The Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR) is located in San José, the capital city of Costa Rica. Costa Rica itself is situated at the southern end of Central America making it a crossroads for Mesoamerican as well as South American culture and traditions. Costa Rica is located in between Nicaragua and Panama and is bordered by the Pacific Ocean as well as the Caribbean Sea. It is divided by mountain ranges and dotted with various volcanos. Irazu, (near San José), is known as one of the most active volcanos in the world! The country is also well known among tourists for its idyllic beaches, its lush tropical rain forests, and its wildlife. Although the climate varies from region to region, it is usually warm enough to be outdoors year round.

The Universidad de Costa Rica is the oldest, largest, and most prestigious institution of higher learning in Costa Rica. It has colleges in Arts & Letters, Humanities, Basic Sciences, Social Sciences, Health, Law, Education, and Nursing.

Academic year

The regular academic year is divided into two semesters. The first semester begins in the last week of February and ends in the last week of June. The second semester begins in August and finishes in the first week of December.

Exchange Students

Visiting students must arrange their program of studies with UCR's Supervisor of Program Studies in the International Student Office (OAICE), at least four days before the regular period of registration. This means that the student must arrive in Costa Rica for the academic orientation period (see list of important dates). Visiting students must register during the period of regular registration. The late registration period is only for making adjustments when courses for which the student registered during the regular registration period are not available. No visiting student can begin registration during the late registration period.

Lodging

UCR does not have any university residences, but the OAICE is prepared to help students find lodging with a Costa Rican family. Living with a family provides exchange students greater opportunities for interactions with Costa Rican culture and people and with the Spanish language. Students interested in obtaining lodging through OAICE must send $75 (non-refundable) to cover the cost of administrative services. The check must be written out to THE UNIVERSITY OF COSTA RICA and must be sent to the Oficina de Asuntos Internacionales y Cooperación Externa at the following address:

Oficina de Asuntos Internacionales
Universidad de Costa Rica
Código Postal 2060
San José, Costa Rica

The family-lodging costs approximately $330 per month.

Note: Fluency in Spanish is required. The Universidad de Costa Rica offers intensive Spanish courses before each semester that are not included in the exchange program.

UCR recommends that students come to Costa Rica only after they have mastered the Spanish language. However, registration in the Program of Intensive Spanish for Foreigners is availabe during the month of February, for the first semester and the month of July, for the second semester. The cost of the Spanish course for foreigners is $500, plus a $100 reimbursable fee for book loans. The Spanish as a Second Language Program also offers semester courses in Spanish in March and August.

If more detailed information about Spanish as a Second Language courses is desired, students should communicate directly with the Program of Spanish for Foreigners. Telephone (506) 207 5634; Fax (506) 207 5634. E-mail: espaucr@le.ucr.ac.cr