IFSA-Universidad Nacional

The program is open to Purdue students who have completed at least four semesters of university study by the start of the program. Successful candidates will demonstrate academic success, maturity and a desire to experience another culture.

Students interested in completing courses while abroad from Purdue colleges or departments that are not listed above should discuss this with their study abroad advisor before applying to the program.

This program combines the best of integrated campus life with familiarity of small discussion-based program combine the following IFSA exclusive courses with those directly-enrolled at UNA alongside local students. All coursework is in Spanish.

The IFSA course of Advanced Spanish is required for all students, and you will select the rest of your courses from the offerings at Universidad Nacional. More information on available courses and how to search the course catalog can be found here.

This program typically includes the following: 

Arrival and orientation

• Airport pick-up for group flight travelers
• Hotel stay with pool, tennis courts and gardens for one night (spring semester only)
• Welcome meal
• 14-day on-site orientation for semester/year students includes: transportation, accommodation, activities and meals
• One week of orientation is in Heredia and includes: tour of Heredia, San José, and UNA campus, informational meetings, orientation wrap-up at Pueblo Antiguo amusement park
• Second week of orientation is held in Monteverde Cloud Forest (spring semester) or Liberia (fall semester) and includes: informational meetings, 15 hours of intensive Spanish classes, host family stay, and farewell party with host families
• Orientation in Monteverde Cloud Forest can include: sky walk adventure, horseback riding, visit to organic dairy farm or visit to working sugar mill
• Orientation in Liberia can include: visit to waterfall in San Luis Valley, trip to volcano or horseback riding

Cultural events

• Tour of Teatro Nacional
• Visit to jade or gold museum
• Visit to Coffee Experience Farm in Tarrazu region

Excursion

• Three-day excursion to Pacuare Nature Reserve, Durika Commune or Rain Forest Reserve

Students should carefully note what costs need to be paid to Purdue University or to a co-sponsor or agency, and what costs need to be paid at the overseas study location.  This will vary by program.

The Program fee includes tuition, accommodation with a host family, three meals per day, laundry service, four-week orientation, academic advising services and academic tutors, excursions/cultural activities/day-trips, and more. Please see IFSA's website for more details.

Costs for this program are estimated and subject to change. The cost figures listed below are for: Fall 2021

Purdue University financial aid may be applied to the costs of studying abroad. Students interested in receiving financial aid should

• direct financial aid inquiries to the Division of Financial Aid on the West Lafayette campus; 
• consult website Study Abroad Financial Aid Process;
• complete and submit the FAFSA by the appropriate deadline.

NOTE:  Recipients of certain tuition remission and scholarship programs should pay careful attention to the regulations for using those benefits for study abroad.  Ask your financial aid advisor about any limitations.

Click here for a list of scholarships and grants available to assist with the costs of studying overseas.

For full consideration, students must submit all supporting documents before or by the application deadline.  Popular programs fill quickly, often before the deadline.  To insure a place in a program, apply early.

As soon as a student submits an online application, a My Study Abroad account is created. Applicants should consult this page often to check on the status of the application.

Click below to search for Purdue students who have participated in this program and are willing to be contacted.  If you get no results, you can use the search form to find people who studied in the country you are interested in.

The websites listed below contain information about this program. The accuracy of information at external sites cannot be guaranteed.

• Program Sponsor's Home Page: IFSA-Butler
• Program Website
• Search Google(tm)*
• Department of State Consular Information
  (You must find Costa Rica in list)
• CDC Travel Information (You must find Costa Rica in list)