The IE3 Global program at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito-GAIAS Institute (Galapagos Islands) provides opportunities for students from any IE3 partner university to focus on biological and social sciences within the Galapagos archipelago. The program is ideal for students who want to study the natural environment and evolution in an amazing location first chronicled by Charles Darwin.
Fall: April 15
Winter/Spring: October 15
-Sophomore or higher
-GPA of 2.75 or above
-Minimum of one years of college-level Spanish recommended (or the equivalent)
The IE3 Global exchange program at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito-GAIAS Institute (USFQ-GAIAS) offers semester programs in the Galapagos Islands focusing on the natural sciences and social sciences. All courses are taught in English.
Courses are taught in three week modules and follow three different tracks:
A full listing of the courses and special activities of the programs are available on the GAIAS website.
This program is open to undergraduate students in any major interested in Latin America. To be eligible, students must meet the following minimum requirements before departure:
Students must continue to make satisfactory academic progress throughout the application process and during their study abroad program, and otherwise comply with policies and procedures of the host university, IE3 Global, and their home university International Programs Office.
If you do not meet the minimum eligibility requirements, please consult with your home campus contact person before applying.
Students are placed with a host family. Living with a host family is beneficial for improving Spanish and integrating more fully into the local community.
Students in Quito are supported by the USFQ International Programs Office (Oficina de Programas Internacionales, OPI). USFQ arranges and oversees homestay placements, runs a comprehensive on site orientation, provides academic and administrative support to all international students and informs students of USFQ arranged field trip options.
The program fee includes academic and administrative fees, room and board, travel between the mainland and the Galapagos Islands on USFQ designated program dates, on-site support, orientation expenses, group activities, and health and accident insurance.
The program fee does not include airfare, visa expenses, campus-based fees and personal expenses such as local transportation, textbooks, laundry, recreation (including travel), personal supplies and incidental expenses.
Fall: April 15
Winter/Spring: October 15
-Sophomore or higher
-GPA of 2.75 or above
-Minimum of one years of college-level Spanish recommended (or the equivalent)