Study abroad in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is an ideal place for a semester abroad or gap year due to its high-quality education and endless travel opportunities.

Asia Exchange semester abroad programs allow you to study in Costa Rica and try something different every day. Even those who do not speak Spanish can study in Costa Rica. Attend one of the finest private institutions in Central America and interact with local and international students, Explore the natural beauties of Costa Rica while studying in one of the world’s happiest nations!

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Asia Exchange, which was founded in 2007, has sent over 10,000 students abroad, and we are pleased that our students have rated our services with 4.8/5.
In addition, Asia Exchange has garnered numerous honors and recognitions globally, establishing us as the leading provider of study abroad programs worldwide.

10000 students 100 countries- study with asia exchange and beyond abroad

These reviews are more than plain words. These reviews, honors, and recognitions represent the sentiments and global experiences of our students and partners. We are thrilled that over 10,000 students and partners from over 100 countries have placed their trust in Asia Exchange and allowed us to positively touch their lives beyond their wildest dreams.

Elsa - Beyond Abroad student in Costa Rica

EASY APPLICATION PROCESS

Just fill out an online application form and submit it with a few attachments.

ACCEPTANCE EVEN IN ONE DAY

Your study placement can be confirmed as quickly as in day.

SECURE STUDY PLACE

Once you get the confirmation, it’s a done deal!

MOST AFFORDABLE TUITION FEES

Our fees are more affordable than applying directly to the university

GET ALL THE SUPPORT YOU NEED

Our team helps you get the most out of your time abroad

APPLY EASILY WITH FRIENDS

Share life-changing experiences together

ULACIT_logo

Latin American university of science and technology

only bilingual university in costa rica

#1

private
university in
costa rica

top 5%

best
universities
worldwide

#1 reputation with employers in costa rica

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

SEMESTERS

Spring (January – April)
Summer (May – August)
Autumn (September - December)

LEVELS OF STUDY

Bachelor, GAP year

MAX. CREDITS

24 ECTS /
12 US credits per trimester

Fees

3,800 USD / Semester

+ 97 USD application fee

PROGRAM CONTENT

Project-based learning

STUDY FIELDS

Economics, Business Management, Latin American culture and history, International Relations, Political Science, Social Sciences, Humanities and Spanish language

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

How to apply

CHOOSE A DESTINATION, UNIVERSITY, AND PROGRAM

Choose a destination, university, and program that suits you best. To help you choose, you can check our study abroad guide or look at this comparison chart.

Get prepared

After receiving your confirmation email and initial acceptance letter, you can begin your travel preparations.

APPLY EASILY ONLINE

Get the required attachments for the university or program of your choice. Please fill out the application for the university or program of your choice through our application form.

PAY TUITION FEE, GET AN OFFICIAL ACCEPTANCE LETTER & VISA

You'll get the invoice for the tuition fee about 2.5 months before the start of the semester. You'll also get the host university's official acceptance letter a month before the semester starts.

CONFIRMATION OF STUDY PLACEMENT

We'll process your application in 1-3 working days, after which we will send you an email with a confirmation of your study abroad placement and further instructions.

ARRIVAL AND ORIENTATION

Ready, set, go! Once you have your student visa in hand, you're good to go! Pack your bags, throw a farewell party and step into the best adventure of your life!

Studying at ULACIT IN COSTA RICA

Beyond Abroad - Costa RicaThe Latin American University of Science and Technology – ULACIT – has been ranked as the best private university in Costa Rica for ten consecutive years (2011-2021) in the QS rankings. It is also one of the global campuses of the University of Arizona. The teaching strategies in ULACIT are project-based, with no traditional exams. Learning is based on research, case studies, problem-solving and service-learning experiences under the Teaching for Understanding (TfU) framework, developed by Harvard University’s Project Zero.

Who is this Courses & Studies program for?

  • You are a university student or have recently finished high school.
  • You want to study abroad and better understand global topics combined with a unique life experience.
  • You want to improve your language skills and learn Spanish.
  • You enjoy a tropical climate and want to explore the incredibly diverse nature of Costa Rica in your free time
  • You want to make new international friends and build a career-benefiting multicultural network.

Fees

Study in Lisbon, Portugal: Fees

Benefits when applying via Asia Exchange

FAQ

Q: How do I select my courses?

A: We will send you a pre-course enrolment form along with a list of courses being offered approximately one month before your semester starts.

Q: Are the courses organized and taught in English?

