Students choose to study abroad for various reasons and if you are looking for an affordable destination with a unique culture, spectacular locations and friendly people then you really should consider going to Mexico.
Study Abroad Programs in Mexico
TEFL Course in Puerto Vallarta
• 4 weeks
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Bordered on the north by the U.S., Mexico is a bustling tourist destination that offers visitors great food, cultural activities, music and sights to see.
By choosing to do a study abroad program in Mexico you can enrich yourself in the rich heritage and increase their depth of understanding of the Spanish language. Another thing that is common among those who opt for studying in Mexico is that all of them are fun-loving people who like to travel and experience the diversity in culture around the world.
Apart from the sandy deserts and lush green landscapes, the country boasts people who are warm and friendly. Rustic villages and modern skyscrapers exist side by side in this country that has amazed many visitors. It has the best beaches in the Pacific and has a rich culture and heritage that is waiting to be explored.
Best Universities in Mexico for International Students
One of the best places to study in Mexico is the University of Guadalajara, which is known to have one of the best Spanish language and Latin American Culture programs in the world.
Founded in 1948, the university gets an average of 2,500 international students every year that take Spanish classes that range from Level 1 for beginners and Level 10 for Masters of Spanish. Other classes range from human rights in Mexico to exploring contemporary Mexican art.
You can learn how to speak Spanish while also taking classes taught in English at Iberoamerican University, which offers a six-week summer course to international students. Classes taught in English include art, business, music and law, and Spanish-speaking classes include Beginner to Advanced Spanish, Latin American Literature and Spanish for Teachers. The best part of the program is that you’ll be placed to live with a Mexican family for complete immersion into the culture, with meals and laundry services covered.
Academic heritage and a diverse range of highly respected courses can also be taken in places like the University of Veracruz, the University of Guanajuato or at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, the National Polytechnic Institute, or the Technological and Higher Education Institute.
Language
Regular courses are all conducted in the Spanish language though some special courses for high school study abroad programs have been specifically designed for foreign students who may have trouble with the language. Even if your Spanish is not as good as you may want it to be, there is no cause of concern.
Academic Year
The academic year is similar to that of United States and therefore there is not much disruption in schedules and dates, especially if you are an exchange student. If you’re a U.S. student looking for a fun-filled study abroad destination that’s not located on the other side of the world, then Mexico just may be the perfect place for you.
Visa and Requirements
To enroll in a summer study abroad program you do not need to apply for a separate student visa if you are from Canada or United States of America. For a high school summer abroad course it is likely to last less than 6 months, so a tourist card will suffice.
But be sure of the time that the course will take and keep a buffer of a couple of weeks lest the course get delayed or postponed. All international students need a passport for travel to Mexico.
For a non-immigration visa for students (called the FM3) a visa application form needs to be obtained from the consulate and you need to appear in person with the required documents.
These include valid passport, 6 photographs each of the frontal and side view, acceptance letter from the study abroad school by an accredited institution that is authorized to hold study abroad programs and a letter from the parents stating that they are solvent and capable of funding the study abroad program.
They may also require a copy of a bank statement or a credit card statement. In case the funding is through a study abroad scholarship, letters of approval need to be presented. The FM1 form needs to be filled out in Spanish and therefore, you may need the help of someone who has a good command over the language.
Additionally, a good health certificate and consular fee may be required for some countries.
Safety
You should always follow study abroad health and safety guidelines to prepare you for any unexpected accidents or incidents that could occur. Get advice from local staff, students and also check latest news online. Always keep a list of important numbers with you in case of an emergency. Also, be sure to check with your school or program for any additional information you might need.
Sightseeing and Free Time
While you are on a course, do not forget to make the best of your time in Mexico and visit the many tourist locations.
Popular places to go include Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Acapulco, Baja California, Chihuahua-Pacific railway and Teotihuacan. You could also choose to join salsa classes, cooking classes and other such hobbies typical of Mexico.
If you travel to Mexico for a summer study abroad program you should stop to visit the Yucatan Peninsula, a peninsula located between the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. While there you can visit Chichen Itza, an ancient Mayan city composed of stone palaces and temples that date back to 600 A.D.
For a semester abroad you could explore Copper Canyon, a group of six canyons located in the southwestern state of Chihuahua. All six canyons together are larger and deeper than the Grand Canyon in the U.S., and one of the most spectacular sights to see while there is Basaseachic Falls, which is Mexico’s second highest waterfall at 312 meters.
Getting Around
Mexico is the second most populated country in Latin America, so it has developed an extensive transportation to meet the growing need for travel of its inhabitants.
One of the most common ways to travel in Mexico is by bus. The bus system is well-organized throughout Mexico, it runs just about anywhere you can travel and it’s very affordable. You can only get one-way tickets, so you have to buy your return tickets at your recent location.
One thing to be cautious of is how crowded the buses can get since drivers tend to pick up anyone who is willing to pay for the transportation.
Metro trains are also a very popular way to travel throughout Mexico. Mexico City actually has the second largest metro system in North America, serving over 1 billion passengers a year. It is one of the cheapest metro systems in the world, offering free service to the elderly and physically impaired, while also reserving seats for women and children in the front. You can find a map of the Mexican metro system at UrbanRail.net.
Other methods of transportation in Mexico are taxis and cars. You can catch a taxi or rent a car in any major city. If you are in Mexico City you can use a taxi service like Taxi Mexico. And if you need to rent a car you can use an online car rental service like the Mexico Car Rental Guide to find an affordable car to tour through Mexico.
Being in Mexico with friendly and helpful people, you are sure to find enough help with your studies. And this is one of the best ways to improve your Spanish! You will return from Mexico as a culturally richer person who has had a lot of fun.
