ULACIT – Costa Rica

Status

Open

Trip Destination

Costa Rica

Approximate Price

Trip Date

TO

Application Deadline

Cost Information

Cost for Domestic Students: $500-$1000 (includes IFS + BWR Course)
Cost for International Students: $1000 (includes IFS + BWR Course)
Cost for Students Not Willing to Take the BWR Course: ~$5000 (Full amount of IFS)

Above costs are for International Field Studies, for other programs please see the approximate cost listed above.

Physical Intensity

Accommodations

Meals

Steps to Apply

ULACIT – Costa Rica

Institution: Universidad LatinoAmericana de Ciencia y Technolgia —

Location: San Jose, Costa Rica —

Discover Costa Rica at ULACIT

The Latin American University for Science and Technology, ULACIT, is a bilingual university located in San José, Costa Rica. It offers 53 undergraduate and 42 graduate programs in the Schools of Engineering, Information and Communication Technologies, Film and Animation, Art and Design, Business Administration, Health Sciences, and Social Sciences.

Located in San José, Costa Rica’s capital city, ULACIT attracts international students and faculty. Within walking distance to San Jose’s main attractions, including the Central Park, National Theatre, National Museum, The Supreme Court, Congress Building and Central Bank, ULACIT is surrounded by museums, shopping centers, and restaurants. Transportation from campus is available in both public and private modalities, providing convenient access to the rest of the country.

Website: http://www.ulacit.ac.cr/

Travel Visa + Immigration Documentation:

Students are responsible for researching and applying for any required visa(s) or ETIAS on their own; Be World Ready is not able to apply for any travel visa(s) or ETIAS on your behalf. Be World Ready will provide you with supporting documentation 11 weeks before departure to apply for a Visa as long as you have confirmed your appointment date at [email protected]. All international students will need to ensure that their Study Permits and Student Visas are not expired before the date of return from the international experience, to ensure that there are no challenges upon reentry to Canada. Travel restrictions and requirements for entry to Canada may change at any time. All travellers are responsible for remaining up to date with any restrictions and requirements for travel and re-entry to Canada leading up to and throughout their International Field Study. Niagara College Canada will assume no responsibility for any changes to governing body travel restrictions, required documentation for travel or any refused entry as a result of change. Travellers are encouraged to review the Government of Canada Website for the latest restrictions and requirements for entry to Canada, as well as to check entry requirements to their destination country as a Canadian citizen. If an ETIAS is not acquired, a visa appointment is not secured, or if a visa application is rejected, Niagara College and Be World Ready are unable to refund any payments made. All payments made towards the International Field Study are final.

All international or domestic students, in full-time or part-time* status, and in good academic standing at Niagara College, are eligible for a Be World Ready grant to help offset the cost of their international experience. You must be actively enrolled in studies during the term of travel to participate. International Field Studies participation is permitted only for students who have not yet experienced a Be World Ready IFS since beginning their studies at Niagara College. Students will not directly receive grant money as the full value of the grant has already been applied to the final payment to offset the total cost of the learning experience abroad. For students who do not complete all grant requirements by established deadlines (including the time of submission), the full grant amount may be charged directly to their student account. Details on grant requirements will be shared with you as part of the mandatory Be World Ready (SOCL 1128 or IDPL 9103) course, which all students participating in a Be World Ready International Field Study must enroll in and successfully complete. Eligibility requirements can vary from term-to-term, and from one opportunity to the next. Please complete the eligibility quiz linked on the specific opportunity page to determine if you meet eligibility requirements.

*Part-time students, are defined by Be World Ready as those actively enrolled in a Niagara College program, taking a minimum of 2 classes during the term of travel that contribute to their program progression and credential completion. Students taking a class that does not contribute to a program would not qualify to participate in a Be World Ready International Field Study.

 

Study Dates Application Deadline
January – April 2020 January 15, 2019
May – August 2020 June 28, 2019
September – December 2021 October 30, 2019
January – April 2021 January 15, 2020
May – August 2021 June 28, 2020
September – December 2021 October 30, 2020
January – April 2022 January 15, 2021
May – August 2022 June 28, 2021
September – December 2022 October 30, 2021

All students are required to attend the New Student Orientation which takes place on:

  • January 13 – Spring Term (Jan-April)
  • May 12: Summer Term (May-Aug)
  • September 8: Winter Term (Sept-Dec)

Orientation sessions take place during the first week of classes. They include: informative talks on school services and student life, community interaction (banking, mobile phones, transit system) and Costa Rican culture session, campus and city tour, course registration details, Blackboard training, introduction to the Ambassadors Program (dance classes, activities with student clubs, welcome reception and tour, among others).

