Surrounded by snow-capped mountains, Santiago is a sophisticated, modern city with a population of more than six million residents. It is also the capital of Chile, the country with one of the strongest economies in South America.
Because Chile offers its residents a community-centered public health care system, studying in Santiago offers you the opportunity to spend a summer gaining unique medically-related experience, as well as an appreciation for culturally-based health care practices and attitudes toward health.
Designed for advanced Spanish students in health-related majors, this program offers you valuable insight into Santiago’s health care system. Develop experience through clinical observation and participation in public health care projects, while improving your communication skills through a Spanish course for health practitioners. All courses are conducted in Spanish.
These dates are preliminary and are subject to change. Students should not book flights according to these dates.
Our mission is simple: to provide you with the best study abroad program possible, which includes the highest quality academic and cultural experiences. We offer unique courses that explore Spanish Language, Chilean History, and Culture through an in-depth and hands-on approach. Our worldclass professors and course options enhance your academic experience and provide you with new perspectives each day in class.
You enroll in the two required courses, for a total of 7 credits.
All students will enroll in Clinical Observation Internship Seminar and one Spanish language course.
IES Abroad Santiago organizes field study trips that complement what you’re learning in the classroom, and contribute to your general knowledge of Chilean culture and society.
Our job is to make sure that your greatest challenge is deciding what landmarks to see first or discovering the best café—not finding a place to live where you feel comfortable. We do our best to locate housing that is reflective of how the local students are living. Our goal is that when you leave Santiago, it will feel like home.
You live in a homestay in Santiago with a family or señora, who helps facilitate your language learning and integration into the Chilean community. Your homestay hosts provide three meals daily.
Part of making you feel at home in Santiago is doing our best to help you feel safe and cared for. Whether it’s the orientation program that prepares you for what’s ahead, your housing that is well located and comfortable, or the field trips that take you to places off the beaten path—we’re all about our student services. This is just one of the things we’re known for.
Orientation takes place the first few days in Santiago. Orientation sessions address:
IES Abroad sponsors cultural events in and around the city.
You take a day trip during orientation that may include visits to sites such as Valparaíso, Isla Negra, and Viña del Mar.
Our Center Dr. Manuel Barros Borgoño 159 | Providencia | Santiago, Chile | 750-0513
The IES Abroad Center is located in Providencia, a vibrant residential neighborhood in central Santiago. Features include:
María del Carmen Cortés ArceIES Abroad Director
A native of Santiago, Maricarmen has nearly 30 years of experience with local development activities with government and non-profit organizations, including Wilder Center for Communities (part of the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation), Franklin Covey Chile, and the United States Peace Corps in Santiago, FINAM (a Women's World Banking NGO), and the Fundacion Miguel Cast. Maricarmen holds a Master's and B.A. in Architecture from the Universidad de Chile, and was also a Fulbright Scholar through the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship program with the University of Minnesota.
IES Abroad Staff Anita María MorenoStudent Affairs Coordinator
Angela SchaafAssistant Director/Academic Coordinator
Paola RiquelmeAdministration and Finance Coordinator
Sonia FierroOffice Keeper
Faculty Lucas ArayaSpanish Language M.A., Applied Linguistics, Universidad de Chile
Rosi BahamondesSpanish Stylistics Ph.D. Applied Linguistics, Carnegie Mellon University
Marcelle CepedaSpanish Language M.A., Applied Linguistics, Universidad de Chile
Lilian FerrerPUC Health Studies Coordinator Ph.D. Public Health, University of Illinois-Chicago
Pablo FierroHistory and Human Rights M.A. Education and History, Universidad de Chile; Postgraduate in Education and International Affairs
Claudia FloresSpanish Language M.A. Linguistics, Universidad de Chile
Marisol Madariaga,Service Learning and Internship B.A. in Social Work
Alejandro Olivares,Political Science and Economics Ph.D. Social Sciences; Political Science and Economics, Universidad de Chile
Francisca Pérez,Anthropology Ph.D., Architecture and Urban Studies, M.A., Anthropology, Universidad Academica de Humanismo Cristiano; Pontifica Universidad Católica de Chile
Alejandra Wolff,Arts and Literature Ph.D. Literature, Pontifica Universidad Católica de Chile M.A., and B.A., Arts, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile; Literature
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