The University of Costa Rica in San José is the oldest and best-known university in the country. The beautifully landscaped campus includes a biological reserve that is home to an amazing variety of tropical birds. More than one hundred undergraduate majors provide students with a rich range of course possibilities.

The National Autonomous University in the small city of Heredia is a smaller, but full university offering a broad curriculum of undergraduate majors. The city of Heredia is a lovely city of 111,000 perched on a hilltop surrounded by coffee plantations. This is a university town.

Costa Rica, the “Switzerland of Latin America,” is one of the most stable nations in Latin America. Since 1948, Costa Rica has focused on developing a peaceful and healthy society with democratic institutions. Costa Rica is ideal for students interested in conservation, wildlife, and exploring outdoor geography of all sorts: beaches, volcanoes, cloud forests, and rainforests.

Program Type
Third-party provider, Institute for Study Abroad-Butler University (IFSA-Butler), facilitated by Duquesne University’s OIP.

Academic Highlights
All students are required to take Advanced Spanish language (4 cr.) offered by IFSA- Butler and must have a minimum of four(4) semesters of college-level Spanish. A full range of courses are offered by the two Costa Rican universities, all taught in Spanish.

Courses Available in Costa Rica

Language of Instruction
Spanish, minimum of four(4) semesters of college-level Spanish required prior to arrival.

Academic Calendar
Fall Semester: July – December
Spring Semester: January - July

Housing and Meals
IFSA-Butler houses all students in homestays with carefully selected and screened Costa Rican families. This includes three (3) meals per day.

Services Provided
IFSA-Butler provides a complete infrastructure of residential and academic support. A resident director is on site at each location, and facilitates every aspect of your semester: a three-week language-intensive orientation, housing, excursions, language and tutorial support, etc.

Estimated Costs (Category I Program)

Scholarships available through IFSA.

For a more in-depth look: www.ifsa-butler.org