Arts Study Abroad Programs in Chile

I absolutely loved my time in Chile. Not only were the accommodations and classes perfect, but so was the life outside the classroom. Being located in Santiago, we were right in the capital city with multiple events, and activities you could participate in during your time abroad. It was a beautiful landscape with of a city with mountains, and an ocean in Valparaiso\Viña Del Mar just an hour away. I highly recommend studying in Chile!

Living in Viña del Mar, Chile was wonderful! I got to travel throughout Latin America, learned a lot from my peers and professors, and greatly improved my Spanish. Study abroad changed my life for the better. Now I know what I want to do for a living and possible where I want to live. Chile (and Latin America in general) is a wonderful place to be if you want to experience a unique culture and meet TONS of diverse and interesting people. Not to mention the food is amazing! My host family was loving and very informative, and they made the transition to life in another country relatively smooth. Being with a family also improved my cultural awareness and language skills. I highly recommend staying with a family. AIFS made the process relatively smooth, though it was difficult to get in contact sometimes and all of the cultural excursions I choose the program for were cancelled without notice. I did get my money back, though, and used it to explore the country on my own.

My experience was life changing! I met some of the most amazing people I could have hoped to. My host parents were fantastic and made me feel comfortable in a very uncomfortable situation. The program was more than supportive of my queer identity and made me feel safe. I achieved functional fluency in my month-long program and made memories that will last a lifetime.

I am so grateful that I was able to go on this study abroad because not only did it enable me to grow personally into a more confident and disciplined student but it also provided me an opportunity to conduct research and volunteer abroad. Thanks to the amazing on-site staff that set me up with the group choir, a volunteer English teaching program and research opportunities I was able to put all of those on my resume and now as a graduating senior I am a Fulbright semifinalist. Also with the research I began with Chile I was able to receive a research grant from my Univeristy to go back to Chile. I attribute all of these opportunities to the USAC program and structure. Studying abroad especially through USAC can set you up for your profession career while having an amazing time meeting new people while you're at it!

When I decided I wanted to go abroad, I was nervous about a lot of things. First off, I was scared that when I went abroad I would have to settle for a location I did not want to be in because I needed my credits to transfer over. Luckily AIFS had a program in a wonderful city with a bunch of classes that would transfer back to my home university super well. When I chose this program, I was overjoyed but nervous about living in a homestay. When I got there I was happily surprised to find that my host family was amazing and provided me with an experience I would not have been able to have if I had been in a dorm/apt. The people that I met in the program were some of the coolest people I have ever known and am happy to call them my friends to this day. If you are looking for a great program in Paris where you have the freedom to meet new people, travel, and find yourself in a new place, I would 100% recommend this to you!

Studying abroad was a wonderful immersive experience that led to improving my Spanish fluency and learning about a culture I most likely would not have been exposed to otherwise. The trips that were a part of the program like going to Valparaiso and Viña Del Mar were great ways to also see Chilean life outside of the capital, as well as see the nature and beauty of the country.

My semester abroad in Granada, Spain was absolutely unforgettable. I decided to stay with a host family and I lived in their home with another student in the same program. Living with a roommate, we became really close friends. My host family was so kind and welcoming, they included us in everything they did. I learned so much Spanish culture and tradition from spending time with the family. The school was called Center of Modern Languages and I had a mixture of Spanish and Business classes. I loved speaking Spanish in class and getting to know other students. AIFS provided a level placement test at the beginning of the semester so that everyone found courses that were appropriate for their knowledge of Spanish. The classes were very fun and I enjoyed going to class. The AIFS program excursions were some of the best experiences/trips that I went on. I was blown away by the Morocco trip as well as the Seville/Córdoba/Gibraltar weekend. The trips were well planned, affordable, and allowed for free time to explore with friends. I made so many connections with locals, got to experience once in a lifetime activities like riding camels next to the ocean, and tried amazing foods. The program application process was hassle-free and the program advisors in Granada are so helpful. I would often visit their office and just chat with them or ask their advice on where to visit on the weekend. They organized cooking classes, art classes, sporting events, and cultural activities like a flamenco show. Granada is such a wonderful city. It is very walkable and the people are very friendly. There are endless tapas bars in the city where you get free food with each drink purchase. I made friends with lots of locals and other students from across the US. I attended exchange club meetings where you get drinks and tapas, and you chat in whatever language you are trying to learn with people from around the world. AIFS did a wonderful job providing opportunities for all of the students in the program to get to know each other. I made a close-knit group of friends and we spent so much time together. I am so thankful for having met them thanks to AIFS. We even visited each other once we arrived back in the US! I would highly recommend this program to anyone who wants to experience Spain on a more personal scale compared to bigger cities. I think Granada is the most beautiful city, and the Alhambra is a must-see!

