Exchange Program
Program Description
Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) is a private liberal arts university located in Quito, Ecuador. In addition to the main campus located in Cumbaya/ Quito, USFQ has a satellite campus and research station in the Galápagos Islands and a biological field station “Tiputini Biodiversity Station” in the Amazon basin. USFQ offers international students the opportunity to study in Ecuador for a semester, year, or summer.
| Program Dates and Deadlines: | ||
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| Term | Nomination Deadline | Application Deadline |
| Spring/Academic Year | October 1 | October 15 |
| Fall/Academic Year | February 15 | March 15 |
Information Sheet |
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| Open to | Any academic discipline |
| Language of Instruction | Mostly in Spanish, roughly 10% of courses taught in English |
| Level of Study | Undergraduate |
| Credit Offered | FAU credits |
| Fact Sheet | 2025 Fact Sheet |
ACADEMICS:
USFQ offers curriculum across multiple disciplines. Students can view USFQ course offerings here . English courses can be found here .
Explore the wide range of courses offered at USFQ using the course catalog here . The course catalog includes detailed course descriptions and prerequisite information to help students plan their academic experience. If you need a specific course syllabus, it may be available upon request, depending on the professor and the academic term.
Please note that course offerings are subject to change based on term and year. Education Abroad cannot guarantee that the courses shown will be available for the term/year you study abroad.
Students participating on an exchange program will be taking courses at the host university. Students need to work with Education Abroad and their academic advisor to see if courses abroad are equivalent to FAU courses and how those FAU equivalencies are degree applicable. Education Abroad has created a blanket equivalency database for courses offered at USFQ and their FAU equivalencies here .
Program Eligibility & Requirements
- Must have a 2.5 overall GPA for undergraduate students at the time of application
- Must be in good academic standing at the time of application
- Students must be sophomore standing
- Only open to degree-seeking FAU students
- See Policies & Procedures page for more information
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Education Abroad Advisor: |
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Alejandra Parada, Coordinator Schedule an appointment: Navigate |
Travel Documentation
Important notice! Passport processing times have changed. Review up-to-date details HERE.
Routine processing times can take 10-13 weeks, and expedited applications in 7-9 weeks. Processing times begin when your application is received by a passport agency or center, and do not include mailing times. It may take up to 2 weeks for your application to be received by passport agency, and up to 2 weeks for you to receive your completed passport after agency mails it to you. Therefore, you should add an additional 4 weeks to you passport application processing time.
A valid passport is required for all international travel. If you are traveling anywhere abroad, you need a passport to board an international flight and to enter the country. Passport cards will not be accepted as form of I.D. You may be denied boarding if you travel with a passport that appears damaged or altered.
Some countries require that your passport be valid at least six months beyond the dates of your trip. Some airlines will not allow you to board if this requirement is not met. Check the Country Information to learn about entry and exit requirements for the country or countries in which you are traveling.
If you are applying for a passport for the first time, you need to renew your passport, or you have any other passport questions, you can find information on the Travel.State.Gov website. In addition, several U.S. Embassies and Consulates provide information to assist applicants in collecting the documentation needed. For a list of Embassies, please visit U.S. Embassy.gov.
STUDENT RESOURCES:
To learn more about studying at USFQ, including campus life, student services, housing, and other helpful information, explore the university's communication package below.
Location
Cumbaya is located just of Quito, which is the capital city of Ecuador. Outside of the classroom, students can enjoy what the area of Cumbaya and the city of Quito has to offer. Surrounded by vibrant neighborhoods and beautiful colonial architecture that makes the city a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Housing
USFQ matches interested international students with carefully screened host families in Quito and Cumbayá. Host families are required to provide students with their own bedroom (bathroom may be shared), Wifi internet access, and two meals per day (breakfast and dinner). Host families generally live within a 15-45 minute commute by public transportation from the USFQ campus in Cumbayá.
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Funding opportunities
Financial Aid and Scholarship Information
- Students participating on may use eligible financial aid
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Bright Futures and Florida Prepaid are eligible for an exchange program
- Please reach out to Derek Phillips, dphillips@fau.edu, or Jack Dazile, jdazile@fau.edu, for assistance with financial aid and Bright Futures
- Please reach out to Tuition & Billing Services, webcontroller@fau.edu, for assistance with Florida Prepaid
- Program participants are eligible to apply for the FAU Education Abroad Scholarship amongst other nationally recognized scholarships
- See additional scholarship and funding information here.
- Note that financial aid will not be disbursed to your student account until 2-3 weeks after the FAU drop/add period of the semester you are studying abroad
budgetary items
These are items to consider to budget for your study abroad program:
FAU Tuition:
FAU Tuition Calculator - please use the tuition calculator to determine tuition
Housing:
Homestay in Quito for 128 days is about $3,840.00. Comes with two meals per day (breakfast and dinner)
Out of pocket expenses:
- $200 administrative fee due at time of application
- International flight
- Personal spending
- Visa expenses
- International health insurance
Health, Safety and Travel Documentation
All students must attend pre-departure sessions prior to study abroad. Education Abroad awill provide you with further details pertaining to dates, times, and virtual link the semester before your program.
1) Mandatory pre-departure orientation hosted by the Education Abroad office. This session will cover general international travel related topics such as health, safety, insurance, and travel tips.
International Health and Travel Insurance
All FAU students participating on an exchange program will need to register in international health and travel insurance coverage through Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI). This mandatory insurance ensures that students have access to medical and emergency support services while abroad. You can view the policy here.