  • All exchange students are expected to attend all the orientation and welcome activities.
Language Requirements:

ULACIT is a bilingual school offering courses in both English and Spanish.

Students coming to ULACIT are encouraged and expected to take the Spanish Language Immersion Program as it significantly contributes to their socio-cultural experience in Costa Rica. The program includes 7 levels from introductory to advanced. Students are placed in a course according to the results obtained in the online test and the personal interview conducted before their arrival.  Students from Niagara College receive a special rate of $550 (field trip included). The Spanish courses offered each last for six weeks. Students can enroll in two levels each term. These are semi-intensive courses; thus students will be expected to dedicate ten hours of class interaction per week during those six (6) weeks. Students may also choose to take a tutorial course.

Tuition & Academic Fees:

Students will pay their regular Niagara College tuition. Students are not required to pay tuition fees to ULACIT, however they will be required to pay:

  • Registration Fee – $200
  • Grade Transcript – $88
  • Welcome package – $200

Students coming to ULACIT are encouraged and expected to take the Spanish Language Immersion Program as it significantly contributes to their socio-cultural experience in Costa Rica. The program includes 7 levels from introductory to advanced. Students are placed in a course according to the results obtained in the online test and the personal interview conducted before their arrival.  Students from Niagara College receive a special rate of $550 (field trip included). The Spanish courses offered each last for six weeks. Students can enroll in two levels each term. These are semi-intensive courses; thus students will be expected to dedicate ten hours of class interaction per week during those six (6) weeks. Students may also choose to take a tutorial course.

 Accommodations:

ULACIT’s central campus does not offer traditional student residence (on-campus dorms).

Exchange students are required to live with a local host family (Homestay Program). The Global Education Office (GEO) works with a number of 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.

For more information on the homestay please use this link: http://www.ulacit.ac.cr/international/base.php?id=ip_homestay

Homestay Fees: $3000 for 16 weeks – $188 for each additional week

Visa:

Students coming for 1 or more academic terms must request a student visa at the closest Costa Rican embassy/council. This provisional visa will allow the student’s entrance to the country; however, the consolidation of it must be finalized within 30 days after their arrival at the immigrations office once in the country.

For the most up to date visa information for Canadian Citizens please use the link below or speak with an immigration advisor.

https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/costa-rica

 Work Permit:

Students on exchange cannot apply for a work permit but they can enroll in internship programs.

The Be World Ready program at Niagara College prepares you for global success through education, exchange, and international experience. This program offers you the opportunity to experience culturally diverse learning environments, understand different perspectives and connect practical skills with a global mindset to help you launch your career.
An international field study is a 7 – 10 day experience that incorporates both vocational and cultural elements, while visiting some of the world’s most famous sights! Many of our international field studies are customized for specific Schools and programs at Niagara College, allowing students to apply the skills learned in the classroom in a real-world setting. All international field studies depart during the Niagara College break weeks to ensure that students do not miss any classes.
All international field studies will include roundtrip airfare (where applicable), accommodations, travel insurance, entrance fees as outlined in the itinerary, and some meals as outlined in the itinerary. A detailed list of inclusions and exclusions will be viewable on the posted webpage for any international field study on our website. Participants can expect to purchase some meals on their own and will need to bring spending money for any souvenirs, extra excursions, incidentals or items of a personal nature.

No. All aspects noted as included in the overall cost of the selected international field study are mandatory with no exceptions made. Our international field studies are built using group pricing and it is important that we do not deviate from the inclusions as it could negatively impact our ability to offer fair pricing to all participants.

In addition to affecting group pricing, these are our Niagara College International Field Study policies, and we cannot deviate from them, as they are part of our risk mitigation and management.

No. Students are not able to book their own flight in any way or alter the flights confirmed by Be World Ready. The round-trip flights as confirmed by Be World Ready are part of the package pricing, and the group is to travel to and from the destination country together.

These are our Niagara College International Field Study policies, and we cannot deviate from them, as they are part of our risk mitigation and management.

Each international field study destination has different accommodation providers or themes. Accommodation types that are used may include a combination of dorm-style rooms, homestays, tourist class hotels, or occasionally hostels. We strive to ensure we use centrally located accommodation when in city centres, allowing our participants to explore their surroundings more easily. Private accommodation is not guaranteed.

