Description

Founded November 21, 1988, the Universidad de Viña del Mar (UVM) is a private institution of higher education and has quickly become one of Chile's most prestigious private universities.

ASA takes care of everything for you so that all you have to worry about is improving your Spanish, doing well in your classes, and having a good time! With housing, meals, health insurance, excursions, laundry, tutoring, tuition, academic credits and much more included in the cost of the program, we strive to make your experience in Viña del Mar the best time of your life.

With approximately 5,000 enrolled students and not too many Americans, it has the perfect environment to be able to easily integrate with Chilean students and receive personal attention from the faculty and International Office.

The UVM has an educational model that emphasizes social responsibility, and is a new university that prides itself on being a flexible and innovative. In addition, the UVM strives to create leaders with entrepreneurial spirit, who can be competitive in today's global society. The university recognizes that today's workplace is not only interdisciplinary, but it is also becoming increasingly globalized and competitive. Therefore, the UVM's mission is "To create people who can contribute to the development of their surroundings, by gaining knowledge in an academic environment that is also humanistic, technologically advanced, and integrated." The importance of cultural exchange through both welcoming students from abroad and sending their own students abroad is also a key element in the UVM's mission.

Highlights

Viña del Mar (known as simply "Viña" to Chileans) is both a thriving city as well as a major vacation destination. Located about 70 miles northwest of Santiago in the Valparaíso region and province, it is Chile's fourth largest city. Technically, the population stands at about 320,000, but that number swells during the summer when Chileans flock to Viña to enjoy its beaches, restaurants, ATP tennis tournament and music festival.

Viña del Mar is actually located just 5 miles from the city of Valparaíso, and these two cities together form the second largest urban center in Chile, with a combined population of over 600,000. While Viña del Mar provides beautiful beaches and a varied repertoire of artistic performances, Valparaíso is internationally recognized as the cultural and legislative capital of Chile, and as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The distinctive personality of Viña and Valparaiso is exemplified by the large student population that resides there. It has been calculated that some 60,000 students from all 15 Chilean regions and from various countries in Latin America, North America, Europe, and Asia populate these two cities, and in turn, have transformed them into Chile's preferred destination for college students.

The town of Viña del Mar was founded in 1878 as a place for the wealthy from cities such as Santiago and Valparaíso to get away. It quickly became more than a town for the rich, as major companies began to be established there, helping the local economy boom. Originally the town was simply an extension of the neighboring city of Valparaíso, but because of the area's growth, the Chilean government authorized it to be a separate city.

Besides being known for its beaches, Viña del Mar draws both tourists and locals to the numerous parks and fountains that are found throughout the city. Rich in flowers and plants, Viña's most famous bed of flowers in the city is the Reloj de Flores, a large clock made up of flowering plants.

Degree Level

Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Minimum Education

High School

Subject Areas

• Culture
• Film
• Latin American Studies
• Literature
• Spanish

Cost in US$:

Inquire for more info.

Program Fees Include:

* Academic credits, tuition,
* official transcript from Universidad de Viña del Mar,
* cellphone, room and board with a host family,
* airport pick-up, medical insurance,
* ISIC card, pre-departure orientation guide, on-site orientation and more.

Two day and two overnight excursions are included for semester students. Summer students get two day excursions.

Experience Required

no

This Program is open to

American and Canadian Participants.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Home-stays

Scholarships are Available

ASA is fully committed to financially assisting students who wish to participate on our study abroad programs. Our scholarships illustrate this commitment and our ongoing effort to help keep study abroad affordable. (Please Note: We can only accept ASA Scholarship applications from students studying abroad on an ASA Program.)

Application Process Involves

• Letters of Reference
• Other
• Transcript
• Written Application

Typically The Application Process Time is

24-48 hours

Academic Studies Abroad's Mission Statement

Everyone at ASA is dedicated to making sure that all of our students achieve three goals: - A true feeling and understanding for the culture they are immersed in; - A memorable and safe once-in-a-lifetime experience; - Personal growth through a better understanding of the world around you.

Year Founded

1999