With a population of nearly 1.6 million people, Quito is a vibrant and modern city that is famous for its beautiful colonial Spanish architecture. It is also the capital of Ecuador—one of the most biologically varied countries in the world. Come to Quito and immerse yourself in the local language and cultures as you focus your studies on Ecuador’s ecological and ethnic diversity and the challenges of development.
If you’re interested in improving your Spanish language skills, this program offers you the opportunity to rapidly strengthen your Spanish through a rigorous language course taught by IES Abroad. You select the remainder of your courses from options available at IES Abroad and one of the most distinguished universities in Ecuador, Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ). You can also enroll in a service learning placement during your time in Quito, which will help you understand the city’s social issues first-hand.
Quito will be your classroom. Can you imagine visiting and observing Ecuadorian customs at a traditional fiesta or visiting local markets and handicraft workshops? Wherever possible, our courses take advantage of the city’s many historical, artistic, and cultural sites. Several courses include a hands-on, practical component.
You also take several field trips to exotic locations while you study abroad in Quito, including the remote Galápagos Islands. Imagine yourself in an environmental haven of fearless sea lions, penguins, iguanas, and tortoises 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador. It’s not very often you’d get to be so near to nature and see so many species up close—with IES Abroad, we’ll take you there.
We want you to feel at home in Quito, so we do everything we can to help you integrate into life in the city. From housing to cultural events, our job is to make sure you have the most authentic study abroad experience possible.
After you are admitted, refer to the Travel Dates section of the Predeparture Information in your MyIESabroad account before booking travel.
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, Ecuadorian history and culture, as well as other topics, through an in-depth and hands-on approach. Our world-class professors and course options at prestigious local universities enhance your academic experience and provide you with new perspectives each day in class.
You take 16–19 credits per semester, and all courses are worth 3 credits unless otherwise specified. All courses at IES Abroad and our partner university are taught in Spanish and are offered both fall and spring semesters unless otherwise noted.
Craft your own academic experience by selecting from the following required and optional program components:
This is a list of planned course offerings. After you are accepted, you will see a list of final course offerings in your MyIESabroad account.
To learn more about IES Abroad’s innovative theoretical and pedagogical approaches to teaching language abroad, refer to the IES Abroad MAP for Language & Intercultural Communication.
Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ)www.usfq.edu.ec A modern institution of higher learning, USFQ is one of Ecuador's most prestigious universities and offers a full range of programs and courses. Its faculty includes almost half of the Ph.D.’s in the country, and its library and information technology is the most up-to-date in Ecuador.
Courses You take an official language placement exam before your arrival in Quito. The score of your placement exam in Quito determines your eligibility for USFQ courses. You are allowed to participate in any course in any department provided you meet the discipline and language prerequisites, as demonstrated on the Spanish language placement exam. Specific course listings are available through the USFQ website: http://evaluaciones.usfq.edu.ec/banner/ssb/cursos.htm
The following are some of the numerous disciplines in which IES Abroad students have previously enrolled:
Registration & Advising Please note that course offerings vary from semester to semester. Exact course availability is determined shortly before the start of each semester and official registration takes place prior to your arrival in Quito. You will receive further instructions on how to register for courses through their MyIESAbroad account.
Location & Commute Time The USFQ campus is located in the suburb of Cumbayá in Quito. The commute time from USFQ to the IES Abroad Center is approximately 30-45 minutes depending on traffic.
Participating in a service learning experience in Quito is an opportunity to give back to the community while gaining a much deeper understanding of the city’s culture and society. Working alongside local people toward a common goal, you experience first-hand some of the social issues that affect Quito, while contributing your skills toward a community-driven solution.
A service learning experience consists of time spent with a local organization, accompanied by an academic, for-credit service learning seminar. Through the seminar you have structured time for reflection, discussion, and research on the issues of your host community.
Possible placements may include organizations focusing on:
We want to make sure that your greatest challenge is deciding which 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 Quito, it will feel like home.
