Chile: Santiago

In cooperation with the Institute for Study Abroad (IFSA), Lewis & Clark offers this program at Universidad de Chile and Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile . The program includes local outings as well as weekend excursions to places such as Maule, La Ligua, and Putaendo.

Chile is a long and narrow country, bordered on the east by the Andes and on the west by the Pacific Ocean. Santiago, 60 miles from the coast and the sixth-largest city in South America, is home to over six million inhabitants. Visitors will revel in its world-class cuisine, infectious energy, and exotic suburban parks. The capital city of Chile, Santiago, is both modern and dynamic, and the industrial, financial, and geographic center of Chile. It is the home of the regional headquarters for many national and multinational companies and organizations.

Note: Students interested in studying in Chile for the Full Year are encouraged to start in the Spring semester and then stay in the Fall. This sequence works best, as there is a significant break between the Fall and Spring semesters.

Requirements Fulfilled: 

General Education - This program fulfills the Global Perspectives general education requirement for students who successfully complete 8 or more semester credits.

Major/Minor Requirements - This program fulfills the overseas study requirements for the Hispanic Studies major, the World Languages Major with Spanish as the primary language, the Hispanic Studies minor, and the Latin American Studies minor. (Students who have Spanish 321 waived because they are native Spanish speakers are not able to retroactively declare a Hispanic Studies major or minor after program completion). (Please note that students who have Spanish 321 waived because they are native Spanish speakers may still be required to take a language placement exam in order to place them in appropriate courses on site).

Credits: Credit earned varies based on courses completed. Students may earn up to 19 credits. Overloads are not permitted. 

Curriculum: Students take classes alongside local students at up to two different universities: the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and Universidad de Chile. To complement your learning, IFSA offers elective classes specially designed to increase language skills and facilitate engagement in the local community. These classes, taught in Spanish by local professors, are intended to provide you with an understanding of the events and issues that make Chile what it is today.

Classes offered at the IFSA center include Spanish language, directed research and an internship course. All other courses are taught at local universities.

A minimum of two academic courses should be direct enrollment courses taken at the local universities associated with the program.

Excursions:

Región del Maule Excursion: During this two-night trip, discover the heart of Chile—a paradise for nature lovers. A place where the beauty of the landscapes is combined with the hospitality of its people. In Maule, connect with the richness of the main agricultural area of ​​the country and learn the traditions of wine production.

La Ligua Ancestors—Culture and Family Business Trip: Visit two towns in Chile, La Ligua and Putaendo, to learn about their history, customs, and traditions. La Ligua features a family weaving factory. Putaendo, a heritage town, is affected by climate change and offers a bike ride to explore its ecosystem and history.

*please note that excursions are subject to change each semester

Housing: Students live in private Chilean homes. The homestay is essential to the student’s learning process and integration into life in Santiago. The opportunity to live with a Chilean family not only allows students to deconstruct stereotypes and observe real life in action, it also creates opportunities for dialogue about issues raised in their courses, and practicing their Spanish language skills.

“It may be hard at the beginning! But the more you put yourself out there and try to immerse yourself in the culture the easier it will be.”

“Try to go both north and south in Chile, it’s beautiful”

“Don’t worry too much about all the little details in anticipation, just go with the flow and enjoy the process, trust that you are being taken care of- you are!”

“Be open to new experiences and get out of your comfort zone. I know this one sounds basic, but it can be easy to shut yourself off to the world when experiencing something so new and unknown. I found that saying yes and being open to new experiences allowed me to enjoy my experience on a deeper level, connect with more people, and have more stories to tell coming out of it!”

2026-2027 Fee Breakdown*

Total Fee (includes Tuition, Program Fee, and Health & Wellness Fee): $44,791

Tuition: $35,329

Program Fee: $9,425

Health & Wellness Fee: $37**

Included in the program fee are room/housing, board/meals, and administrative fees. Not included are airfare, passport and visa expenses, primary insurance coverage, photographs, books, immunizations, and incidentals. 

*Fees are updated every February for the following academic year.

**The Health & Wellness Fee supports the operations of Wellness Services staff in delivering pre-program orientation services, as well as in providing health-related consultation regarding participant health needs. All students in the College of Arts and Sciences pay a mandatory fee of $37 per semester.

Stipend: Students will receive a stipend to cover the cost of meals and transportation costs not covered by the program fee.

Estimated Airfare (Round Trip PDX to SCL): $1,000-$2,000

Estimated Travel Document Fees: $100-150

Estimated Health Insurance Fee: $1,906

All students participating in overseas programs are automatically enrolled in iNext, a supplemental travel insurance program. The fee for iNext is covered in the program cost. However, students are also required to have comprehensive health insurance during their time abroad. All students participating in overseas programs, both abroad and domestic, are automatically enrolled in the College’s student health insurance program. Similar to a regular semester on-campus, students participating in overseas programs may waive enrollment in the student health insurance program if they have other comprehensive health insurance (e.g., through a parent, guardian or employer) that 1) provides coverage for them in the geographic region in which they will be studying and 2) includes mental health benefits. Find more information regarding health insurance & overseas programs.

Physical Requirements:

Before applying to this program, you should assess and determine if you are physically and/or emotionally able to participate in the following physical demands required by some of this program’s activities:

• Walking or hiking up to 5 miles in a day, sometimes for two or more days in a row, sometimes on hilly, uneven, or cobbled terrain
• Climbing and descending stairs
• Using public transportation, including sometimes crowded buses or trains
• Standing for long periods during tours and site visits
• Entering into older buildings with narrow and sometimes steep staircases, at times with limited or no access to elevators
• The possibility of warm/hot temperatures while residing in locations without air conditioning, and/or cold temperatures while residing in locations with a comfort for lower indoor temperatures
• The possibility of long, busy days with little downtime and infrequent days off from program activities

If you have questions or are concerned about these or any other program activities, please contact the Lewis & Clark College Overseas & Off-Campus Programs office (overseas@lclark.edu).

Application Process: This program has a dual application process. Student must first submit a Lewis & Clark Application. Once admitted by Lewis & Clark, the students will receive instructions for submitting their secondary application to IFSA and will receive a separate notification letter of admittance.  Please keep a digital copy of your essays and other application materials as you will need to submit these similar materials to IFSA. Please note that this secondary application process can be as late as the semester preceding your scheduled participation.

Applications are due one year before the start of the program. Learn more about our application process.

Travel: Students usually fly into the Santiago airport (SCL), where they are met by IFSA staff and transported to their homestays.

Visa: Students may be required to apply for a visa in order to participate in this program. In most cases, students are required to visit a consulate in their jurisdiction. The nearest consulate that serves the Portland, Oregon area is San Francisco. More information will be provided upon admission to the program.

Country-Specific Health Information: View specific health information for people traveling to Chile.

State Department Country Information: Visit the State Department’s Chile page.