University of Costa Rica Exchange
 Printable version
A QUICK LOOK
COUNTRY: Costa Rica
CITY: San Jose
HOST Institution: University of Costa Rica
TYPE OF PROGRAM: UNI Exchange
SESSIONS: Semester (Fall, Spring) or Academic Year
ELIGIBILITY: Sophomore or above; 3.2 minimum GPA
FIELDS OF STUDY: Liberal Arts, Basic Sciences, Social Sciences, Engineering and Architecture, and Health (Medical) Sciences
LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION: Spanish, English
CREDITS: Undergraduate, Graduate
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Costa Rica Links |
INTRODUCTION
The University of Costa Rica is focused on its students. One of their main focuses is to prepare their students to be the leaders of tomorrow enabling them to enrich the surrounding community, their country and the world in which we live. This is a great opportunity to study in an exciting atmosphere, being surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, Caribbean Sea, volcanoes and tropical rainforests.
SAN JOSE
San Jose, located in the center of Costa Rica, is the capital of Costa Rica with a population of about 300,000 people. San Jose makes up about 37% of the nation’s population therefore giving you numerous venues of entertainment from nightclubs, casinos and shopping malls to museums and restaurants. Costa Rica is an adventurer’s palace. Travel outside the city and you can go scuba diving, white water rafting, visit one of the many beautiful waterfalls or volcanoes or take an exhilarating forest canopy tour.
According to the Pacific Business News of Honolulu, Costa Rica was the number one adventure destination in 2003. One can understand why, when you have a pleasant climate year round and beautiful views of lush green mountainsides surrounding this bustling city.
THE UNIVERSITY OF COSTA RICA
The origins of the University of Costa Rica date back to 1814 when it was called the House of Enseñanza of Santo Tomás, which later became the University of Santo Tomás. This closed 45 years later, however in 1940 the University of Costa Rica opened with the legacy of the University of Santo Tomás still intact. The
University's development has been based on solid academic information and the foundation of
its past. The university has a strong sense of tradition and history. A community of professors, administrative students, and civil representatives oversee the university employees making their educational system very rounded.
The University of Costa Rica offers a wide variety of activities from theatre and dance to soccer, basketball and volleyball.
ACADEMIC PROGRAM
The regular academic year is divided into two semesters. The fall semester begins in the first week of March and ends the last week of June. The second semester begins in the first week of August and ends during the first week in December. The university is divided up into five different academic areas: Liberal Arts, Basic Sciences, Social Sciences, Engineering and Architecture, and Health (Medical) Sciences. These five areas are divided into Colleges, Schools, and Research Institutes. The main campus of the University of Costa Rica is located in San Jose, however there are eight additional regional campuses located throughout the country.
All courses other than the Language Immersion courses are taught exclusively in Spanish with Costa Rican students and that one must test into an advanced level to be able to take them. A student may have any level of Spanish to be able to take the language immersion courses.
ACADEMIC SESSIONS
Fall Program: August 2009 - 1st week in December 2009
Spring Program: Last week of February 2010 - last week of June 2010
ACCOMMODATION & MEALS
UCR will aid the student in finding a host family giving them the opportunity to be immersed in the Costa Rican culture and language. The host family accommodation will include two meals on the weekdays and three meals on Saturdays and Sundays. They will also provide laundry services. The cost is about $400 per month.
PROGRAM COST
UNI students pay UNI tuition and fees (in-state or out-of-state) plus the study abroad fee to participate ($300 per semester or $400 per year). The program cost does not include housing, food, books and supplies, round-trip air transportation, international health insurance, and personal expenses. Participants should expect to pay about $400 per month for housing and some food. One should also budget about $5 per day (or about $150 per month) for extra food if necessary.
FINANCIAL AID & SCHOLARSHIPS
Participants in this program may use their UNI financial aid to help pay for the program.
Study Abroad Scholarships and a variety of external funding options are available to those who qualify. Check the Scholarship information on the Study Abroad website:
http://fp.uni.edu/studyabroad/funding/scholarships.htm. Do not hesitate to contact the UNI Study Abroad Office:
yana.cornish@uni.edu if you have any questions.
ELIGIBILITY
This program is only available to UNI students. Applicants must be full-time students at the time of application, at least sophomore status during the session abroad, have departmental approval for participation, and an overall G.P.A. of 3.2.
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
A complete set of application materials will include one original and one copy of the following:
DEADLINES
Fall and Academic Year program deadline: March 1
Spring program deadline: October 1
CONTACT INFORMATION
Inquires regarding this program should be directed to:
Yana Cornish, Study Abroad Coordinator
Office of International Programs
28 Gilchrist hall, UNI
Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0520
Tel: 319/ 273-7078
Fax: 319/ 273-2921
TALES FROM ABROAD
Be the first UNI student to submit a brief account of your adventures abroad at The University of Costa Rica!
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