England, Finland, the United States, Germany, Portugal, France, Peru, China, Mexico, Spain, Argentina, and Italy are the countries from which most students come; they are enrolled in various degree programs and departments.
“Many of them choose general interest courses, but others opt for more specialized subjects such as advertising, marketing, human resources, family business management, ethics and freedom of expression, photography, culture, and communication,” notes Miriam Kemna, the university’s Student Exchange Coordinator.
“With our support, we always strive to make your stay in Uruguay a truly enriching experience,” he adds.
Destination: Uruguay
Generally speaking, international students come to Uruguay because their home institution has specific agreements with Universidad ORT Uruguay. Most of them want to study abroad, in Spanish, and in Latin America.
“Uruguay is known for being a safe place, located near countries that young people generally want to visit, such as Argentina and Brazil. Word of mouth is important for those who want to study abroad; that’s why many come on the recommendation of exchange students who have already visited the country and experienced the high academic standards that Universidad ORT Uruguayhas to offer, Universidad ORT Uruguayexplains Kemna.
Various options
International students can attend Universidad ORT Uruguay three different programs:
Exchange
This option allows them to study for up to one academic year in the country without paying tuition and to have the courses they passed at their home university recognized; that Universidad ORT Uruguay must have a specific agreement with Universidad ORT Uruguay.
Free mobility
It allows students to study for up to one academic year at the university and choose from a wide variety of courses and programs. In this case, there does not need to be an agreement between the home university and the host university.
Special programs
Through its Language Center, ORT offers a variety of specialized Spanish programs for international students, developed in collaboration with prestigious partner universities, including Macquarie University (Australia), Harbin Normal University (China), and Middlebury College (United States).
Although for the past two semesters Universidad ORT Uruguay international students two courses taught in English—“Dialogues between People from Different Cultures” and “Contemporary History of Latin America”— in general, international students are required to have an intermediate level (B1/B2) of Spanish proficiency so that they can integrate with the rest of the student body, take courses relevant to their education, and make the most of their time in the country.
In addition, since 2014, students from the Master of Business Administration program at the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina—the top-ranked international business school in the United States—have been coming to ORT.
“I came here hoping to gain a deeper understanding of a different way of life and to draw inspiration from the design ideas here, so I could return to my country with a broader perspective. It’s an experience I recommend to everyone. The classes are great, and the professors always make sure everyone fully understands the concepts. They’re people you can really trust.”
María José Ortiz
Toulouse-Lautrec Institute | Peru
“At Universidad ORT Uruguay a wide variety of courses, ranging from the country’s political history to human resources and comparative politics. I wanted to take advantage of this exchange year to learn more about my adopted country and explore other areas of study within the field that interests me most: political science.”
Léa de Souder
, Sciences Po | France
“The exchange experience has been very rewarding. It has helped me get to know myself better thanks to the warm hospitality and energy of the Uruguayan people. I’ve definitely enjoyed my time at this university, and I’ll recommend it to my classmates.”
Rodrigo Vázquez
Autonomous Metropolitan University | Mexico
Uruguayans abroad
Thanks to the 80 exchange agreements that Universidad ORT Uruguay with institutions around the world, local students can spend a semester of their studies at universities in more than 20 countries across four continents.
“The destinations chosen by Uruguayan students are quite varied, but most opt for universities in Germany, Australia, Spain, the United States, France, and England,” says Kemna.
“There, they can sometimes combine courses from different majors and departments, which helps further enrich their education, and they return fascinated by the experience,” he adds.