Study in Chile

Stretching from desert land to glaciers, from volcanoes to lush valleys, from dense forests to open plains, is Chile, a country of extremes. Bound to attract international students with a taste for adventure and the great outdoors, it has a rich cultural offering and is home to one of the strongest higher education systems in Southern America. Read on for more on what it’s like to study in here, and an overview of the country’s highest-ranked universities on our RocApply filters.

With a highly developed infrastructure, sophisticated cities, reputable universities, and natural scenery to rival any country in the world, Chile is one of Latin America’s most appealing study abroad destinations.

Having emerged from the authoritarian regime of General Augustus Pinochet in 1990, Chile has over the past years blazed a trail as one of South America’s most socially and economically progressive nations. It remains among the safest and most politically stable countries in the Southern region.

An opportunity to study abroad in a world-class university is only available to a select group of students, this could be yours! You will not only get a unique educational experience inside of the Chilean universities, but you will learn much more about the culture and the people of Chile.

You will get to enjoy new foods, explore neighborhoods and maybe even climb a mountain in the Andes. Your perspective on the world will certainly change and your focus will broaden. It will be an experience you will remember for the rest of your life which is why we are here as RocApply to facilitate the realization of your dream by offering free services to secure a vacancy for you in any of Chiles competitive universities.

On the map, Chile is easily located as Argentina’s much skinnier neighbor, what it lacks in breadth it more than makes up for in length, extending 4,200km along the western coast of South America. The majority of Chile’s population of 15 million is collected in just a handful of major cities, between which lie long stretches of uninhabited wilderness and vast lengths of deserted green coastline.

If it was not for the backdrop of the snow-capped peaks of the Andes in the east, the capital city Santiago would seem a world away from Chile’s untamed wilderness. And although the city sometimes gets a bad press for its loud streets and haze of pollution, Santiago, the capital, has a shed load of ambition, culture, and quirkiness waiting to captivate international students and tourists alike.

Claiming the title of the ‘pais de poetas’, or ‘country of poets’, Chile sums a strong cultural offering to its natural landscape’s visual beauty. Among the country’s poets and renowned stars are Nobel laureates Gabriela Mistral and Pablo Neruda, as well as international bestsellers Isabel Allende and Roberto Bolano. Log in your slot today on the PROGRAMS PAGE and let our restless team lodge you a vacancy in this beautiful land with everything to spoil your imagination.

Interested in studying abroad in a safe and prosperous Spanish-speaking country in South America with a Mediterranean climate? Seeking a fascinating and socially diverse region to pursue your educational goals? Then you should put Chile in your top list. With metropolitan cities like Santiago and fabulous beach towns like Vina del Mar, Chile spoils with cultural sophistication, charming village communities and everything in between.

For a fantastic mix of history, whimsy and social progress, Valparaiso, Chile is the ideal study abroad destination. Often called the “San Francisco of South America” and affectionately known as “Valpo” for short, Valparaiso is a colorful (literally) coastal town filled with artists, students and free-thinkers you may consider studying at.

The infamous Pablo Neruda was inspired to compose an ode to this dockside country, celebrating its beauty, exciting chaos and overall strangeness. Here are nine reasons why you should put Chile on the top of your list:

Although Chile is generally more expensive than most Latin American countries, it is still much less expensive than other top places for study abroad such as Australia, Canada, Europe, and the United States. Therefore, on a shoestring student budget you can do many more cultural activities and enjoy your time abroad for an affordable price here.

Unique geography from the Atacama Desert in the north, the driest desert in the world, to the massive glaciers in the south, and let’s not forget the unspoiled trails of Patagonia. The list of outdoor activities in Chile is almost endless and the flora and fauna, spectacular. Think I am exaggerating? Check it out for yourself here on our guide

Although Chile shares some similarities with neighboring countries, the combination of indigenous cultures, Spanish colonization, and European migration have created a uniquely Chilean culture and language along with a way of life. For example, Chilean food is quite different to food you would find in Argentina, Bolivia, or Peru, and here we eat four meals a day: breakfast, lunch, onces (tea) and dinner.

