Surprising choice

Despite its small population of only 1.3 million people, Montevideo boasts some high-quality museums, such as the Universidad de la República and the Universidad de Montevideo. The former was established in 1849 and is currently ranked in the top 1000 universities in the world and 47th in Latin America. As well as being significantly older than the Universidad de Montevideo, it’s also much larger, with a student body of almost 110,000 across a number of schools and institutes. Whilst some of their buildings can be found throughout Uruguay, most of the Universidad de la República’s buildings and facilities are located in Montevideo, including the law school and departments of veterinary medicine, medicine, engineering, chemistry and the humanities. Tuition is free for Uruguayan citizens.

The latter, the Universidad de Montevideo, is a private university that offers seven departments including management, economics, law, humanities, engineering and biomedical science, the university welcomes international students and has partnerships with universities the world over.

Quality of life

Known as “The Switzerland of South America” for its peaceful culture, Uruguay is nestled between South America’s two titans, Argentina and Brazil. This is an ideal location for students who are looking to live in an up and coming city in South America that offers charm, culture, and lots of activity. Plus, with its close proximity to Argentina, it will feel like you’re getting two study abroad locations in one!

About half the population of Uruguay live in the capital city of Montevideo. You don’t need to spend much time there to understand why. Montevideo covers 77 square miles along the Rio de la Plata, and is made up of 62 barrios (neighborhoods), each with its own unique flavor and feel. Consistently rated as the South American city with the “highest quality of life” by the Mercer Quality of Living Survey, Montevideo is a showplace of the way an eclectic mix of cultures can create a place of rich, diverse heritage.

Arts and culture

Uruguay’s multicultural heritage has given the people a deep appreciation for a diverse range of culture and arts. Montevideo is very much a city of the world, with art museums, ballet, theaters, music halls, and more. Uruguayans enjoy tango, folk music, and jazz, as well as the African influenced drum rhythms of candombe. World-class artists, musicians, and other entertainment regularly appear in Montevideo.

When people mention theater in Montevideo, the first place that comes to mind is the Teatro Solis (Solis Theatre). It is a neo classical building completed in 1856, located on the east side of Montevideo’s Ciudad Vieja. The Solis maintains a full and vibrant schedule of interesting events.

You’ll also find amazing performances at Montevideo’s modern Auditorio Nacional Adela Reta (Adela Reta National Auditorium). Completed in 2009, the Adela Reta has the largest stage in Montevideo with seating for 2,000 people. Operas, symphonies, ballets, and other significant productions are held there.

Ramble down the Rambla

Perhaps the most attractive feature of Montevideo is the 14-mile long rambla, a continuous walkway along the waterfront that has parks, bike paths, outdoor exercise pavilions, restaurants, and more. It winds its way around the city and provides access to some of the more popular neighborhoods.

Negatives

Food

If you like grilled red meat, you’ll be in heaven in Uruguay, but if you like a little variety (any variety) in the restaurants you will struggle. A hungry vegetarian or vegan student wandering through Montevideo’s streets will be quickly dismayed at the prospect of their going hungry.  There is a lack of inventive food in Montevideo, which may leave you feeling unfulfilled. Even with its long and luxurious coastline, Uruguay’s seafood can leave a lot to be desired. A fish shop will likely offer you frozen, cooked shrimp and imported salmon from Chile, at a premium price.

Weather

If you’re looking for a valley of eternal spring, Uruguay is not your place. Located in the Southern Temperate Zone, Uruguay has four seasons. Average summer temperatures are ideal (with highs in around 25 C and lows around 15 C). But, winter temperatures are cooler. Average daytime highs reach 10 C and average nighttime lows dip to single figures. With high humidity and wind, it can feel colder than you might expect. On many winter days, you’ll see people wearing coats, hats, and gloves.

SEE ALSO: Study Abroad in Bogota

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Colombia in the past few years has more than recovered its reputation as a safe destination and tourism is booming. It’s an excellent place to choose to study Spanish, too, as the Colombian accent and pronunciation is easier to understand than many other South and Central American countries, particularly for first-time learners.

There are also tons of museums to explore: as with many capital cities, Bogota holds the key to Colombia’s culture, in the form of its Gold museum, the Botero museum, and the Colombian national museum. There’s certainly a lot to be gained from studying in Colombia’s capital.

Life

Studying in Colombia will teach you much more than just what you learn inside the classroom. It’s a whole different culture, another language spoken in the streets, and a rich Latin American lifestyle to get used to.

Learn Spanish to immerse yourself in Bogota culture

One of the key ways to immerse yourself in Colombian culture is by learning the Spanish language, which will help you to get under the skin of life in Colombia and give you a new skill that will be both professionally useful and personally enriching.

There is support if you need it

Seeing as Colombia’s culture is quite different from the typical Western lifestyle, it’s understandable when students feel a little overwhelmed by it all. Culture shock is totally normal, and it will pass, but it’s useful to have a basic framework for dealing with these difficulties.

