Study in Costa Rica

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 enrol 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).

You can live in San José at one of the accommodation options provided by ULACIT or choose to find accommodation independently. ULACIT will contact the students to ask about their accommodation choice about 1-2 months before the semester start and provide more information about the accommodation options.

1. Host Family:
   Living with a local host family is the perfect way to immerse yourself in the local culture and practice your Spanish. Costa Ricans are famous for their friendliness and warmly welcome you as part of the family. The host families are carefully selected and have been cooperating with ULACIT for years. All the selected families live in the capital area, in a convenient location from the university. The monthly cost is 772 USD, including meals.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

You can live in San José at one of the accommodation options provided by ULACIT or choose to find accommodation independently. ULACIT will contact the students to ask about their accommodation choice about 1-2 months before the semester start and provide more information about the accommodation options.

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.

• $2,000minimumcoverageforlodgingcostsduetopandemicillness.

Please see here for our most recommended insurance https://www.grupoins.com/seguros-para-viajero/seguro-viajero-ingreso-costa-rica/

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.