If you really want to ‘live like a local’- as the saying goes, ‘when in Rome, do as the Romans’, then live with a host family. Why? Most Chileans live with their family until they are married and family plays a vital role in Chilean society and development overall. What better way to take advantage of your stay than by immersing yourself in the local culture and language and live with or alongside a Chilean host family.

Do something different! Challenge yourself to live in a country that may not always have the modern conveniences you are used to but that will expose you to a different and maybe simpler way of life.

Although Santiago and other large Chilean cities are quite modern there are still plenty of areas off the beaten path where you will not hear much English or any other languages spoken, awesome experience right! Not only will you learn heaps about Chile’s culture, you might also be surprised, when you return home, at how much you have learned about your own culture too.

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About Chile

Situated south of Peru and west of Bolivia and Argentina, Chile fills a narrow 2,890-mi (4,566 km) strip between the Andes and the Pacific. One-third of Chile is covered by the towering ranges of the Andes (long-range mountains).

Today Chile is one of South America's most stable and progressive nations, a recognized middle power and an emerging economy. It leads Latin American nations in human development, competitiveness, income per capita, globalization and economic freedom amongst other fronts.

One of only two countries in South America that does not share a common border with Brazil, is Chile that has the distinction of being the world's longest country. From north to south it stretches 4,300 kilometers or 2,700 miles in length.

Chile is bordered to the west by the Pacific Ocean and to the east by the range of Andes Mountains. In spite being only 350 kilometers at its widest point, its unusual length, that covers 37 degrees of latitude, results in several very diverse geographic regions.

At the northern end of the country is the Atacama Desert, a land that is rich in copper mineral deposits. Most of the Chilean population lives in the Central Valley, which includes the capital of Santiago.

About 40 percent, or more than 6 million of the 17 million people living in Chile, live in Santiago and the surrounding metropolitan area. Moving further south, the terrain becomes populated with thick forests and lakes and eventually turns into a string of islands off the southern tip of the mainland.

Essential Facts about Chile

- Spanish is the official language of Chile

- The estimated population in 2012 was 17.403,000

- The highest point in Chile is Ojos del Salado in the Northern Andes. It rises 6857 meters or 22,500 feet above sea level.

- Chile is a founding member of the United Nations, the Union of South American Nations and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States

- Chile is a stable democracy with three branches of government. Led by a duly elected President, Congress is also voted in by the people. The Supreme Court justices are appointed by the President, who makes his choices from a list provided by the sitting justices and then submits his selections for ratification to the Senate.

- Politically, Chile is divided into 15 regions which are further divided into provinces and, at the most local level, into communes.

- Chile's chief exports include copper, fruit and fish products and their chief imports include petroleum, telecommunication equipment and industrial machines.

Depending on the time of the year and the particular part of the country you happen to be in, the weather can vary diversely. Most of Chile has four distinct seasons throughout the year.

Being in the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons are reversed from countries located in the northern latitudes. While July in New York can be a steamy hot day, in Chile, July is the middle of winter. In Santiago and the Central Valley, where most people live, a Mediterranean climate prevails with mild winters and warm, dry summers.

The Chilean Peso is the official currency. Many of the most import foreign currencies such as the U.S. Dollar, British Pound, and Euro enjoy a favorable exchange rate with the local currency. That makes the goods and services very affordable for international visitors.

Chili is a predominantly Roman Catholic country. In the 2002 Census, 70 percent of the population over the age of 15 were identified as Roman Catholics. Other branches of Christianity make up another 15 percent of religious faiths in the country.

Freedom of religion is written into the Constitution and various laws and policies make sure that everyone in Chile is free to practice the religion of their choice.

About Chile Economy

Chile has been one of Latin America’s fastest-growing economies in recent years thanks to a solid macroeconomic framework, which enabled the country to cushion the effects of a volatile international context and reduce the population living in poverty (on US$ 5.5 per day) from 30 percent in 2000 to 3.7 percent in 2018.

Chile’s economic freedom score is 77, making it's economy the 15th freest in the 2020 Index. Its overall score has increased by 1.4 points, pushed by a significant increase in the score for government integrity. Chile is ranked second among 32 countries in the Americas region, and its overall score is well above the regional and world averages.

