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Studies & Degrees in Chilean Studies

Chilean studies is an area study: it looks at one country, Chile, from several disciplines at once. Students combine the Spanish language with Chilean history, politics and society, literature, geography and the cultures of the country's indigenous peoples. Literature has a firm place in most courses. Chile is the country of Gabriela Mistral, the first Latin American author to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, and of Pablo Neruda, also a Nobel Prize winner.

The subject is seldom a degree of its own. It is usually taken as a set of courses within Latin American studies or Hispanic studies, or as part of a semester or short programme in Chile itself.

Qualifications and levels

  • Semester and exchange programmes. Learn Chile, the network of Chilean higher education institutions supported by the state through ProChile, describes semester programmes that run from March to June and from August to December. Students take Spanish at their level and complementary courses on Chilean and Latin American culture.
  • Intensive programmes. These last between four weeks and two months and run in January, February, June and July, with classes, guided visits and complementary activities.
  • Tailor-made programmes. Chilean universities organise courses for groups from universities abroad. Learn Chile lists Chilean and Latin American culture and history, literature and linguistics, international relations, and architecture and heritage among the possible areas.
  • Spanish courses with a cultural programme. Language schools teach Spanish by the week and add activities and excursions. Several Chilean institutions also offer the DELE exams, in association with the Instituto Cervantes.

Credits are the point to check. Learn Chile advises students to ask whether courses provide credits that their home university will accept. A full degree in Chile is a different matter: universities there award professional and academic degrees, while professional institutes may not grant academic degrees.

Where to study Chilean studies

SpainExchange lists one active school for this subject, and it is in Chile: COINED International Santiago de Chile, a Spanish language school. Its intensive course has 20 group lessons a week and its super-intensive course 30, both from one week. According to the school, groups have at most 8 students, lessons last 55 minutes, courses start any Monday, programmes run from 1 to 52 weeks and the minimum age is 17. The school adds activities and excursions so that students use the language in real situations. It is a language course, not a university programme in Chilean studies.

For university courses, the Chilean system has three kinds of university according to Learn Chile: 18 state universities, 9 private universities with partial state funding and 34 private universities. The language of instruction is Spanish. Outside Chile, courses on the country are normally found inside Latin American studies departments; ask how many courses actually deal with Chile.

Visa and practical points

Learn Chile states that foreign students need a student visa. The Servicio Nacional de Migraciones grants a temporary residence permit for students to people who come to study at educational establishments recognised by the state, and the application must be made from abroad. Holders of this permit may do paid work for up to 30 hours a week. Requirements change, so check the official page before applying. Previous knowledge of Spanish is recommended but is not a formal visa requirement; each institution sets its own language level.

Careers

Knowledge of one country is rarely a profession in itself. It is an addition to a degree in languages, history, political science, international relations or business. Graduates use it in teaching, translation, journalism, diplomacy and international organisations, in companies that trade with Chile, and in research. No official employment statistics exist for this subject on its own.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take a full degree in Chilean studies?

It is uncommon. The subject is normally studied as courses within Latin American or Hispanic studies, or during a semester or short programme at a Chilean institution.

Do I need to speak Spanish to study in Chile?

Spanish is the language of instruction. According to Learn Chile, a minimum level is recommended but is not a formal requirement for the visa, and each institution sets its own requirements. Spanish courses are available at different levels.

When do study programmes in Chile start?

Semester programmes run from March to June and from August to December. Intensive programmes of four weeks to two months take place in January, February, June and July. Language schools such as COINED in Santiago start courses any Monday.

Can I work while studying in Chile?

Yes, with limits. According to the Servicio Nacional de Migraciones, holders of the temporary residence permit for students may do paid work for up to 30 hours a week.