Homestays - You have a private, furnished room in the home of a family or señora in Quito. Homestay hosts provide three meals daily.
Part of making you feel at home in Quito 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.
The program begins with a mandatory orientation that introduces you to the IES Abroad Quito staff, your fellow students, and the city of Quito. Topics such as academics, housing, transportation, and health and safety are covered.
Additionally, CORE™, IES Abroad’s Comprehensive Orientation & Re-entry Experience, begins during orientation and continues throughout the semester with activities focusing on cultural adjustment, goal achievement, and preparing for the return home.
Redefine the way you live and learn in Quito through our cultural events and activities, such as visits to:
University Clubs & Events USFQ's extracurricular program includes clubs for yoga, ultimate frisbee, salsa, and Ecuabuddies. You learn more about these unique opportunities once on-site.
FIELD TRIPS Even though your adventure starts in Quito, our field trips take you beyond the city to discover the cultures and traditions of your host country. There is an additional fee for multi-day field trips. Here are a few possible destinations.
Amazon Rainforest Region 4 Days | Fall & Spring Hike the world’s largest and most biologically diverse rainforest with a local guide.
Otavalo 1 Day | Fall & Spring Visit an indigenous market and learn about the crafts and food being sold.
The Galápagos Islands 4 Days | Fall & Spring Explore the ecological diversity of the Galápagos, go snorkeling, and learn how to identify local flora and fauna.
COURSE-RELATED TRIPS Course-related trips are academic trips associated with courses. They are organized to complement IES Abroad courses and contribute to a general knowledge of Ecuadorean culture and society. Participation is based on course registration. All course-related trips are included in the program cost. Here are a few possible destinations.
Guayllabamba Ecological Zoo 1 Day | Fall & Spring See more than 45 species of native fauna representing the different regions of Ecuador at the Guayllabamba Zoo, not far outside the city of Quito. The zoo was developed to conserve Ecuadorian biodiversity, and they specialize in conserving endangered species of fauna.
Latacunga 1 Day | Fall & Spring Visit Latacunga, a town 60 miles outside of Quito, to observe a religious Andean Fiesta and discuss its cultural development and significance.
Mindo 1 Day | Fall & Spring Go to Mindo in the Nublado Andino Forest to experience Ecuador’s biodiversity.
Mitad del Mundo 1 Day | Fall & Spring Straddle the equator and enjoy views of beautiful snow-capped mountains.
Quilotoa 1 Day | Fall & Spring Visit Quilotoa, a water-filled caldera (a cauldron-like volcanic structure) in the Ecuadorian Andes, to learn about the region’s ethnic groups.
Note: IES Abroad field trip destinations, activities, and lengths of stay may vary according to term and availability.
About the Center
IES Abroad Quito Situated near Quito’s financial district, the IES Abroad Center is housed in a new, modern building. Features include:
Through LASPAU (Latin American Scholarship Program of American Universities), Eduardo Ortiz, a native of Quito, received a Fulbright Scholarship to obtain both his B.A. and his M.A. in Psychology at SUNY Geneseo in New York. After receiving his degrees, Eduardo returned to Quito, where he worked as Senior Official in the Ecuadorian Institute of Educational Loans and Scholarships (IECE) and as Ecuadorian Coordinator for an international educational exchange program (Canada World Youth). He also worked as Associate Professor in two leading Ecuadorian Universities (Catholic University of Ecuador and Army Polytechnic University). Eduardo also has experience as a project manager for USAID (United States Agency for International Development) in Ecuador where he managed projects in tax administration and education. Additionally, Eduardo has international consulting experience in training, organizational development, human resources management, and institutional strengthening in several International Development Agencies including IDB, the World Bank and Universalia Management Group from Canada.
IES Abroad Staff
Ximena ParedesStudent Affairs Coordinator in Quito
Juan Carlos SanchezAdministrative Support
Maria Cristina LópezStudent Affairs Coordinator in Galápagos
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