Universidad Casa Grande
Universidad Casa Grande has 2 locations, one in city of Guayaquil and one in Cuenca, a UNESCO world heritage site.
The courses in Guayaquil are taught in Spanish, whereas the semester in Cuenca combined cultural immersion with academic courses taught in English and in Spanish. The Cuenca location is ideal for students who wish to improve their Spanish while exploring the culture of Latin America.
Cuenca has a population of 350,000.
Courses in English
There are various disciplines offered on the Cuenca campus of Universidad Casa Grande: Art, Business, Communication,
Education, Environmental Studies, Health Education, Internships and Service Learning, Music, Political Science, Portuguese, Quichua, Spanish, and Teaching English as a Foreign Language.
For the Cuenca campus, it is additionally possible for students to enroll in Spanish classes (for a fee) prior to the start of the term.
All international students are also given the opportunity to attend cultural seminars about Ecuadorian and Latin American culture through lectures, guest speakers and documentaries. Topics include history, ecology, migration, poverty, politics, tourism, oil as well as cultural adjustment discussions.
Mandatory orientation
Universidad Casa Grande organizes a mandatory trip for incoming exchange students. The cost is approximately $700.
The trip starts in Quito, the capital of Ecuador, where students will visit museums and the historic centre of the city. Students will then go through the Andes to Puyo in the northwestern part of Ecuador and then continue to the Amazon, where they'll spend four days exploring the jungle on foot and visiting an indigenous community.
The trip will end in Patate with a chance to explore the lush Tungurahua Volcano.
Home stay
Students going to Cuenca must stay with a homestay family. Living with a local family provides an unparalleled opportunity for students to experience life in Ecuador and learn Spanish. The families are selected by the university and some have worked with the university for many years. Students will have a private room, 3 meals a day and laundry services.
Field trips and cultural activities
These include weekend trips to national parks, nearby communities and cultural centres.
There are also lots of opportunities for students to be involved in volunteering opportunities and service learning.
Estimated cost of living
Airfare: $1,200
Visa: -
Homestay & meals: $2,200
Orientation trip: $700
Cultural activities: $240
