Spanish Language Placement Assessment & Levels Prior to arrival, you will complete the Language Placement Assessment Form. This process is meant to assess your Spanish proficiency level for course planning purposes.

You will register for courses directly with USFQ. Please look for emails from USFQ regarding this process.

Volunteering USFQ Dragons Dragons are Ecuadorian students who volunteer to help international students (like you!) get settled at USFQ and immerse in the local student culture. During your orientation in USFQ, you will meet some of the Dragons and will learn more about the program.

You will enroll in 7 credits total for this program. You will take: A week-long Spanish language course (1 credit). This course is taught in Quito. Ecuadorian Ecosystems course (3 credits). This course is taught in Quito. Environmental Issues course (3 credits each). This course is taught in the Galapagos. All Environmental Studies courses are taught in English, and previous Spanish study is not required. The first half of the program is taught in Quito, and the second half is taught in the Galápagos Islands, including a visit to Santa Cruz Island, where you will study the unique flora and...

In the Galápagos, your homestay will be close to the USFQ GAIAS campus. All homestays are located by the IES Abroad staff, in safe areas of the area, and inspected on a regular basis. You will have your own furnished room, and you will be the only IES Abroad student in the home. No two homestay situations are the same! Just as “family” could mean many different things in your home country, Ecuadorian families also are quite diverse. Some families are composed of a set of parents and their children. Other families consist of an older couple with grown children. It is common in Ecuador for some...

You will participate in a mandatory orientation which begins at the Center and is followed by several days at our partner universities. A complete schedule is distributed upon arrival. You will have already received access to the Guidebook app which contains both the IES Abroad Quito student manual and Emergency plan. On the first day of orientation, you will receive a packet with the following documents: Orientation schedule Semester academic calendar Pledge to speak only Spanish Field trip sign-up form List of important course registration dates Student ID card Staff contact information...

Purchase a ticket to arrive at the Mariscal Sucre International Airport (airport code UIO) in Quito on the official arrival date between 6pm and 12am (midnight). Most flights from the US arrive to Quito at night, often as late as 11pm or midnight. IES Abroad Quito staff are accustomed to this and prepare accordingly, so do not worry about arriving at this hour. If you do not book a direct flight, we recommend that you leave at least 2-3 hours to make your connections in case your first flight is delayed. Someone will be at the airport to pick you up on the official arrival date. If you arrive...