A: Yes, ULACIT offering of courses taught in the English language is ample: 68 courses taught regularly 100% in the English language at ULACIT San José campus in the fields of Liberal Arts, Business Management, Economics, Accounting, Marketing, International Trade, Finance, Political Science, International Relations and Latin American Studies.

Q: Can I enroll in courses taught in Spanish?

A: Yes, you can, please notify us if you’d like to enroll in courses taught in Spanish.

Q: Do I need to have any language certificate?

A: There is no English language certificate required. However, if you’d like to enroll in courses taught in Spanish, you have to submit a minimum of B1 Certificate of Spanish Language Proficiency.

Q: What is the required course attendance?

A: The official course attendance requirement is 85%. Students who have 3 absences will fail the course.

Q: When do exams take place?

A: Exams are included in the semester dates, and they take place in the middle and at the end of the semester. We will send you a class schedule along with semester dates in it one month before your semester starts.

Q: What type of VISA do I need to have to study abroad in Costa Rica?

A: We recommend students enter Costa Rica with a Tourist VISA.

  • For this migratory status, no previous process is required, the tourist visa is automatically issued by Migration Authorities for any international traveler entering the country by land or air.
  • Visitors to Costa Rica must have a valid passport as well as proof of their intent to exit the country before their visa or entry stamp expires. All non-resident travelers must possess a return ticket or a ticket as proof of when they intend to exit the country, commonly referred to as an outbound exit or onward ticket.
  • So, either a dated or open-ended return ticket for an international flight or bus transfer service is needed when entering Costa Rica. The immigration officer will ask for it upon your arrival.
  • The departure plans from Costa Rica must be shown to Migration Authorities at the airport with a return ticket, but that the ticket can be open-ended, so incoming exchange students need a return ticket but not necessarily with a set return date.
  • Once in Costa Rica to maintain their legal migratory status after 90 days students can either exit any land border (a quick weekend trip to Panama o Nicaragua) to renew their tourist visa or request a student visa through ULACITs migration lawyer with a cost of $200 which will automatically suspend the expiration of their 90-day tourist visa until Migratory Authorities process their student visa request which takes over 6 months in average. This is a common practice for short-term exchange students and would be sufficient to maintain their legal migratory status while the short-term exchange student completes their 115-day academic period stay.

Q: What type of accommodation options are available?

A: ULACIT’s central campus does not offer traditional student residence (on-campus dorms). Exchange students are expected to live with a local host family (Homestay Program).

  1. Host Family: ULACIT work with host families in San Jose who have welcomed international students into their homes for years. Each home has been carefully selected by ULACIT program administrators to ensure comfort and safety for international students. To obtain a homestay application form or to inquire about housing at ULACIT, please contact: studyabroad@ulacit.ac.cr
  • For reservations and access to benefits please use the Reservation Code “ULACIT”, and request information on availability on any of their locations in San José, Jaco, Tamarindo, Monteverde, Puerto Viejo, or La Fortuna.

Q: How can I get to the campus?

A: Students may rent a car in Costa Rica if they have an international driving license. Regular cabs are accessible in San Jose, however, we recommend you download the UBER taxi application to your phone. It’s the safest, cheapest and easiest way to travel in San Jose.

Q: Do I need insurance?

A: Yes, all international students coming to ULACIT are required to purchase an international student health insurance plan with coverage in Costa Rica (no student will be accepted without it). Students must present a copy of their international health insurance ID card or written verification of coverage to be admitted and send a copy of this form for our records.

International Health Insurance Coverage must meet three essential requirements: cover medical expenses generated by the COVID-19 disease, hospital admission fees for the required duration, and minimum coverage of 14 days for accommodation expenses in case of delivery of a medical isolation order. If you choose this modality, you must have a certificate in English or Spanish from the international insurer that indicates the following:

  1. Validity of the insurance when visiting Costa Rica.
  2. Coverage of medical costs in the event of a Covid-19 pandemic in Costa Rica of at least $ 50,000.
  3. $2,000minimum coverage for lodging costs due to pandemic illness.

Please see here for our most recommended insurance https://www.insubuy.com/costa-rica-expatriate-health-insurance/https://www.insubuy.com/costa-rica-expatriate-health-insurance/

Q: I need to have my learning agreement/certificate of enrolment signed. What should I do?

A: Please fill the document and send it to info@asiaexchange.org.

Q: When will I receive my Official Acceptance Letter?

A: The official letter of acceptance (Offer Letter) will be sent to you by email 2–3 months before the semester starts.

Q: When will I receive my Transcript of Records?

A: The university prepares and sends the Academic Records, usually within 1-2 months after the end of the semester. We will send your Academic Records as soon as we receive them from ULACIT.