Viña del Mar

Viña del Mar is a thriving coastal city of 320,000, boasting miles of beaches, warm and welcoming locals, and great nightlife. Located about 70 miles northwest of Santiago, it is Chile’s fourth largest city. As a major vacation destination, the population swells during the summer when people flock to Viña to enjoy the beaches, restaurants, ATP tennis tournament, and music festivals. Just remember, the seasons in South America are the opposite of North America!

Viña del Mar is just 5 miles from the city of Valparaíso, an UNESCO World Heritage City, and 10 miles from Concón, the gastronomic capital of Chile. Weekend travel to other Chilean cities, as well as other countries in South America, is easily accessible to students on any of the hundreds of inexpensive travel buses leaving hourly from Viña and Valparaíso.

Viña is known as the “university city” of Chile. It has been calculated that some 60,000 students from Chile and all over the world populate Viña and Valparaíso, making this area a haven for college students. It is also called the “Garden City” for having large and beautiful green areas around it.

There is always plenty to do in your spare time! One favorite is the rustic beach town of Concón, where you can sample some of Chile’s best cuisine or go hiking or sand boarding on the rolling sand dunes. In winter, go skiing or snowboarding at one of the many ski resorts near Santiago. Less outdoorsy types will enjoy the Fonck Museum of Archaeology and History, a wonderful place to learn about the anthropology and culture of Chile and Easter Island.

UNIVERSIDAD DE VIÑA DEL MAR

Founded in 1988, Universidad de Viña del Mar (UVM) is a private institution of higher education that has quickly become one of Chile’s most prestigious private universities. As a small university with approximately 5,000 enrolled students and few Americans, it is the perfect environment to easily integrate with Chilean students and receive plenty of personal attention from the faculty and International Office.

UVM is a modern university that prides itself on innovation and social responsibility. UVM is a pioneer in promoting new fields of study in Chile, such as Environmental Engineering, Natural Resources, and Architecture. In addition, UVM strives to create leaders with entrepreneurial spirit, who can be competitive in today’s global society. The university recognizes that the workplace is increasingly interdisciplinary, globalized, and competitive.

Universidad de Viña del Mar has several modern, centrally located campuses. Homestays typically live within walking distance. Campus facilities include ample classrooms, auditoriums, libraries, laboratories, amphitheater, gymnasium and sports complex, and a professional size soccer field.

Among the course offerings are Spanish language classes for all levels of ability (a placement exam will determine your level), as well as electives in both English and Spanish. If you pass into Intermediate or higher on the placement exam, you may enroll in classes taught in Spanish.

A highlight of the coursework for Intermediate and Advanced level students is the “Cultures in Contact” course. It creates an environment where American and Chilean students can learn about each other’s cultures and improve their language skills.

All ASA programs in Viña del Mar include 2 day excursions. Destinations may vary by term. Past terms have included trips to:

• Valparaíso – Called “the Jewel of the Pacific,” this city was built on steep hillsides overlooking the Pacific Ocean. This UNESCO World Heritage Site embodies a rich architectural and cultural legacy. It houses Latin America’s oldest stock exchange, Chile’s first public library, as well as 15 extremely rare funicular railways.
• Pablo Neruda House and Museum – Pablo Neruda was a Nobel Prize winning Chilean poet and is considered by many to be the greatest poet of the 20th century. Tour his house and museum on Isla Negra, where you can learn about his fascinating life – his passionate writings, controversial political involvement, and exile.
• Santiago de Chile - Discover the capital city of Chile with a walking tour in the picturesque city center, the popular Mercado Central, the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, and the bohemian neighborhood of Bella Vista. Take the traditional funicular to the top of Cerro San Cristobal for a panoramic view of Santiago! Descend by cable car to the modern and elegant neighborhood of Providencia and the Mercado Urbano Tobalaba.
• Semester programs typically include the following additional activities: Palacio Vergara Museum, Cooking Class, Beach Cleanup at Caleta Abarca, Sunset at the Dunes of Concón

Did you go abroad with ASA and have a memorable experience we should add to this list? Contact us! We'd love to hear from you!

