Chile - IFMSA Exchange Portal

Chile

NMO GENERAL INFORMATION
NAME AND COUNTRY
 Chile IFMSA-Chile
LANGUAGE
 Spanish or English
REQUIRED LANGUAGE
 Student must have at least one: Spanish (good) or English (good)
TIME ZONE
 (GMT-04:00) Santiago
CURRENCY
 Chilean peso
IFMSA STATUS
 SCOPE Active
 SCORE Active
   LCs PARTICIPATING
   SCOPE
   Chile (IFMSA-Chile) - Santiago de Chile – Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile
   Chile (IFMSA-Chile) - Chillan – Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción
   Chile (IFMSA-Chile) - Talca – Universidad Catolica del Maule
   Chile (IFMSA-Chile) - La Serena – Universidad Catolica del Norte
   Chile (IFMSA-Chile) - Concepcion – Universidad de Concepcion
   Chile (IFMSA-Chile) - Temuco – Universidad de la Frontera
   Chile (IFMSA-Chile) - Valparaiso – Universidad de Valparaiso
   Chile (IFMSA-Chile) - Temuco – Universidad Mayor
   Chile (IFMSA-Chile) - Santiago de Chile – Universidad Andres Bello
   Chile (IFMSA-Chile) - Concepcion – Universidad San Sebastian
   Chile (IFMSA-Chile) - Puerto Montt – Universidad San Sebastian
   Chile (IFMSA-Chile) - Linares – Universidad Autonoma de Chile
   Chile (IFMSA-Chile) - Curico – Universidad de Talca
   Chile (IFMSA-Chile) - San Felipe – Universidad de Valparaiso

   SCORE
   NUMBER OF INCOMING PER YEAR
   140 SCOPE STUDENTS
   50 SCORE STUDENTS
   EXCHANGE CONDITION
   SCOPE EXCHANGE CONDITIONS
   SCORE EXCHANGE CONDITIONS
   OFFICIAL WEBSITE
   www.ifmsa.cl
   EXCHANGE OFFICERS
   NEOs
   Paloma Contreras
   Carlos Javier Alcolado León
   NOREs
   Rosa Ávila
   Pampi Farias

NMO LOGO

WELCOME NOTE
Hello future exchange student!!! We are more than pleased to welcome you in Chile. Here we have a structured organization that
will help you althrought your exchange period. The clerkships are very well organized with really great tutors. We appreciate if you
want to do your research exchange in our country and we hope that you can learn more about us and our universities/projects that
we have for you!.

We have an extremely good "Social Program" (that's what really sets us apart), so you better be ready for your BEST month
abroad.
MAP OF AVAILABLE CITIES (click me!)
GEOGRAPHY NOW! CHILE (click me!)

OVERVIEW
Chile is a country in South America placed in a long and narrow coastal strip wedged between the Andes mountains and the
Pacific Ocean. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage and Antarctica a
the country's southernmost tip. With a coastline that stretches over 6,435 kilometres, Chilean territory extends to the Pacific Ocean
which includes the overseas territories of Juan Fernández Islands (including Robinson Crusoe island) and the Easter Island located
in Polynesia, among others. Chile's unusual ribbon-like shape — 4,300 kilometres long and on average 175 kilometres wide — has
given it a wide variety of climates, ranging from the driest desert of the world — Atacama Desert — to the north, through a
Mediterranean climate in the center, to a snow-prone Alpine climate in the south -Torres del Paine-, with glaciers, lakes and the
Tierra del Fuego or Land of Fire. The relatively small central area dominates the country in terms of population and agricultura
resources. This area also is the cultural and political center from which Chile expanded in the late 19th century, when it incorporated
its northern and southern regions. The northern Chilean desert contains great mineral wealth, principally copper and lithium, and the
southern Chile is rich in forests and grazing lands and features a string of volcanoes and lakes. The southern coast is a labyrinth of
fjords, inlets, canals, twisting peninsulas, and islands.

Chile is part of the Southern Cone of South America along with Argentina and Uruguay. High life expectancy, the highest Human
Development Index of Latin America, high standard of living, significant participation in the global markets and the emerging
economy of its members make the Southern Cone the most prosperous macro-region in South America.