Rooms will vary in style on each trip; however, they are commonly twin share (2 people to a room with separate beds where possible). Single rooms may be available for an additional room fee provided adequate notice is given to Be World Ready staff. We strive to ensure you have comfortable, affordable accommodations anywhere you travel.

Students will be given the opportunity to meet their fellow travellers before the deadline to submit their roommate requests. Be World Ready does their best to accommodate rooming requests, but please note that final rooming arrangements are subject to room occupancy requirements and availability. A rooming list will be created by Be World Ready staff and shared with our accommodation providers before your departure. All participants will be emailed and will have the opportunity to identify their preferred roommate(s). While we will make every effort to ensure all preferences are met, we cannot guarantee it.

As long as they are current full-time Niagara College students and meet the program eligibility requirements. Unfortunately, we are not able to accept any persons to participate in any of our international field studies that are not current full-time students at Niagara College.

In addition to regular communications shared with participants leading up to the departure of their international field study of choice, Be World Ready requires students to attend the Be World Ready course, which includes but is not limited to, online trainings and pre-departure training sessions. During the pre-departure training sessions, students will be presented with the overall expectations of the trip as well as in-depth details concerning their itinerary.

During their time abroad, students will be able to communicate with their trip leads directly, 24/7, with any questions or concerns.

All participants are required to hold a passport that is valid for a minimum of 6 months beyond any expected date of return to participate in any opportunity involving outbound travel.

You are responsible for researching and applying for any required visa(s) on your own. Be World Ready is unable to tell you what visa you require and how to apply. Be World Ready will provide you with supporting documentation as needed to apply for a Visa. While Be World Ready is not able to advise or guide you in a heightened level of detail through any particular visa process, you may consider hiring a travel visa service to assist you with the visa application process, such as CIBT visas. Please note that Be World Ready and Niagara College do not endorse any third-party vendors, nor have any influence or control over any outcomes or services rendered. We cannot apply for a visa on behalf of any participant.

All international students will need to ensure that their Study Permits and Student Visas are not expired before the date of return from the international experience, to ensure that there are no challenges with reentry to Canada.

Yes, while it is great to have a Nexus card, all participants must hold a passport that is valid for a minimum of 6 months beyond any expected date of return in order to participate in any opportunity outside of Canada.
Depending on your destination country, we encourage you to book an appointment with a travel health professional regarding any additional vaccinations and medications you may need. It is strongly encouraged that you book an appointment with the Campus Nurse to go over this information. To do so, please visit the medical office to book an appointment at your respective campus.
Be World Ready takes the safety of our staff and students very seriously and has a rigorous risk management assessment when creating all opportunities. Be World Ready staff monitor destination country risk levels as communicated by the Government of Canada. Your safety is the most important aspect of this trip. Be World Ready and Niagara College take all possible precautions to ensure you have a safe, enjoyable experience while travelling abroad.
Students who sign up during the active promotional period for the international field study will be presented with a payment schedule to follow. At time of registration, students will be only required to pay the full non-refundable deposit that is disclosed at time of registration. Students who are permitted to sign up late will be expected to catch up on any payments missed according to the payment schedule advertised. In some instances, there may only be one payment due date.
Complete the eligibility quiz linked on the webpage of the International Field Study you’re interested in to find out if you meet eligibility requirements.
No. Students will not directly receive grant money as the full value of the grant has already been applied to the final payment to offset the total cost of the learning experience abroad. For students who do not complete all grant requirements by established deadlines (including the time of submission), the full grant amount may be charged directly to their student account. Details on grant requirements will be shared with you as part of the mandatory Be World Ready (SOCL 1128 or IDPL 9103) course, which all students participating in a Be World Ready International Field Study must enroll in and successfully complete to receive funding.
Students are only permitted to travel on an IFS to their home country if the IFS is program specific. IFS’ that are open to students from all programs do not permit students to travel if the destination is their home country. The purpose of the grant funding is to help students gain global competencies that they would not otherwise be exposed to, and as such, travelling to destinations they’ve previously lived in does not support this goal.
Students have the potential to travel and receive funding through Be World Ready up to 2 times; students can travel once on either an International Field Study, Summer Institute, or Semester Exchange, and they can potentially travel again for a Work Abroad opportunity (if eligibility requirements are met – please note that if more applications are received than work abroad grants available, priority will be given to those who have never travelled on any type of Be World Ready experience before). So, if you’re wanting to travel on an International Field Study, note that participation on an IFS is permitted only for students who have not yet experienced a Be World Ready IFS, Summer Institute, or Semester Exchange since beginning their studies at Niagara College.

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