My experience immersing myself in the Cono Sur was truly beyond anything I had ever imagined. Although I had read extensively about the region's challenges and history, nothing could compare to walking the very streets leading to the Palacio de la Moneda, where Allende delivered his final words, or visiting Isla Negra, where Pablo Neruda penned his famous poems. Seeing the beautiful Viña del Mar, a city I had only seen on TV during the renowned festival featuring my favorite Latin American artists from the '90s, was a dream come true. Participating in the student movements and walking alongside college students protesting for their rights in Plaza de los Héroes made my summer unforgettable. USAC provided not only engaging coursework but also deep insights into cultural landmarks. Our close-knit cohort thoroughly enjoyed both the nightlife and the well-planned excursions, which were meticulously detailed and enriching. This experience taught me valuable life skills, such as adapting to a new country where high expenses meant learning to use electric blankets instead of a central heating system, and navigating sensitive political discussions tactfully. These soft skills proved invaluable later in my career at the United Nations, where I find common ground with colleagues from Santiago. It's always a pleasure to reminisce about drinking a terremoto with French fries while listening to Los Prisioneros and savoring a famouse cazuela at the Mercado Central. This journey not only broadened my horizons but also fostered meaningful connections and unforgettable memories. These experiences not only enriched my understanding of Chile but also helped build connections and relate to others in meaningful ways.

I knew from the start that the Chile program would be the right choice for me--because of my focus in Latin American politics and my Spanish skills--but the program far surpassed my expectations, and I genuinely hope that more prospective students choose this site. Chile might fall off the radar for the average person looking to study abroad, but I want to take a moment to advocate for Chile because of how amazing of an experience it was on all ends--academically, socially, in terms of leisure, and the staff. For starters, it truly is the best of all worlds. You are able to experience the vibrance of a major urban hub, but you can also access close by the most remote spots known to man. I highly encourage Chile, if for the optional tour to the Atacama Desert only. Even as somebody that thought they wouldn't enjoy a lot of the outdoor activities in Atacama, I was proven wrong and it became arguably the best part of my study abroad, especially the amazing star gazing. Chile is also so close to great travel destinations, from Easter Island, Machu Picchu and Lima, Buenos Aires, and Rio (I was able to travel to the last four on that list!). My social life was incredibly lively because I chose the cheapest living option with the most amount of roommates, so it ended up being a win-win. I had a great deal, plus I met many friends. The housing is mostly students from other Latin American countries (my roommates were a friendly mix coming from Mexico, El Salvador, Chile, and Spain), so my Spanish improved a lot. For anybody worried about the Spanish, I noticed other people did fine. Despite what local news might say, I actually found Santiago incredibly safe, especially in comparison to big US cities. Overall, the program was very satisfying, and I sincerely hope you consider studying abroad in Santiago.

Berlin is a really wonderful and historic city to live in. My German is basically nonexistent and I still felt like I was able to get around fine. The AIFs staff are very supportive, and the organized actives were well structured and thought out. If you weren’t interested in some or all of the activities, you didn’t have to participate and there was plenty of time to do your own thing around Berlin or travel throughout Europe. I didn’t particularly enjoy my academic experience at Humboldt, there were a few good classes but also a few really awful ones. So, if I could do it again I would probably do the AIFS program with Freie Universität academic program.