Why choose Chile in the Latin American context
Currently, Chile is one of the Latin American's most stable, prosperous and secure nations.
From the high Andean plateau to the untouched southern territories at the end of the world, Chile invites you to live adventures in
the middle of the world’s driest desert, in the unique rainy temperate forest of South America, in front of millennial glaciers that are
waiting to be discovered or under the watchful eye of the Andes in the middle of the buzz of modern citites like its capital, Santiago.
These cultural and climatic contrasts have left an imprint on the identity of the country and its people. Warm, energetic,
approachable and kind, Chileans share the love for their land, which invites you to build relationships beyond boundaries, to live
unique experiences and to discover Chile.

That's why too many exchange student choose us for a professional/research exchange, do a lot of tourism to the
north/central/south of the country and some of them (and once they fit in the Latin American lifestyle) use Chile as a platform to visit
many hot turistic spots in South America like Argentina (Buenos Aires), Perú (Cusco), Brasil (Rio de Janeiro), Bolivia (Salar de
Uyuni) etc.

HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

The health care system in Chile is divided in two. In one hand you have the private service managed by the ISAPRES and the
other, the public service managed by FONASA (National Health Fund). More than 70% of the population is affiliated to the Public
System. In the past years the Goverment has worked really hard in increasing the coverage of the Publich Health System which
turn out in the creation of the called GES (Explicit Health Guarantees).
The GES system is based in the asurement of the diagnosis and treatment of the highest morbility/mortality diseases ranging from
Hypertension to several kind of cancers. This means if a person is affected with one of this common diseases the treatment and the
follow up are for free.
Right now the goverment is working in increasing the number of diseases that are include in the new System. Even if you have
ISAPRE you get the coverage for the GES.
In Chile is mandatory to be part of a Health System, either public or private. If you have a salary is mandatory to pay the 7% of it, if
you are affiliated to the private one you can pay the 7% for the basic plan coverage or more if you want to get more insurance.

Homeless people are on FONASA and they get healthcare for free. The patients of the public system are supossed to be attend first
in the "CESFAM" (Family Health Center) and if is an emergency then they can get attention in the "SAPU" and afterwards they are
sent to the Hospital where they can get a more specific treatment.

MEDICAL EDUCATION

After finishing high school, all the Chilean students who want to continue studing in a University have to take in these next two year
2021 and 2022, a university transition test (PTU). The Department of Evaluation, Measurement and Educational Registry (DEMRE
as the technical body responsible for developing the topics for the Transitional Admission Tests, admission 2021.

And considering you score in the PTU and ones grades in the high school you may apply to each University in Chile (publich o
private). We have a lot of faculties where you may study Medicine in the country.

They are 33 faculties of Medicine in total and 14 are SCOPE active for incomings and 6 are SCORE active for incomings.
Chile, we have Public and Private Universities in both you have to pay but the prices are differents; in a public one you pay aroun
3.500-6.000 Eur per year meanwhile in a private one you pay over 7.000 Eur per year. There are just a few students who have fu
scholarships and most of them ask for loans to the goverment or private banks.

Medicine is the longest career to study in the country, it takes 6-7 years to get your Medical Degree diploma. The first 2 years ar
most theorical (pre clinical) and since the 3rd year you start to go everyday to the Hospital (clinical cycle). Most in the mornings and
the afternoon we still have theorical classes. This goes on until the 5th year.
In the 3rd year you study Semiology. Then the 4th and 5th year we have internal medicine, surgery, gynaeocolgy, pedriatri
ophtalmology, dermatology, OTN medicine, legal medicine, etc (depending on your university). The last 1-2 years, 6th and 7th, yo
work as an intern which include night shifts. In this last 2 years you has to pass in the differents Departments of the Hospital but th
ones that take longer are Internal Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics&Gynaeocology and Pediatrics. By the end of 7th year you have
take the National Medical test of knoweldge in Medicine to practice as a Doctor. When you do that, then you have different choice
you may work as a General Doctor, work in rural areas and gain points to get your residency paid by the Ministry of Health, or go wi
your grades, National Medical Exam scores and published work to a National Ranking Competion and choice the residency you ca
sign acording to your ranking.

QS Univeristy Rankings: Latin America 2020
15 Chilean Universities in the TOP 100

   ●   #1: Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (Santiago de Chile)
   ●   #7: Universidad de Chile (Santiago de Chile)
   ●   #12: Universidad de Concepción (Concepción)
   ●   #13: Universidad de Santiago de Chile (Santiago de Chile)
   ●   #21: Pontifica Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (Valparaíso)
   ●   #24: Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez (Santiago de Chile)
   ●   #34: Universidad Austral de Chile (Osorno & Valdivia)
   ●   #36: Universidad Diego Portales (Santiago de Chile)
   ●   #37: Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María (Valparaíso & Santiago)
   ●   #53: Universidad de Talca (Talca)
   ●   #67: Universidad de los Andes (Santiago de Chile)
   ●   #70: Universidad Andrés Bello (Valparaiso, Santiago de Chile & Concepción)
   ●   #73: Universidad de La Frontera (Temuco)
   ●   #80: Universidad de Valparaíso (Valparaíso)
   ●   #95: Universidad Católica del Norte (Antofagasta)

