University Alberto Hurtado (UAH)-Santiago, Chile

The metropolis of Santiago is Latin America’s seventh largest city, and home to more than seven million inhabitants. Surrounded by the Andes mountains to the east and the Chileans coast to the west, this topography creates a basin like bowl-shaped valley with the towering Andes mountains nearly always in view. The Andes provide a dramatic backdrop while the Pacific Ocean gives a serene panorama. Santiago gives those who are keen on outdoorsy ventures the best of both worlds. In Santiago you will find world-class cuisine, exotic suburban parks, neoclassical architecture, and all the trappings of a modern economic center.

The Universidad Alberto Hurtado (UAH) is a prestigious Jesuit university in the heart of Santiago and is named after Saint Alberto Hurtado. This university is well known for its educational quality and social mission. Both Saint Ignatius of Loyola and Saint Alberto Hurtado spent a great part of their lives serving others, especially the marginalized and disadvantaged.

The University places particular emphasis on the fields of social science and humanities, to understand the complexity of the economic, political, and cultural problems that form the Chilean, and indeed Latin American, social reality. In attending this university, there is a required course; “Poverty and Development in Latin America”, which brings together volunteering opportunities in the local community and academics in the classroom.

This program runs in the fall and spring semesters. The beginning of the semesters will vary based on if you will be taking the 3.0 credit Intensive Spanish course. This 200-level Spanish course includes service opportunities, short trips, and guided visits. For our Spring semester, it will be completed in January before the February break (Chiles summer vacation month). For students going to Chile during our Fall semester, the Intensive Spanish course starts in July and then the semester starts shortly after. Non-native speakers are required to take this course, but some exceptions may be possible. It is important to keep in mind that due to Chile being in the Southern Hemisphere, their seasons are opposite to ours.

This program has two potential tracks depending on if the Spanish Intensive course is taken.

Spring Semester-

• With Intensive Spanish course:
  • This Spanish course begins at the beginning of January. After the course concludes summer break occurs during the month of February. The semester then begins at the beginning of March and concludes at the beginning of July.
• Without Intensive Spanish course (only for students with an exception):
  • The semester begins the beginning of March and concludes the beginning of July.

Fall Semester-

• With Intensive Spanish course:
  • This Spanish course begins at the beginning of July, concludes mid-way through July and typically has a 2.5 week break until the first week of August when the semester begins.
• Without Intensive Spanish course (only for students with an exception):
  • The semester begins the beginning of August and continues until the middle of December.
• All students are required to take 6.0 credit course titled "Poverty and Development in Latin America" this course combines class work with field experiences.
• Students will take other courses at the 3.0 credit level. Some courses taken in Spanish will allow papers and exams to be done in English.
• Loyola now offers a new minor program in Latin American and Latino Studies. Courses taken at Universidad Alberto Hurtado in Santiago can be applied towards this, or towards a Spanish major or minor. Core course options are also available.

Cultural trips and guided visits will be offered.

*All grades from abroad are transferred and calculated into your Loyola GPA; no courses can be taken as pass/fail.

This program includes:

• Round trip airfare .
• Intensive Spanish review.
• A support coordinator.
• Orientation.
• Cultural trips.
• Field experiences and community service at Hogar de Cristo.

Housing costs are not included for this program.

Students will be supported by the Jefa de Estudios, Alina Morales. Alina will help students get acclimated to their new surroundings and direct them to the appropriate personnel or offices that can assist them with any questions that they may have.

Students will experience a similar class setting to Loyola (small seminar-style classes). However, students must be prepared for a more independent semester and typically grades consist of a midterm and final exam only. Most classes take place in the classrooms, but some professors will take students out to the field to gain practical experiences that pertain to the course materials. Class sizes vary from ten students and above.

Students live with host families. Two meals a day are provided during the week, and three meals are provided on Saturday and Sunday. It is up to the students to be in communication with the housing provider to make the necessary arrangements and make payments on time in order to secure housing before departure.

Loyola financial aid applies and students are eligible for consideration for all forms of federal, state, institutional and private sources of aid except the Federal Work Study Program. Students studying abroad for either a semester or full academic year will forfeit the value of a Federal Work-Study assignment for the semester/s that they go abroad. If the student qualifies for federal work study, they can use the award for the semester they are on campus during their abroad year.

If you receive GI/Veterans benefits, please contact our Registrar’s office as soon as possible before you apply!!

Students/parents pay to Loyola the following charges:

• Loyola Tuition
• Study Abroad Program fee
• International Insurance Premium

Students’ expenses in Chile will vary depending on how much they travel, shop, and go out at night. Most students will take advantage of the proximity to other South and Latin American countries and cheap airline tickets and travel, and that usually accounts for much of their spending.

Medical insurance is provided for all students during the program term by Loyola University Maryland through Chubb Insurance. This insurance coverage includes medical evacuation and repatriation, as well as 24-hour support services for medical issues. This insurance functions as a primary insurance while abroad.

Students are required to submit a copy of their U.S. health insurance card/policy. Please be sure not to cancel your US insurance policy while abroad since the provided insurances only function while on program and outside of the US.

We have advised students to contact their banks and credit card companies to inform them that they will be out of the country so that their accounts are not frozen once international activity occurs. While doing so, they should also check to see what international fees are incurred when using each of their cards i.e. ATM withdrawal fees, currency conversion fees, etc. We also advise that students are aware of the current exchange rate. If using a credit card, check to see if they have foreign transaction fees as this has the potential to save you money in the long run if you’re a frequent card user.

Loyola will arrange group travel to and from Santiago. Loyola does not pay for any flight deviations or tickets changes.

The airline tickets for the group are electronic. The students will receive an email confirmation from our travel agent once ticketing is complete. They should print it out and bring it to the airport just to be safe, but their passport is technically all they need to check in.  It is important that everyone arrives to the airport 3-4  hours in advance. Students fly to Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport in Santiago.

Application Requirements 

• Students must submit an online application AND a Course Planning form by 11:59 pm on the first Wednesday after Thanksgiving break of their sophomore year to study abroad in the fall or spring term of junior year. 
• Attend a Study Abroad 101 information session.
• Declare a major before applying to the study abroad program.
• Discuss with your major advisor the possible courses you could take abroad and see if there are any potential problems, he/she sees with your plans to study abroad; Students cannot be on disciplinary probation nor have a history of serious disciplinary problems.

Criteria for Acceptance

• Minimum cumulative CQPA average of 3.0, but students with a 2.8 average should apply.
• Students who can find courses which fit their Loyola program and allow full-time participation and who are neither on disciplinary probation nor have a history of serious disciplinary problems.
• Spanish language ability of a B2 (CEFR scale) of Advance-Mid (ACTFL scale) should apply. Those who also have Spanish language abilities of a B1 or Mid-Low are also encouraged to apply while planning to take the Spanish Intensive language course.
• Although this is a program that serves primarily Spanish Speakers, other majors and minors may apply since there are some courses taught in English.
• All students must complete SN104 before they can study in Santiago, and SN majors and Minors must complete SN 201 and are strongly encouraged to complete SN 203 as these courses are prerequisites to take upper-level Spanish courses.
• ROTC candidates can apply as freshman to study abroad in the spring of their sophomore year. 
• An academic interview with the program coordinator at Loyola University Maryland is required.