Chile: Valparaíso

In cooperation with the Institute for Study Abroad (IFSA), this program provides language intensive academic and experiential learning through a rigorous curriculum comprised of university courses and program-specific courses.

The IFSA Chilean Universities program in Valparaíso offers students the opportunity to take classes at a local university (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso) and Spanish language courses for those at the intermediate level (determined by a written and oral language evaluation completed upon arrival). 

Situated between the mountains and the sea, Valparaíso’s cobbled streets and Victorian houses provide a unique setting to examine the economic and psychological factors that create Latin American politics. The city is famous for its charm and picture-perfect views, not to mention the passionate and edgy art scene and politically active student body. An optional internship complements your studies.

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: During their time in Chile, students enroll in regular university courses at PUCV, where they can choose from a wide range of course offerings in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences.

All students are required to take IFSA’s Advanced Oral and Written Spanish course.

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

Excursions: Typically, students participate in a long weekend trip to the Andes Mountains, indigenous communities along the Pacific Ocean, or the northern city of La Serena. Day trips in the region allow you to explore astronomical observatories, historic mining towns, and local pisco factories.

Housing: Students stay with local families in Valparaíso and Viña del Mar. The vast majority of the families have been hosting IFSA students regularly for at least 5 years. While on the Chilean Universities Program in Valparaíso, students will receive three meals per day.

Host families play an important role in student’s immersion. Students will interact with various family members, relatives, neighbors, and friends, and explore and discover the surroundings through exposure to everyday Chilean routine and unique new flavors of traditional dishes. Students also immerse themselves in the Chilean culture by attending and participating in sporting activities, taking public transportation, and enjoying various types of entertainment and cultural events.

Cultural Activities: Program activities are designed to enhance students’ intercultural competence by developing their understanding of the local culture and people. Activities vary each term based on availability, but previous events have included Valparaíso city tours, a vineyard harvest tour, a visit to poet Pablo Neruda’s Isla Negra home, or an exploration of the city street art.

“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!”

“Take as many classes with Chilean students (not the international student only classes) as possible! “

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.