Times Higher Education University Rankings: Latin America 2019
8 Chilean Universities in the TOP 50

   ●   #1: Pontifica Universidad Católica de Chile (Santiago de Chile)
   ●   #7: Universidad de Chile (Santiago de Chile)
   ●   #23: Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (Valparaíso)
   ●   #24: Universidad de Santiago de Chile (Santiago de Chile)
   ●   #42: Universidad de La Frontera (Temuco)
   ●   #43: Universidad de Valparaíso (Valparaíso)
   ●   #45: Universidad de Concepción (Concepción)
   ●   #47: Universidad de los Andes (Santiago)

TRANSPORTATION
Local transportation
Transport service varies depending on the size of the city. The biggest cities in Chile are Santiago de Chile, Concepción
Valparaíso, so just them have a Metro system or Train. And all of them have buses to take you from one point of the city and this is
most common mean use by Chilean, except for Santiago de Chile, where Metro is the most used system.
Santiago de Chile also sets apart from the rest of the country in the means of payment, in this city is mandatory to have a card to
either Metro or Buses, which has to be charged every once in a while with money. In the rest of the citys, you have to pay with cash
bus fare and with a similar card the Metro (Concepción and Valparaíso).

National transportation (between cities)
by Bus
It is widely spread in the country the usage of buses to move between cities. Generally speaking we may say they are safe, fast and
confortable. Here we drop a few bus lines operating in Chile, where you can check the prices and frecuencies (1 USD = 800 CLP).

by Plane
How do you get in the country? By plain would be the typical option. Almost all the internacional flights arrive to Santiago Airport (S
and then make a connection with another flight directly to your final destination (unless you have been placed in Santiago de Chile
you are placed in San Felipe, Valparaíso or Talca, first you have to get in Santiago de Chile and after take a bus to your f
destination.

●
       Arica: Chacalluta International Airport (ARI)

   ●
       Iquique: Diego Aracena International Airport (IQQ)

   ●
       Calama: El Loa Airport (CJC)

   ●
       Antofagasta: Andres Sabella International Airport (ANF)

   ●
       Copiapó: Caldera Atacama Airport (CPO)

   ●
       La Serena: La Florida Airport (LSC)

   ●
       Rapa Nui: Mataveri International Airport (IPC)

   ●
       Santiago de Chile: Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL)

   ●
       Concepción: Carriel Sur International Airport (CCP)

   ●
       Temuco: La Araucania International Airport (ZCO)

   ●
       Valdivia: Pichoy Airport (ZAL)

   ●
       Osorno: Cañal Bajo Airport (ZOS)

   ●
       Puerto Montt: El Tepual International Airport (PMC)

   ●
       Castro: Mocopulli Airport (MHC)

   ●
       Coyhaique: Balmaceda Airport (BBA)

   ●
       Puerto Natales: Teniente Julio Gallardo Airport (PNT)

   ●
       Punta Arenas:Carlos Ibáñez International Airport (PUQ)

San Felipe, Valparaiso, Talca & Chillan doesn't have an airport with regular flights from Santiago, but it is advisable to get to the neares
city aiport.
Here in Chile we have some airlines for domestic flights, they are really convenient at the time of looking for a good price:

   ●
       LATAM Airlines(LA), webpage: http://www.latam.com/

   ●
       Sky Airlines(H2), webpage: https://www.skyairline.cl/

   ●
       JetSmart, webpage: https://jetsmart.com/cl/es/

Air lines operating in Santiago de Chile: Air Canada, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, Aeroméxico, LACSA, Copa Airlines, Aerolínea
Argentinas, Austral Líneas Aereas, LATAM, Avianca, TACA, Iberia LAE, Air France, Qantas Airlines, BQB Líneas Aereas, Alitalia
Turkish Airlines and British Airways and Emirates.
Regular direct flights from/to:

●   Argentina (Buenos Aires, Cordoba, Mendoza & Rio Gallegos)
   ●   Australia (Sydney & Melbourne)
   ●   Bolivia (La Paz)
   ●   Brasil (Río de Janeiro & Sao Paulo)
   ●   Canada (Toronto)
   ●   Colombia (Bogotá)
   ●   Costa Rica (San José)
   ●   Dominican Republic (Punta Cana)
   ●   Ecuador (Guayaquil & Quito)
   ●   Falkland islands/Islas Malvinas (Port Stanley/Puerto Argentino)
   ●   France (Paris)
   ●   Germany (Frankfurt)
   ●   Italy (Rome)
   ●   Mexico (Cancun & Mexico city)
   ●   New Zealand (Auckland)
   ●   Panama (Panama city)
   ●   Paraguay (Asuncion)
   ●   Peru (Lima)
   ●   Spain (Madrid)
   ●   French Polynesia (Papeete)
   ●   The Netherlands (Amsterdam)
   ●   United Kingdom (London)
   ●   United States (Atlanta, Dallas-FortWorth, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami & New york)
   ●   Uruguay (Montevideo)

Also there are flights to Rapa Nui (Eastern Islands) which is considered as a Internacional destination because even if it is Chilea
territory it is really far away.

SOCIAL PROGRAM
The Social Program is a serie of activities organized by IFMSA-Chile members to the incomings students (professional and
research) of a particular month that aims in let them know more about Chile and the particular region of the city of destination but it
also gives them a good chance to know each other (between exchangees). This should be an important point to be considered
when the to choose a country as a destination, because you won't be alone and on your own, you will be with a lot of other foreign
students trying to fit in the local people and with company this process is easier.

The Social Program is divided in Local SP and National SP.

Local Social Program
Depending on the month and the quantity of students who come to the same city, we can offer you a local social program! It
includes a lot of activities and sometimes a part of them are outside the city, mostly on weekends.
Some of the activities that we can offer you include tours around the city, trekking, dance lessons, visiting museums, landmarks,
among others!

National Social Program
Do you want to know the other cities in Chile that are within your preferences? Don’t worry! If you come in January, July or August,
you will be able to participate in our National Social Program!

In these months, we can offer you to visit a different region every weekend during your stay, including the North, Center and South
of our country if it is possible. In those weekends, you will be able to enjoy several activities that will allow you to know enough
about each region to fall in love with each one of them, so you can leave with a great perspective of our beautiful country

Beside all the educational experience you will have in your clerkship you will enjoy all the magic of our country, because Chile is All
Ways Surprising!!

MUST SEE
Ski in the Andes
During the winter season, between the months of June and September, there are many option of practicing ski in Chile. There are 1
Ski Centers distributed between the Central Valley (Santiago de Chile) and southern Chile (Punta Arenas). The slopes of the Ande
Mountains offer variety: quality hotels, a diversity of quality ski runs, equipment rental facilities, good restaurants, and war
cafeterias. Within what is available, there are very sophisticated winter centers that offer helicopter flights to land on mountaintops s
experienced skiers can descend through virgin snow. Other centers offer snowmobile rides and open air hot springs under the fallin
snow.
Traditional skiers and snowboarders occupy an important position in the winter activities offered. Currently almost all centers hav
slopes that are exclusively snowboard use, with modern snow parks where DJs play music live to a backdrop of beautiful views
faraway valleys.
Even without skis or poles, the white-capped mountains under the sun is a reason enough to visit. And every summer, mounta
centers are opened for horseback riding, trekking, spelunking expeditions, or biking.

[Map of Ski Centers in Chile]

https://chile.travel/en/intereses-destacados/ski-resorts

Experience Nature in Chile
Chile’s territory combines over 4,000 kilometers of wind-blown, ocean-swept coastline, the immense, mineral-rich northern desert, th
majestic peaks of the Andes range, with thousands of active volcanoes strung along its length, and the hushed mystique of th
southern evergreen forests. Come and experience the full glory of nature in Chile!
Visit the vast salt flats of the Atacama desert and the ice fields of Patagonia, passing through the fertile sun-soaked central valley
famed World Biosphere Reserves and the myriad natural parks and reserves throughout the country.

Adventures and sports
If you’re an adrenaline junkie, or thrill to the sight of a spectacular landscape after a long wilderness trek, then Chile’s definitely th
place for you!
Some of the options you can find are: Ice field walking, horseback riding, cable riding, diving, kayaking, and others.

Urban life in Chile
Bustling nightlife, modern shopping malls, stunning textiles and mouth-watering Chilean food. You’ll find all these and much more
Chile’s lively cities. Come and explore them!
Some of the options you can find are: city tours, casinos, nightlife, family entertainment, museos, etc.

