Language Requirement: 1 year
Academic Standing by Program Start: Freshman or above
Location: Americas, Mexico
GPA: 2.5

Program Overview

This program is designed for you to learn Spanish language through immersion. You can take intermediate or advanced Spanish courses. Mexico is an ideal location to continue your Spanish language studies, as the pronunciation, vocabulary, and colloquial expressions used in Mexico are also commonly heard in the U.S., offering you a smoother linguistic transition between the two countries. You will study at the Centro Intercultural de Querétaro in the heart of Querétaro's beautiful historic district.  As part of the immersive experience, you will live with a Mexican host family. 

Querétaro is a beautiful colonial city located in the state of Querétaro in the heart of central Mexico and is home to approximately 1.4 million. The city is known especially for its excellent universities, growing economy, safety, and cleanliness. Its historic city center is recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site. This program includes excursions to Mexico City, visits to historic towns around the host city, and several extra activities in and around Querétaro. 

Quotes from Querétaro alumni:

“My Spanish has definitely improved. I am a much more confident conversational speaker. I spoke the most Spanish at home with my host family.”

“The quality of instruction was amazing! My class was very small, so we were able to have a deep connection with the instructors and in turn the instructors were able to assist us better.”

"I feel so lucky to have had the host parents that I had during my time in Mexico. They were so kind, accommodating, open, and helpful. I feel so blessed to now have them in my life."

Dates and Deadlines

Term Year Deadline Arrival Date Departure Date
Summer 2026 03/15/2026 06/20/2026 08/01/2026

This program has a rolling admission application process: GEO staff will complete a review of the application materials of complete applications in the order that they are submitted (“first come, first serve”). Decisions about acceptance will be made shortly after you submit a complete application. There are some programs that fill fast, some even before the deadline. Students are encouraged to complete applications and commit to programs early. Acceptance is based on a holistic review of your application.  This includes a review of your GPA, transcripts (including courses taken and in-progress), any additional requirements or prerequisites (see section "Additional Requirements"), and the short statement.

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Hear from Our Students

Coming Home, Leaving Home

Alex standing in front of a large pyramid outside
Image 5:17 a.m., August 2nd: that’s the moment I stepped onto the plane headed back to the United States. It marked the end of my six-week… read more

Halfway Through... Already?

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Image Alex visits El Cerrito, a Mesoamerican pyramid I don’t know whether to be excited that I’m halfway through the program or sad that the… read more

¡Hola! from Querétaro

Alex and his host mom
Image ¡Hola! Alex Tidwell here—first-generation and non-traditional student—reporting directly from Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico. This adventure… read more

Discount for Pell Recipients

To expand access to study abroad, GEO is offering a $500 discount for this program to UO students who currently have the Pell Grant as part of their federal financial aid (FAFSA).

Academic Details

The GEO Querétaro program is six weeks in the summer. All courses are taught by local instructors at the Centro Intercultural de Querétaro. If you have completed SPAN 103 or 112 by the time you depart for Querétaro, you can earn 12 quarter credits of intermediate-level Spanish that would fulfill (at the UO) the equivalent of SPAN 201-202-203. If you have already completed the SPAN-200 sequence or equivalent, you may enroll in 12 quarter credits by selecting three of the 3rd year Spanish course offerings such as Contemporary Mexican Literature, Advanced Writing in Querétaro, Language and Society, Introduction to Linguistics, and Contemporary Mexican History. 

Note: all classes are approved as SPAN 200/300 level credit. The Contemporary Mexican History course can count towards Latin America HIST credit. 

Course Equivalencies

UO students: please refer to the UO Course Equivalency Process and the UO Office of the Registrar Course Equivalency Database.

Non-UO students: Actual credit awarded is determined by the relevant department at your university in consultation with the study abroad office. Check with your study abroad advisor for more information.

Faculty and Staff

Each year, an instructor from the University of Oregon's Romance Languages Department or a GEO Global Engagement Program Coordinator serves as the Querétaro On-Site Coordinator for the first four weeks of the program to support students with the academic, cultural and social transition.  

The GEO Querétaro Program also has dedicated staff on site to ensure students are well oriented to the program location, local culture, and program expectations, and are available 24/7 during the program to support students and assist in case of emergency.

Housing Description

Housing in Querétaro is designed to help you experience the local culture of Mexico and to improve language acquisition while living with a Mexican host family. Homestays are carefully selected to fit your needs and requests. All students are placed in homes that have been carefully selected and vetted for safety and cleanliness. You will have access to a private room, internet, and most meals are provided by your host family. The comida (lunch) is the biggest meal of the day; it usually takes place between 2-4 p.m. and is an ideal opportunity to interact with your host family. Querétaro is a larger city and many families live a distance away from the center where classes are held. Ubers and taxis are readily available throughout the day and local buses can be a good transportation option for students. Host families accompany students to the center on the first day and help students learn the local bus route or walk to the center. 

Budget and Price

Mexican Studies and Spanish Immersion in Querétaro

2026 Summer

Program Fees Paid to GEO
UO Study Abroad Fee $500
Program Tuition $5,404
Housing & Included Meals $1,200
Insurance $151
Other Estimated Expenses
Estimated Airfare from Eugene $950
Estimated Additional Meals/Estimated Meals $160
Estimated Cell Phone Expenses $50
Estimated Travel Clinic & Pre-departure physical** $50
Estimated Cost of Acquiring Passport $150
Estimated Additional Living Expenses $400
Total
Total Estimated Cost of Participation $9,015

Included in Program Costs: Program tuition, medical insurance, pre-departure and on-site support, housing, excursions, course materials, on-site orientation, and most meals.

* Non-UO Students: study abroad fees and application fees vary by campus; check with your home campus study abroad office.

Please visit GEO Billing Information for information about how you will be billed and when payments are due.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellation Date Cancellation Penalty
Upon acceptance to program

Student agrees to $500 non-refundable program deposit 
8 weeks before program start date

Student is responsible for 50% of total GEO program fees  
Program start date or after program begins

Student is responsible for 100% of total GEO program fees 
Note that scholarship funds are not able to be applied to program deposit.

IMPORTANT: The GEO Cancellation Policy is effective from the time a student agrees to pay their non-refundable program deposit or electronically signs the program commitment form, regardless of application or acceptance status. It is essential to read this policy before a potential cancellation takes place, to fully understand the withdrawal and cancellation penalties, and to understand what it means financially to commit to a study abroad program.

Students who cancel their participation must notify GEO in writing. Email is acceptable (geoinfo@uoregon.edu). Verbal notification to GEO or notification given to a non-UO campus study abroad office is not sufficient.

For full details, see the complete GEO Cancellation Policy.

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