Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (PUCC)

Santiago
Chile

Language of instruction

Spanish
English

   Generally available as a second or third preference.

The Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile (PUCC) was founded with the goal of creating an institution capable of blending academic excellence and training based on the Christian doctrine. It is one of Chile's oldest universities and one of the most recognised educational institutions in Latin America. PUCC has four campuses located around Santiago and a campus in Villarrica.

Santiago is home to almost one-third of all Chileans – a diverse patchwork of contrasting neighbourhoods surrounded by the magnificent Andes mountains.

Semester dates

UQ SemesterHost SemesterDates
Semester 1Semester 1March–July
Semester 2Semester 2August–December

View the PUCC academic calendar.

Guides and additional information

Campuses

PUCC has 4 campuses located in different areas of Santiago:

• Casa Central
• Lo Contador campus
• Oriente campus
• San Joaquín campus

Exchange deadlines

Application for Exchange in UQ Semester 1:
Open: 24 April (for Semester 1 of the following year)
Close: 31 May (for Semester 1 of the following year)

Application for Exchange in UQ Semester 2:
Open: 24 September (for Semester 2 of the following year)
Close: 31 October (for Semester 2 of the following year)

Full-time study load

40 credits per semester at PUCC is equivalent to 8 UQ units.

Host university requirements

GPA
You will need a minimum cumulative GPA of 4.5 to study at PUCC.

Language
Students are expected to have the language proficiency as listed below if studying courses taught in that language.

  • English: You are recommended to have the equivalent of an IELTS 6.0. If taking the Latin American Studies Program, an IELTS 6.5 or equivalent is required.
  • Spanish: You are required to have minimum B2 proficiency in Spanish at the time of application..

Study Options
You can choose to study courses taught in English, mainstream courses taught in Spanish, or a mix. Further details are outlined in the Additional Academic Information section below. 

Find courses

Search the PUCC course catalogue for all courses at PUCC if courses do not appear in the database or the course catalogue.
Courses taught in English. Students should note that very few courses at PUCC are taught in English.

Search the Credit Precedent Database to find courses offered by your host university that have been previously approved for credit at UQ. The database should be used as a general guide only. 
You must still check the host university course catalogue to see if courses from the Credit Precedent Database are still on offer and in the correct semester of your exchange.

Study areas taught in English

Undergraduate
English literature
General Electives
Linguistics
Spanish

Exchange deadlines

Application for Exchange in UQ Semester 1:
Open: 24 April (for Semester 1 of the following year)
Close: 31 May (for Semester 1 of the following year)

Application for Exchange in UQ Semester 2:
Open: 24 September (for Semester 2 of the following year)
Close: 31 October (for Semester 2 of the following year)

Accommodation

Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile does not provide student accommodation or coordinate housing arrangements for international students. PUCC's housing web page provides some useful resources to assist in finding private accommodation. 

Cost of living

PUCC has developed a list of the average living costs you can expect to encounter while living and studying in Santiago.

Financial support

A range of funding for student exchange including scholarships, grants and loans are available to UQ students.  

Insurance

Students approved to participate in a Semester-based Exchange are automatically covered by UQ’s Travel Insurance for the country of their host university only.

For more information, read the Student Travel Insurance Policy Summary on UQ’s Travel Insurance web page (login required).

If you plan to travel outside of your host country, you should purchase additional insurance.

Students going on exchange to PUCC must provide their own health insurance.

Exchange deadlines

Application for Exchange in UQ Semester 1:
Open: 24 April (for Semester 1 of the following year)
Close: 31 May (for Semester 1 of the following year)

Application for Exchange in UQ Semester 2:
Open: 24 September (for Semester 2 of the following year)
Close: 31 October (for Semester 2 of the following year)

Organise your visa

It is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct visa for the country where you will be studying. As the Global Experiences team is not a visa-issuing authority we cannot provide visa advice.

Contact the Embassy of the Republic of Chile for visa and immigration information.

Travel risk levels

The University of Queensland cannot and does not allow students to travel to any country with a risk level of 3 (Reconsider your need to travel) or above, as assessed by the Australian Government.

If a country's risk level changes to 3 or above, experiences to that country are suspended until the risk level improves.

Find out the risk level and travel advice, and sign up to receive updates for your host country on the Smartraveller website.

Exchange deadlines

Application for Exchange in UQ Semester 1:
Open: 24 April (for Semester 1 of the following year)
Close: 31 May (for Semester 1 of the following year)

Application for Exchange in UQ Semester 2:
Open: 24 September (for Semester 2 of the following year)
Close: 31 October (for Semester 2 of the following year)