Homestay NOTE: The number of IES Abroad homestays is limited, and IES Abroad cannot guarantee that everyone who requests the homestay option will be placed in one. If you would like to be considered for a homestay, please submit your Housing Form as soon as possible, as housing preferences are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. This option is ideal for students seeking a truly immersive experience in Spanish culture. Living with a host family offers the fastest way to enhance your Spanish language skills, providing daily opportunities for practice in a real-world setting. Our...

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 Buenos Aires 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...

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 Buenos Aires 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...

Courses and schedules are subject to change and can be finalized during the drop/add period once onsite. Nice - Course List - Spring Nice - Course Schedule - Spring 2025

Your specific housing assignment will be sent to you via email from admissions@IESabroad.org approximately three weeks before the program start date, provided you have submitted all forms listed below. Make sure that emails from this address will not end up in your spam filter by adding it to your trusted sender list. NOTE: We must receive all forms listed below before we can finalize housing arrangements on your behalf and release your housing assignment to you. Review the housing options below to determine your preferences and contact your IES Abroad Program Advisor with any questions...

Courses and course schedules are determined by GAIAS two to three weeks before the program begins. When available, course syllabi are available on the IES Abroad website. Registering for courses at GAIAS is a 3-step process. Each step is done online on the USFQ website, and they must be done in order. They are: Register as a student by completing an online application where you will need to upload several documents. Take the online Spanish language placement test on the USFQ website. Register for courses. We will send you emails with more details on each of these steps, so please read them...

GAIAS Courses The classroom atmosphere might be entirely different from what you experience on your home campus. Please keep in mind that you will have to be able to adapt to different classroom structures and expectations. Teaching styles may vary from professors who mainly use lectures as their method of presentation to those who foster participation, debates, and practical work. Readings and assignments will be indicated in the syllabus, although you are expected to work more independently and explore outside resources on your own. Ecuador requires six years of secondary education before...

You may have the opportunity to participate in highly specialized course-related trips, such as underwater diving. If you wish to participate in underwater dives, you are required to obtain a Basic Open Water Diver Certification through the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI). We strongly recommend you obtain PADI certification before you arrive in Ecuador. Proof of certification must be submitted prior to the program start date via your MyIESabroad account for any student who chooses the Marine Ecology track. For students who plan to dive recreationally outside the GAIAS...

Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) was the first institution in Latin America with a liberal arts-based curriculum. USFQ’s main campus is located in the attractive suburb in the Cumbaya Valley accessible by bus from central Quito. The Galápagos Academic Institute for the Arts and Sciences (GAIAS) is a world-class academic and research institution located on the main island of Galápagos, San Cristóbal. GAIAS is supported by the Galápagos National Park Service, the Municipality of San Cristóbal, and the provincial and central governments. Your program is run by the USFQ on two campuses...