Economic freedom in Chile declined from 2013 when its economy was on the corner of joining the ranks of the free, to 2018 but has been on a positive trajectory since then. The recent acceleration of GDP growth most likely reflects that positive trend. This country has a perfect economic policy that makes it conducive destination for study abroad aspirants.

Did you know that Chile is the world’s leading copper producer, and its exports of minerals, wood, fruit, seafood, and wine drive GDP growth? The economy of Chile is a high-income economy as ranked by the World Bank, and is considered one of South America's most progressive nations, leading Latin American nations in competitiveness, income per capita, globalization, economic freedom, and low perception of corruption.

Chile's economic recovery after years of low commodity prices relied on higher consumption and private investment, increasing wages, lower interest rates, private-sector confidence, higher copper prices, growing mining production, and - to a lesser extent - on increased wholesale trade and commercial services as mentioned by the World Bank.

According to the updated IMF forecasts from 14th April 2020, due to the outbreak of the COVID-19, GDP growth is expected to fall to -4.5% in 2020 and pick up to 5.3% in 2021, subject to the post-pandemic global economic recovery.

Why Study in Chile

Affordable Tuition Fees in Chile
Spanish Language
Did you know that there are more native Spanish-speakers all around the world than English-speakers? Spanish is the 3rd most widely spoken language after Mandarin Chinese and Hindi by number of native speakers. Just think – if you learn Spanish, how many millions of people you would be able to communicate with? The ability to speak Spanish is definitely an essential asset to help you to participate in the globalized world we live in today. Take yourself out of your comfort zone and you will find that you will not sound like Mike after his semester of Spanish. Suerte!
Affordable Accomodation in Chile
Academics
Not only is Chile a great place to learn Spanish and find out more about literature Nobel prize winners such as Pablo Neruda and Gabriela Mistral, but it is also a great place to study other academic subjects including Astronomy, Business, Geology, Geography, History, Human Rights, Political Science, and Sustainable Development. Scientists flock to Chile which is rich in minerals and known for its earthquakes and volcanoes as well as its numerous astronomical observatories. This is why studying in Chile will give you an insight into how other education systems function, as well as a different perspective on life.
International Environment in Chile
Stability
Although Chile had a military dictatorship from 1973-1990, today the country commands a stable government and economy. The Andean nation has been a democratic state since 1990 and, in fact, Chile was recently ranked among the most stable countries in Latin America by the Institute for Economics and Peace. The report, Global Peace Index, places Chile 31st among 162 nations, quite vable for your stay and security.
Great Weather in Chile
Friendly Locals
If your goal is to immerse yourself in the culture and learn and practice a language, it really helps if the locals are friendly and hospital. Chileans love it when foreigners study and get to know their culture and country and it is easy to make friends. They will want to hear what you think about their country, which will give you plenty of opportunities to practice your Spanish more so.

Scholarships

Studying in Chile can be a rewarding experience for many students as they seek opportunities to study tuition-free. Chile scholarships can offer you such a great occasion with the available scholarships for international students and scholarship opportunities for Chile students who wish to study abroad as well.

The quality of Chile’s universities is well known across America. There are 2 of Two of its top-ranked universities ranked in the top five of the 2011 U.S. News and World Report list of the 100 best schools in the region.

Unfortunately, high-quality education comes at a high cost. By comparison, Chile has the second most expensive private university system of any OECD country, after the United States.

Chile Student Visa

In order to pursue an academic program in Chile, you must obtain a Chile student visa first. However, in certain cases, such as when the course is for a shorter period of time, a student visa may not be required, depending on your nationality, which is why it is important to cross-check before any applications on our visa page on whether you are mandated or not to have one to study in Chile prior application.

This short guide will answer some of the most common questions regarding student visas for Chile and detail the application process.

If you intend to pursue an academic course in Chile that lasts more than 90 days, then you need a Chile student visa, regardless of your nationality. However, there are several countries whose nationals can stay in Chile without a visa for up to 90 days at most.

If you are from a visa-exempted regions; like the USA, EU, you do not need a Student visa for Chile if your course lasts less than 90 days. You can simply enter the country and take the course.