Some organizations have a dedicated member of staff focusing on student life, while many others have the advantage of simply having a cohort of students all going through the same experience at the same time. Having others to talk to about how you’re feeling is useful when going through culture shock.

Bogota’s leisure activities have something for anyone

Bogota is a late-night kind of place. Whether it’s eating, drinking, or dancing salsa, you’ll find the streets alive until the early hours of the morning. Salsa is a huge part of the culture, and you’ll find it in almost any club you visit.

And of course, coffee is an integral element of Colombian life, despite much of the best stuff being shipped off for international export. A cup of tinto and a leisurely chat in the square is a favorite pastime for many Colombians. You can easily spot the locals dotted around across the benches of almost any open park or crowding the street-side tables of cafes.

Interaction with other international students

The country is steadily seeing an increase in international students from all over the world. Bogota regularly hosts a number of international students, who come here for learning Spanish, doing internships, attending semester exchange and volunteering programs.

The government and the universities are actively making efforts and taking steps to put Colombia on the forefront in the field of academics. Universities in Bogota have alliances with international institutions that bring in students from multiple countries around the world.

Meeting students from different backgrounds and cultures makes the experience of an international student even more enriching. You get to meet people with a lot of varied interests. Studying here provides a medium to interact and learn about a variety of cultures and languages as well.

Negatives 

The weather may not be what you imagined.

It’s cold in Bogota. You would be forgiven for thinking that moving to South America would mean sun and heat, especially since Bogotá lies just 319 miles from the equator. However, because it’s a mountain city, the climate in Bogotá stays generally cool with average temperatures staying around 14 degrees Celsius year round.  This means it is essentially autumnal weather all year round. For you, this means wearing sweaters, scarves, and boots all year.

It will rain every day. If you decide to study abroad in Bogota, make sure to throw your rain poncho over whatever you’re wearing and put a travel umbrella in your bag. Because you can never know when the rain will start, but it will start. Living in Bogotá means always being prepared for the weather to change, and not being surprised when it’s sunny and raining at the same time. Don’t be discouraged though, it will usually only last 10-15 minutes and is usually never more than a sprinkle. Not quite enough to really seek shelter, just enough to be annoying.

SEE ALSO: Study Abroad in Sao Paulo

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The city, which is fondly referred to as the “Cidade da Garoa” (city of drizzle), is known for its unreliable weather, its cuisine, traffic congestion and its endless jungle of skyscrapers. Studying abroad in Sao Paulo is overwhelming, intense, gritty and spectacular. Students should buckle up for a ride in one of the greatest cities on Earth if they choose to study abroad in Sao Paulo.

Hotbed of culture 

Paulistanos, as São Paulo’s residents are known, have a wealth of cultural activities at their fingertips. Therefore, the students in the city do too! The city has more than 100 museums and 300 cinemas, as well as an international film festival that takes place each year. Among the city’s most famous museums is the Pinacoteca, the oldest museum in São Paulo, which has around 9,000 artworks. It is situated in the centre of the old city and surrounded by the Jardim da Luz garden.

Another is the Museum of Art of São Paulo, which displays famous artworks by Pablo Picasso and Vincent van Gogh, among others. The building is easily recognisable for its iconic design, courtesy of modernist architect Lina Bo Bardi. Outside the museum walls, the city also has a thriving street art scene, with the Beco de Batman (Batman’s Alley) displaying the city’s highest concentration of street art murals.

A global city

Modern São Paulo has been shaped by immigration. The city experienced a number of migration waves from the mid-19th century to the start of the 21st, with populations relocating from across Europe and Asia. Today, São Paulo has one of the most ethnically diverse populations in Brazil and is known for its cosmopolitanism. It has the largest Japanese population outside of Japan, which is mostly concentrated in the Liberdade neighbourhood, as well as a strong Italian heritage, particularly in the neighbourhoods of Bixiga, Brás and Mooca.

São Paulo continues to champion immigration today and is at the forefront of a Brazilian initiative to welcome refugees, helping these individuals learn Portuguese and find work in the city. Studying in São Paolo is therefore a highly multicultural experience, where students will experience a wealth of cultures beyond just that of Brazil.

Eat well

It’s perhaps inevitable that such an ethnically diverse city would give rise to a rich street food culture. Street markets have continued to thrive even as supermarkets spread across Brazil. The Municipal Market, a historic building stretching more than 12,000 metres, is a popular food market selling a wide range of fresh fruits, vegetables, fish and spices.

Cheese-filled pastries, churrasco (Brazilian barbecue) and the city’s famous mortadella sandwich are among the local delights that can be found at one of these markets, but visitors are just as likely to come across Asian street food like imagawayaki, a sweet treat from Japan. São Paulo is home to an array of excellent restaurants, including DOM, currently the only restaurant in Brazil with two Michelin stars (this is unlikely to be a student haunt). You are more likely to check out the thousands of pizzerias and sushi restaurants, thanks to Sao Paulo’s diverse population.

