by the ISEP Host Coordinator by email.

Passport: All students must have a valid passport to participate in this program. If you do not have a valid passport, we suggest you start the application process as soon as possible. 

Visa/Residence Permit: Students studying in Chile must either apply for a student visa or enter the country on a temporary permit (90-day period). Students who enter Chile on a temporary permit will be required to renew for a second 90-day period if their program is over 90 days. The renewal will cost $100. For more information on the process, please review the ISEP Country Handbook.

Special Needs Support

  • Learning

Undergraduate
(in Spanish)

*This program is OK for Sophomores

Fields of Study

  • Area Studies

    Latin American Studies

  • Foreign Languages and Literatures Recommended!

    Spanish Language and Literature

  • History

  • International/Global Studies

    International Relations and Affairs

  • Language and Culture

  • Social Sciences

Academic Requirements

  • U.S. GPA: 2.75 or higher
    *accepts lower GPA with explanation
  • LPR Required
  • LPR Writing Score: A1 - Novice High
  • LPR Reading Score: A1 - Novice High
  • LPR Listening Score: A1 - Novice High
  • LPR Speaking Score: A1 - Novice High
LPR = ISEP Language Proficiency Report

Special Application Instructions

Students are required to complete an internal course pre-registration process following their placement which is required of the host institution. Instructions will be sent by the ISEP Host Coordinator by email.

Passport: All students must have a valid passport to participate in this program. If you do not have a valid passport, we suggest you start the application process as soon as possible. 

Visa/Residence Permit: Students studying in Chile must either apply for a student visa or enter the country on a temporary permit (90-day period). Students who enter Chile on a temporary permit will be required to renew for a second 90-day period if their program is over 90 days. The renewal will cost $100. For more information on the process, please review the ISEP Country Handbook.

Special Needs Support

  • Learning

Other Academic Conditions

All students studying at PUCV must have an A1 level in Spanish. Students taking regular university courses in Spanish must have a B2 level in Spanish. Students from non-English speaking countries looking to take courses in English must have a B2 level in English.

Remember that PUCV follows the Southern Hemisphere calendar. Students wishing to study for a full year in the Southern Hemisphere should consider starting their program at the beginning of the academic year in January. Be sure to search for courses using the correct semester parameters: Southern Hemisphere SM1 is March to July, Southern Hemisphere SM2 is August to December

Students arrive: Last week of February, Last week of July

Classes start: First week of March, First week of August

Classes end: First week of July, Second week of December

Exams: End of June/Early July, Mid December (Exam dates depend on course)

Courses for International Students in English and Spanish 

Click on the course names at this link to view syllabi for the courses open to incoming international students. PIIE courses are designed specifically for international students and include course material in both English and Spanish. Students can take Spanish as a second language courses from Beginner to Advanced.

Regular University Courses in Spanish

Access the Programas PUCV folder to view syllabi for the courses open to incoming international students. Courses with an odd number (1,3,5,7) listed for 'Semestre' are offered March - July. Courses with an even number (2,4,6,8) are offered August – December. Courses listed in the Programas PUCV folder are some of the courses available for ISEP students and is a tool to help students have an idea of what the academic offerings look like.

Regular university courses in Architecture & Design, Psychology, Medicine Technology, and Kinesiology are closed to ISEP students. 

Some classes from the following departments are offered on a full-year basis only (March to December): law, philosophy, music, and special education. International students can take these courses only if they are attending PUCV for the full academic year (March to December); otherwise, no credit will be awarded. 

Semester & Prices

Select a semester to calculate the price. Semesters are named according to host university's calendar.


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Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso

Valparaíso, Chile

(17)

Tuition

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Total: US$0

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ISEP Application Fee US$100

ISEP Acceptance Fee US$450




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