IFSA Butler - Costa Rica

Advisor/Important notes:

Direct Enroll Programs offer students an immersive academic and social experience as they directly enroll in a local University in their Host country! Students learn in a diverse classroom with degree seeking and fellow global study students from all over the world, and have opportunities to choose from a wide array of courses. Students love engaging with the local campus and the opportunities to join student clubs and organizations. These programs oftentimes offer more STEM courses in comparison to our Hybrid/Group programs through our affiliated study abroad providers. Most direct enrollment programs allow students to live in shared apartments with other university students, but a few have host family options.
Spanish majors/minors must meet with faculty in the Spanish Department prior to choosing a program.
Courses work really well for the humanities and social sciences.

Who to contact:

Program Highlights:

In Heredia, it’s easy to combine an interest in sustainable living and passion for nature with aspirations to take your Spanish language skills to the next level. Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica (UNA) offers top-ranked academics taught in Spanish, in a country known to put education first. After class, explore the Mercado Central or go for a hike. This small, walkable city sits in Costa Rica’s central valley, surrounded by beautiful mountains and coffee plantations, with trails a 15-minute bus ride from UNA.
Activities and excursions are designed to pull you into the communities you visit and encourage cultural connections of every kind. There is no extra fee to participate in these optional outings—everything is included.
In Costa Rica, students live in the province of Heredia with families in what’s called a homestay. Homestays are a fabulous way to soak up as much culture as you can and provide plenty of opportunity to make language gains. Many students keep in touch with their hosts after they return home.