Work hard, play hard

It should come as no surprise that São Paulo has the non-stop energy that is characteristic of a sprawling metropolis. The sheer size of the city can be daunting initially, but this is also a key aspect of the city’s appeal. Many Paulistanos work in high-flying roles within the city’s main industries, and so studying in São Paolo means being right in the heart of Brazil’s fast-growing economy. It is common to hear that the people in São Paulo work while the rest of Brazil relaxes. But students shouldn’t be scared of the serious façade– when Paulistanos are not working, they are dancing, eating, and basking in the culture of the city. The nightlife in Sao Paulo is as intense as it gets, which makes going out to experience the town a total must-do.

In recent years, the influx of people and rising wealth has led to an increasingly vibrant nightlife scene. Every evening a vast number of bars and nightclubs open their doors, many of which remain open late into the night.

The city is a venue for a number of high-profile music festivals, such as the world-famous Lollapalooza. As a city that welcomes all visitors, São Paolo is an enthusiastic host of one of the world’s biggest Pride parades, which also featured in popular Netflix show Sense8.

Negatives

Sao Paulo is dangerous. If you choose to study in the city, avoid areas where students are not located, try to avoid walking alone at night, watch out for your belongings and make sure not to trust everyone you meet and you should be safe. It is also incredibly busy. For example, Friday evenings are a commuter’s worst nightmare in Sao Paulo, when all the tailbacks in and out of the city extend for a total of 112 miles, on average, according to local traffic engineers, and as long as 183 miles on a really bad day. That said, you are unlikely to be driving in Sao Paulo, so stick to the public transport and you will be fine!

SEE ALSO: Study Abroad in Buenos Aires

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Buenos Aires is a food-lover’s heaven

Argentina is renowned across the world for its extraordinary cuisine. Although Buenos Aires is famous for its premium quality beef with can be found within the many delicious empanadas on offer, there are numerous other delicious options enjoyed in the region, including lentejas (savory lentil stew), smokey and slightly crispy provoleta cheese, french fries (or anything) drizzled in chimichurri sauce, tartas saladas (flaky pastry filled with vegetables) and enough desserts to satisfy the most ravenous sweet tooth! (you may find that Argentinian ice cream is tastier than Italian gelato.)

Taste Argentina’s vibrant festival culture

Every year, Buenos Aires hosts a huge selection of exciting festivals, including tango festivals, film festivals, gaucho and agricultural fairs and Fashion Buenos Aires, to name a few. The tango culture is so important, in fact, that it’s not unusual to see highly skilled tango dancers spontaneously break into a routine on the street!

Socially and culturally diverse

Argentina is a mix of indigenous, African, European and Middle Eastern cultures, creating a unique and vibrant population. Buenos Aires is also one of Latin America’s most inclusive cities – it has a thriving LGBT community, and hosts the Marcha del Orgullo Gay (Gay Pride Parade) every November.

Buenos Aires elegantly combines the old and new world

While there is no shortage of historic sites and customs, Buenos Aires has a highly advanced infrastructure, making travel easy and convenient. Public transportation may be superior to that of many major cities in the U.S.

Potential penguin spotting opportunities 

While penguins are mainly only visible in zoos, a few penguins may travel to Mar del Plata during exceptionally cold winters. However, the public transportation systems in Buenos Aires are so good that you can easily take a brief trip to Puerto Deseado in Patagonia, Santa Cruz, where colonies of Magellanic penguins can still be spotted, although their population is in decline.

Academic opportunity

Not only is Argentina one of the most popular places to study within Latin America, it’s also one of the fastest-growing centers of university education, with 39 institutions featuring in the QS Latin America University Rankings, This growth, which is largely thanks to the economic boom enjoyed by the country in the early 21st century, has led the following universities to be considered among the continent’s finest.

You will likely find yourself studying at the nation’s highest-ranked university, the Universidad de Buenos Aires. It’s ranked 66th in the QS World University Rankings 2018. The largest university in Argentina, and one of the largest by enrollment in Latin America, the Universidad de Buenos Aires is a public university with 13 departments, 10 museums and six hospitals under its umbrella. Founded in 1821, the institution has also produced four Nobel Prize laureates, more than any other Spanish-speaking university, and counts the famous Marxist revolutionary Che Guevara among its alumni. The school does not have a main campus, but has buildings scattered across the city of Buenos Aires.

Negatives

You may start feeling isolated from friends, family, and the rest of the world in Buenos Aires as it and Argentina itself is far from everywhere; travel from Europe or the US takes 12 hours or more by air. Bus journeys internally and around the rest of South America are always long. The problems with inflation and government instability affect everyone, you will find why Argentina has been unfortunate to win the unwelcome title of the only country in history to return to developing nations status. Thus, Poverty is apparent in Buenos Aires and, on a personal level, finding a job is difficult and working legally is just as hard to do. Internet, communications, and electricity services can be unreliable.

SEE ALSO: Study Abroad in Sao Paulo

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