Homestays are offered in private homes in Santiago. All homestays are secured by the IES Abroad staff, located in safe areas of the city, and inspected on a regular basis. Choosing a homestay is a great option to learn more about Chilean culture, practice your Spanish, and live like a local college student would - most Chilean students live with their family during college years to save money. Just as “family” could mean many different things in your home country, Chilean families also are quite diverse. Some families are composed of a set of parents and their children. Other families consist...

Spanish Language Placement Assessment & Levels Prior to arrival, you will complete the Language Placement Assessment Form and participate in an assessment interview. This process is meant to assess your Spanish proficiency level for course planning purposes. The results will be used to determine your placement for your IES Abroad Spanish language class. Faculty in Santiago evaluate the results of your placement assessment, the last Spanish class you took, and the class you need to receive credit at your current college or university to determine your language level. Your language level also...

The Health Studies Seminar gives you a special opportunity to examine global perspectives of Chilean health and healthcare systems through the Health Studies program. This course has a seminar and two tracks: clinical observation and community health*. * The Community Health track may vary in availability between terms. Clinical Observation: The clinical observation track allows you to visit a variety of clinical sites within the Chilean health system and observe health professionals in a wide selection of roles, from nurses and technicians to doctors and community health educators. You will...

You will be required to submit the Course Preregistration Form when it becomes available in your MyIESAbroad account. Preregistration is done on a first-come, first-served basis. Please obtain course approval from your current college or university for all courses you intend to take before your departure, especially if you intend to fulfill specific degree requirements with those courses.

Santiago’s public transportation system is very user friendly, clean, and safe. There are peak hours that you will need to consider in order to arrive promptly to your destination. As in any large city, public transportation is used massively, so be aware that you will be travelling in crowded buses/trains at times. Santiago's public transportation is considered relatively expensive when compared to the rest of Latin America, so you will need to consider this in your budget in order to not be surprised when you arrive. You will use a BIP card to travel on public transportation while in...

Meeting Local People Meeting people in any new place isn't easy, and it takes effort on your part. Don’t hesitate to take advantage of opportunities such as extracurricular activities, community service activities, and interacting with your host family or other students in your residence hall. You will enjoy your stay much more and feel a part of Santiago much sooner. Staff at IES Abroad Santiago can help you find activities or groups to join in the city, so you more quickly become part of the Santiago community and meet new friends.

Food & Drink Breakfast at a restaurant $10 Lunch at a restaurant $20 Dinner at a restaurant $30 Soft drink $3 Coffee $5 Meal at a university Dining Hall $10 Housing Toiletries (per week) $10+ Local Transportation Public Transportation (per month - for academic activities only) $50-100 One-way Ground Transportation from airport to IES Abroad Center $50 Social Activity & Entertainment Movie $8 Theater Performance $10+ Museum Entry Fee $0 - 15+ Fitness Club Membership (per month) $40 Dance Club Cover Charge $10-25 Communication Chilean Sim Card $2 Data + Minutes on a Chilean Network (per month)...

You'll enroll in the following two required courses: HL395 Health Studies Program Seminar (required, 3 credits) This course includes a seminar and an observation component. The seminar examines the global perspectives of Chilean health and health care systems and provides the framework for your clinical experience. For the clinical observation component, you will observe clinical practices in public and private healthcare settings, or rural healthcare settings. Experience and study the diverse responsibilities held by a variety of health care professionals. You have two options for the...