Universidad de Viña Del Mar
Summer/Semester/Academic Year

• Requirements
  • Minimum GPA 2.5 (Students with GPA between 2.3-2.49 will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Students with GPA of 2.29 or lower will not be considered.)
  • Language requirement: None. Open to students with any level of Spanish.
  • At least 18 years of age
  • Graduated from high school
  • Transcript from most recent institution attended (unofficial is ok)
  • ASA Application. To start a new application or continue an existing application, click here.
  • Scan of your valid passport that does not expire sooner than 6 months after the day you plan to return home from abroad. You will need to provide ASA with a scan of your valid passport immediately after being accepted into the program if you did not upload it to your ASA application. Please submit your passport application by expedited service if you do not have a valid passport.
  • For Application Deadlines, please click the Cost & Dates tab.

Participation in volunteer opportunities in Chile is an excellent way to immerse yourself in your host country’s way of life while helping those in need. Volunteering will add another dimension to your study abroad experience through daily exposure to the culture and personal interactions, resulting in a greater understanding of the local language, culture, and community.

During the third week of the semester, Universidad de Viña del Mar will have an information session about Volunteering, where you can learn about the latest opportunities available, and sign up. Please note that these volunteer opportunities are not for credit. Summer students will also have the opportunity to do up to 18 hours of volunteer work.

The following are the volunteer opportunities in which students can participate:

VALPO SURF PROJECT

This is an organization that works with underprivileged and at-risk youth in Valparaiso to help improve their English language skills and promote environmental consciousness through surfing, academic tutoring, and environmental stewardship.

FREESPORT

Freesport is an organization that promotes outdoor activities focused on environmental education, sports, and a healthy lifestyle. They conduct recreational activities in the Valparaíso region in La Boca Beach in Concón, ensuring access to water sports for people with disabilities and social vulnerability.

CIDEMAR

This is a non-profit organization with the mission of preserving the aquatic ecosystems and the Chilean coastline and its biodiversity, through science, education, and water sports. Volunteer placements may include collaborating at an information booth showcasing the importance of caring for beaches and ocean culture as part of the Chilean Coastline initiative, participating in scheduled beach clean-ups, and assisting with other projects or ecological routes in other parts of the region.

INCLUDED

• ROOM & BOARD in a Chilean homestay. 3 meals a day and 1 load of laundry per week are included.

• TUITION for the maximum number of credits or courses indicated on the program course offerings page. Enrolling in more than the maximum number of credits/courses (if permitted by the host institution) will result in an additional fee.

• ACADEMIC CREDITS: Students who receive pre-approval from their home institution can transfer the credits they earn to their home institution.

• OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT: Final transcript is issued by Universidad de Viña del Mar. Upon completion of the program, ASA will provide one free shipment of your final transcript to your U.S. institution.

• EXCURSIONS: 2 day excursions, locations to be decided

• CULTURAL ACTIVITIES in and around Viña del Mar (museum visits, walking tours, etc.)

• INTERNET ACCESS: Students will have free Internet access at their host institution and in their program housing.

• AIRPORT PICK-UP: Group ground transportation is provided from Santiago (SCL) airport for students who arrive on the official arrival date, by the designated time. 

• AIRPORT DROP-OFF: Group ground transportation is provided from Viña del Mar to Santiago (SCL) airport for students who depart on the official departure date, by the designated time. 
  
  

• BOOKS, MATERIALS, LAB FEES

• SITE DIRECTOR: Students will have an on-site director to assist them with any academic or cultural difficulties they may encounter.

• MEDICAL INSURANCE: Comprehensive international medical insurance is included. Click here for details on benefits and coverage.

• VISA ADVISING: Students are ultimately responsible for obtaining their visa (if required for their term), but ASA will provide detailed, helpful information upon acceptance as to which visa students will need and how to go about applying for one. Please click here and scroll down to “Student Visa Information” to find out if a visa is required for your program.

• PRE-DEPARTURE HANDBOOK & ON-SITE ORIENTATION

• SUBSCRIPTION TO SAFETURE SAFETY-ENHANCING MOBILE APP

• SUBSCRIPTION TO CISI Remote Behavioral and Mental Health Services: telephonic consultations between you and a U.S. mental health professional for the purposes of delivering counseling services, crisis intervention, assessment and follow up.

NOT INCLUDED

• Round trip airfare and travel expenses to and from the program location

• Local transportation

• Personal expenses

• Meals on excursions

• Visa, Reciprocity Fee (if required)

• Transportation from the airport if the student does not arrive on the official arrival date by the designated time

• Transportation back to the airport at the end of the program if the student does not depart on the official departure date.

For academic year students and those enrolling in more than one session, housing and other ASA services and benefits are not provided during the break between sessions.

If you need a budget or Costs of Attendance for your financial aid office, or if you simply want an estimate of the not-included costs listed above.