Universidad Latinoamericana de Ciencia y Tecnología (ULACIT) is the top-ranked private university in Costa Rica and one of the most accessible places in Latin America to build a full semester abroad in English. You can put together a 15-week semester worth up to 30 ECTS, choosing from more than 95 regularly taught, credit-transferable courses in English. You do not need a bilateral agreement between ULACIT and your home university: freemover students apply on the same terms as exchange students, and you do not need Spanish to complete your academic semester. A standard semester is five courses at 6 ECTS each, and you can combine subjects across seven tracks: Business & Marketing, Biomedical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, IT Engineering with Software, AI & Cybersecurity, Psychology, Latin American & Development Studies, and Spanish Immersion. Each course runs 45 contact hours, equal to 3 US credits or 6 ECTS, which makes the semester straightforward to present to your home university for pre-approval. Spanish Immersion is available as a credit-bearing option from beginner to advanced level. Teaching follows the Teaching for Understanding model, which means project-based assessment instead of traditional exams. You learn through applied research, case studies, guided discussions and group projects, backed by field visits, service learning and industry-based activities. You study alongside local Costa Rican students and an international community representing more than 10 nationalities, so the academic work and the cultural experience run together. The campus sits in San José, the economic and cultural centre of Costa Rica, with cloud forests, volcanoes, national parks and both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts within reach for weekends and academic breaks. ULACIT also arranges an optional homestay with vetted local families, including a private room, Wi-Fi, breakfast and dinner, and regular laundry support. The Global Education Office supports you before arrival and throughout the semester.
San José, Costa Rica
Founded: 1987
Type: Private
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