My colleague and I have had the pleasure of accompanying 21 amazing humans on a 3 month journey that will most certainly change them for the rest of their lives. Thank you to AIFS for sharing Rome with us and attending to every detail that made this an experience that will live with us eternally. The AIFS Rome center staff were excellent in providing impactful excursions, extra-curricular courses, and ensuring that all of us were well informed and provided for in every part of our journey.

I know Europe is the big destination for American students studying abroad, but think outside the box and into other regions of the world as well! Often the cost of living could be cheaper and the experiences are just as great! I took two full Spanish classes, one Spanish conversation component, and an Anthropology course titled Native Cultures of Chile. I am so grateful for my decision to study in South America, being welcomed by some of the most friendly peoples and learning about some of the most diverse cultures. I was in the city of Santiago, Chile and was able to visit Patagonia, the Bolivian salt flats, and Easter Island (Rapa Nui) on my own time in just the short two months I was there. Along with countless other mini excursions within Chile that were organized by USAC.

I studied abroad twice with USAC, and loved each time. The classes are great, but the best part is that everyone, even the professors, want you to experience the culture and other parts of the country as much as you can. In Chile, I got to go to Patagonia twice, the Atacama desert, Argentina, Valparaíso, and many other areas! In Spain, I had the chance to go to Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, Granada, and more! It was such a great community as well. Everyone is there to support you in any way you need.

My study abroad experience in Chile was amazing. It was my first time out of the country, and I'm not fluent in Spanish, so everything was definitely new for me. However, USAC provided fun out-of-city trips, informative classes, and a supportive home stay family. Although I only visited for a month, I felt as though I truly experienced Chile with everything provided and because I could finally hold conversations with my house mom. This study abroad experience was the perfect introduction to being out of the country, and I'll always cherish the time I had in Chile.

I had a lovely time here, although it was not without flaws. The amenities were not great especially considering how much we paid to be here. The company guilt tripped and body shamed us. But I made innumerable new friends and had experiences that I will cherish forever.

Very nice experience, learned a lot. People I’ve met here are now friends I will still be in contact with. The internship was where I learned new skills and networked with people within the fashion industry and got inspired by being here abroad

My time in Santiago, Chile was filled with friendship, fun, learning, dancing, eating, and most important, cultural exchange. To me, this is the epitome of what a study abroad experience should be. The program supervisors, professors, and local students did an excellent job at providing us U.S. students with a true look into Chilean culture and history. All of the planned activities and trips were so valuable as we covered not only geographical landscapes of Chile, but the history, politics, cultural, and pre-colonial background to each location. The classes were in-depth with important content such as movies, short readings, or class conversations (in Spanish of course) about these same aspects of Chile and how we compare and contrast things such as our political environments in the U.S with those of Latin American countries. My mind has been expanded in a multitude of ways from a linguistic side through learning the Chilean dialect, to a socio-political and global standpoint as well. This program has provided me with memories and crucial knowledge/experience that will carry me through the rest of my studies and into my future endeavors. I am eternally grateful for USAC: Santiago, Chile !!!

Tremendous staff. Environment is like none other and they accommodate well. For Seville, the city has been tremendous and CIEE gives you a proper introduction to this magnificent city. Whether an intern or a student during one of the sessions, you can get along with everyone and overcome the anxieties of a new city

I would be very likely to recommend CIEE Study Abroad to a friend because this program gives you many opportunities to explore the city you are in as well as the surrounding areas. All of the employees are very kind people who will be their to uplift and support the students who are abroad.

I definitely had a really exciting and wonderful trip. There were a few aspects like traveling and staying at more cities besides just Salzburg would have been a lot more fun. But the tours and field trips were absolutely incredible and the people who showed us around were amazing! Loved to see the history and beauty all over