Universidad Viña del Mar
Before you meet with an education abroad advisor be sure to complete the "Advising Form" linked at the top of this page.
Please note that you will not be able to apply for semester or yearlong education abroad program until you've met with an education abroad advisor. To make an appointment, please contact internationalprograms@noctrl.edu or call the Center for Global Education at 630-637-5132.
Program Overview
Eligible participants must be at junior or senior level with a 3.0 GPA preferred.
About two and a half hours by bus to the capital city of Santiago, Universidad Viña del Mar (UVM) was founded in 1988 and is home to more than 8,000 students. UVM is comprised of three campuses, and students studying in this program enroll in Spanish language and content courses at the UVM campus in the city of Viña del Mar.
The fourth largest city in Chile, Viña del Mar has a population of 324,800 people and is well known for its beaches, high coastal buildings, entertainment venues and internationally recognized Chilean cuisine. Students have ample opportunities to explore the parks and fountains scattered throughout the “Garden City,” as it’s known. In this program, students complete 6-8 credits of Spanish language and 6-8 credits of content courses taught in either Spanish or English. Content course options include Latin American literature and social movements, Chilean politics and society, and various courses in business, humanities and social sciences.
Volunteer opportunities are available for academic credit. Details and sign-ups are announced at the UVM orientation upon arrival in Chile.
Click here to be linked to the UVM website.
Academics
Students are required to complete GLS 277 in the spring term prior to studying abroad in the fall.
Students earn 12-16 credits, depending on courses selected, at UVM. All grades earned abroad affect your North Central College GPA when transferred back. Students cannot take courses pass/fail.
Spanish Language: Students earn 6-8 credits of Spanish language at the appropriate level detemined by a Spanish placement exam upon arrival at UVM.
Content Courses: Students earn 6-8 credits of content courses. Content courses can be taken in Spanish or English and cover the following:
- Latin American literature and social movements
- Chilean politics and society
- Various courses in Business
- Various courses in the humanities
- Various courses in the social sciences
To view course option and description, click here.
Note: Students must have courses pre-approved by North Central College prior to taking them abroad. If students change their course schedules while abroad, they must get these changes approved. Some departments only permit students to take a certain number of courses that count toward their major abroad. To ensure that all courses count towards their degrees, students must get their department's approval.
Housing and Meals
Students live with host families. Host families provide students with their own furnished room either their own or shared bathroom. Some families will host more than one international student. Students submit a housing application and questionnaire as part of their UVM application and are then placed with a family. Students learn who their host families are and their contact information several weeks before their departure date.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner Monday through Friday are provided.
Estimated Costs
Students in Direct Enrollment programs (i.e. Universidad Viña del Mar) pay North Central College tuition plus a $4,000 program fee. A $30 non-refundable application fee is due at the time of application submission. This program fee includes placement, orientation and guidance fees, as well as standard self-catered housing. The College selects accommodations; if students choose to upgrade, they are responsible for paying any difference in cost. Unless otherwise noted, the fee does not include airfare, travel to and from airport, meals, visa fees, departure tax, books, national insurance, personal travel or spending money. North Central College financial aid does apply.