In this exchange program, you will participate in the Cumbayá Program and enroll directly in classes at Universidad San Francisco de Quito. USFQ has 10 colleges and more than 9,000 students enrolled in academic programs, including almost 1,000 international students per year. The university provides exchange students with the unique opportunity to meet local and international students through their course enrollment, by joining student clubs and experience the culture and lifestyle in Quito by living with host families.
Quito, the capital of Ecuador, was declared one of the first UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites in 1978. Nicknamed the “Luz de América” (Light of America), the city of Quito was founded in the 16th century on the ruins of an Inca city and proudly possesses one of the best-preserved, least altered historic centers in Latin America. Today, almost 2.8 million people live in Quito. At an elevation of 2,850 meters (9,350 feet), Quito is located along the slopes of the Pichincha Volcano and bordered by the hills of Panecillo and Ichimbia in the Andes Mountains. Given the complex topography, the city presents a remarkable combination of Indigenous and European artistic traditions in the city’s architecture, urban routes and thriving art scene. The city has many plazas, museums, cultural centers, and festivals.