Tourist destinations

   ●   San Pedro de Atacama.
   ●   Eastern island
   ●   Wineyards
   ●   Parque Nacional Huerquehue
   ●   Pucón
   ●   Reserva Huilo-Huilo
   ●   Chiloé island
   ●   Rivers and Lakes in Patagonia
   ●   Aysen Patagonia
   ●   Torres del Paine National Park

CULTURAL DIFFERENCES
Chilean identity is something to be discovered and experienced by visitors. You will no doubt observe distinct differences between
the hurried residents of the big cities and the inhabitants of the valleys, coasts and mountains, where the pace of life is calmer and
time seems to pass more slowly.

Generally speaking, the people of Chile are friendly, open to foreign visitors (despite the fact that only 10% of them speak English
with relative fluency), and have a strong sense of identity linked to rural Chile.
Chileans speak Spanish rapidly, often dropping the last letters of words including the plural-denoting "s". The vernacular includes a
series of slang terms and invented words that is always evolving and reveals a healthy dose of humor and mischief. Visitors may
feel a bit lost at first, but the locals are more than happy to explain the nuances of the Chilean idioms.

Some articules about Chile's culture:

* How to piss off a Chilean

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Accommodation & Boarding
The accommodation and boarding for exchange students are at Host Families . This will increase your cultural experience as
exchange, because it gives you the opportunity to realized how the Chileans actually live. Normally you will have your own bedroo
or probably you might share it with another exchange student or someone of your Host family. At least 1 meal per day will b
provided. Sometimes students don't study where they actually are from so they rent an apartment. In this case you might live just wi
one student or probably with other ones. The normal chilean family is with 4-5 members but also you will find families with more. W
always try to place the incomings students near where they will attend their clerkships or research project but sometimes is n
possible.

Note: Contrariwise to other countries who work with students' hostels/residences as a acommodation to the incoming students, to fin
a host family to each exchange student requires a really hard and coordinate work of the National Exchange Team so you have to b
aware that the details about your host family will be only provide once we recieve the Card of Confirmation and it could be given wi
a significant delay (even 1 week before your arrival). But don't worry, we never fail.

Chilean slangs
   ● Al lote = careless, untidy; too casual
   ● Al tiro = Right away; immediately
   ● Atinar = To react in the correct manner to a sitation. Suitable, appropriate.
   ● Barsa = A guy who tries to take advantage of situations
   ● Cachar (cachai?) = to understand (you get it?)
   ● Cacho = a problem; a dificult person or situation
   ● Caleta = A lot
   ● Carabineros = Police
   ● Carrete/carretear = party/to party
   ● Chalas = sandals
   ● Chato = fed up
   ● Chela = beer
   ● Chueco = crooked; not straight; dishonest
   ● Copete = Alcoholic drink (usually piscola or beer)
   ● Copucha = a piece of gossip
   ● Cuico = rich snob
   ● De repente = Sometimes
   ● Embarrarla = Screw it up
   ● Engrupir = to smooth talk
   ● Filo = Nevermind
   ● Flaite = Refers to people of lower classes, sometimes derogatory
   ● Fome = Boring, lame
   ● Guagua = Baby
   ● Guata = belly, stomach
   ● Harto = A lot
   ● Jote/Jotear = Guy constantly trying to hit on girls/to hit on a girl
   ● Lata/dar lata = Boring; Not wanting to do something
   ● Lanza = a thief that snatches someones purse, necklace or cellphone from its owner
   ● Luca = one thousand pesos CLP$1000
   ● Meter la pata = to put your foot in your mouth; to stuff something up
   ● Mula = fake; false
   ● Onda = "Deal", "story"
   ● Paco = carabinero (policemen)
   ● Pagar el pato = to pay the consequences
   ● Palta = Avocado
   ● Pega = Work
   ● Pelar = To gossip
   ● Penca = Sucky
   ● Pendejo = Child
   ● Pilucho = naked
   ● Piscola = pisco with coke
   ● Plata = money
   ● Po' = From "pues". Chileans tack this on to the end of almost every sentence. Sometimes it's reduced to just p' so, "sí" can be
     "sip"
   ● Pololo/Polola = boyfriend/girlfriend
   ● Poto = bum
   ● Pucho = a cigarrette
   ● Sapo = a noisy person
   ● Taco = traffic jam
   ● Tener mala pata = to be unlucky; to have bad luck
   ● Trago = to drink
   ● Tranqui = calm (down); don't worry
   ● Weón = Familiar term among friends (very informal/vulgar); can also be used with a negative connotation (sort of like "idiot").