As a student, you are responsible for paying all expenses associated with the exchange. When you are away, you will continue to pay tuition and fees at USM (as if you had not gone, and keep the scholarships and credits when you continue to meet the renewal requirements). In addition, you will pay for the ticket, medical insurance, visa costs, accommodation and food abroad, etc. We estimate between 500-900 Euros per month to live in Europe, Australia, USA. The return ticket is normally between 650-1000 Euros.

While you are a registered student with pending credits in your USM Study Plan, you can go on an exchange. The idea is to incorporate the subjects and knowledge of the foreign university into your studies here. If your degree has credits associated with the final degree project, you could also do that work abroad, you would do it together with a tutor professor from the foreign university and your tutor professor at the USM. If you are interested in this option, discuss it with your guide teacher or major before applying.

In general, there are not many undergraduate scholarships. But the OAI does manage the following scholarships for undergraduate exchange:

Santander Mobility Scholarships (all destinations)
Santander Iberoamerica Scholarships (Certain destinations in Latin America, Spain and Portugal)
Scholarships Baden-Württemberg (Germany)
Pacific Alliance Scholarships (Colombia, Peru, Mexico)
Individual scholarships/others (Germany, Austria, France, Canada…)

First, one must apply in the OAI call. If you are approved and selected, the OAI will invite you to participate in any call or scholarship opportunity to which you may be eligible (depending on your destination, deadlines, etc...)

Each scholarship has different requirements and deadlines. See more details in Undergraduate Scholarships.

You can see the language requirements of each university in the list of bilateral exchange agreements.

English: you will have to document command of a language in two stages: intermediate level at the time of applying in the OAI call (to reserve the place) and intermediate or advanced level at the time of applying to the foreign university (1 semester before traveling).

French and Italian: If it requires a specific level/certificate, you would have to certify this. If you say basic French, or basic Italian, students who do not yet meet that knowledge must enroll in an initial language course or workshop. The language center must be able to deliver a certificate or letter of registration.

German: Universities in Germany can be very strict with their requirements. The student must make sure to confirm in which language they will study courses, and which (English and/or German) certificates they would need to deliver. Some universities still require a certain level of German when the student will take all their subjects in English. German courses normally progress by half a level per semester (A1.1 = 1 semester, A1.2= another semester, i.e. 2 semesters to complete the full A1 level). There are intensive courses for the highly motivated. Be realistic with your time if you have to certify the language.

Once selected by the USM, you will have to worry about learning the language and the level required at the host university. For example, English-speaking universities are very strict in requiring scores in official English tests. The student will be responsible for taking any exam or taking a course to document their level, and must consider the deadlines to take and have these results.

Failure to meet the language level requested by the receiving university could be a reason for rejection of the application.

Also visit our page about language centers.

If you have Chilean and European nationality (or the destination country), you save the student visa process. We recommend you confirm directly with the embassy of the country of destination if there is something special that you must do upon your arrival abroad (for example, to activate the health insurance).

There are two ways to do an internship abroad: Through the exchange or independently.

Through the exchange: You will do a one-year exchange. During the first semester, you will look for an internship (the foreign university can sometimes help you). Normally universities are willing to seek internships only for students who have already completed one semester and who know the culture well and have a sufficient level of the language to join a foreign organization.

Independent: You will manage the search and internship offer, in addition to the visa and travel, etc. In that case, it works the same as doing a national internship, but abroad.

In any case, the Directorate of Studies has the practice forms in English for those who need it.

See the link to the academic offer in the “Exchange Offer” form, on the Agreements page. In addition, the subjects are usually found on the website of the foreign university. If you cannot find them on the website, you should consult the foreign university (you can contact its international relations office or directly with the academic department of your interest).

You can read the official information of each university on its international relations page.

You can watch videos and view promotional and administrative material on our Exchange Destinations page.

You can also read the comments delivered by Sansanos who have returned from the exchange, organized by country. So you can know the experience from those who have lived it.

When you return from the exchange, you present the official concentration of your semester grades outside, together with the previous authorizations and/or descriptions of the subjects you took. The OAI requests the validation from the department that dictates the equivalent branch at the USM.

More information: validation of subjects.

Note that students who go to the exchange outside the OAI (independent exchange) must manage their own validation, since the OAI does not extend support for the recognition of these. In this case, they will also have to pay a value for validated credit, which is established by decree each year.