Tufts in Chile

Chile is a country of great natural beauty, with climates ranging from tropical to polar desert, and landscapes that include the world’s driest desert and one of the hemisphere’s highest mountains. 

Santiago, Chile’s capital and largest city, is a metropolis of over eight million, which is approximately 40% of the country’s total population. It is the political, industrial, retail, and financial center, as well as the transportation hub of the country. Situated in the country’s central valley, Santiago is surrounded by the Andes Mountains, and is within an hour of mountains, vineyards, and the Pacific Ocean.

Tufts in Chile invites you to experience one of Latin America’s leading intellectual and cultural centers. Enroll in courses at the University of Chile or the Pontificia Universidad Católica in Santiago, two of the region's leading universities; participate in an internship; and live with a host family. Gain relevant professional experience and develop a deeper understanding of Chilean culture through an internship or volunteer opportunity.

The University of Chile and at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile offer courses across all majors, although this program may be of particular interest to students of Latin American Studies, International Relations, Environmental Studies, and the Social Sciences.

Students typically enroll in four courses per semester, including a required Spanish language course—equivalent to Spanish 121—specifically for program students; native speakers of Spanish or those who have already completed Spanish 121 are exempt from this requirement. Students are encouraged to participate in a for-credit internship as one of their four courses. All courses are taught in Spanish.

Students who do not wish to undertake a for-credit internship may be placed in community service positions.

Be sure to review our academic policies for education abroad and plan accordingly with your academic advisors.

Review TGE Academic Policies

Prerequisites

This program is open to Tufts undergraduate juniors and seniors who meet the general eligibility requirements and who have successfully completed at least Spanish 21 and 22 (Composition and Conversation), or the equivalent of six semesters of college-level Spanish. Students from all academic majors are encouraged to apply.

Universidad de Chile

The University of Chile, founded in 1738, is one of Latin America’s oldest and most prestigious universities. It includes thirteen faculties that range from arts and sciences to law and medicine. The university has 23,000 undergraduate students and 55 libraries that contain some two million volumes, divided among the various departments. Students are fully integrated into the life of the university and can take regular courses in any of its faculties, which are located across five campuses and accessible by public transportation. The faculties of Arts, Humanities, Sciences, and Social Sciences are all located on the Juan Gomez Millas campus.

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (PUC)

The Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, founded in 1888, was granted academic autonomy by the Chilean government in 1931. It is a private (with public support) urban, multi-campus university. Its 18 faculties are distributed across four campuses in Santiago and one regional campus in southern Chile. PUC continues to have a permanent commitment to quality in their service, in fulfillment of their founding mission. PUC also holds strict and rigorous academic standards that adopt international best practices from top universities around the world.

Internships

Students have the option to enroll in a credit-bearing internship course, earning 4 SHUs, or an internship without academic credit. The Internship Coordinator will collaborate with students to secure a placement aligned with their area of interest at a reputable local organization or business. Previous internship placements have encompassed various fields such as human rights, health care, education, computer science, and social work, among others.

For students taking the internship for credit, a syllabus will be provided, along with assigned coursework. They will also benefit from monthly on-site supervision from the Internship Coordinator. Attendance will be recorded, and an oral exam as well as a final project will be required.

Co-Curricular Activities

Both the University of Chile and PUC offer a full range of co-curricular activities.

• The University of Chile has professional-level athletic teams—visiting U.S. basketball players have made the team–as well as intramural and recreational sports, including soccer, tennis, and basketball.
• The University of Chile and PUC both have a range of cultural groups, including chorus, orchestra, and ballet. Students receive inexpensive tickets to attend performances by these university cultural groups.

Santiago has a rich cultural life, with first-rate theater, opera, and classical music, as well as popular and folk music, art exhibits and poetry readings. World-class ski slopes and beaches are located within two hours of Santiago.

Student Perspectives

The on-site director advises students on academic and extracurricular activities, arranges for homestays with Chilean families, and organizes study tours and cultural excursions.