Located in the central valley of Costa Rica, San José is a vibrant urban center in the heart of a serene and beautiful nation. Three volcanoes surround the city, and quaint villages, farms and coffee plantations dot the hillsides. Though the metropolitan area is home to 36% of the nation’s population, one can easily explore the smaller central area of the city and discover its neighborhood markets and local restaurants. Cultural opportunities including theater, music, cinema and dance are also abundant in San José. Visit the Museo Nacional; the Museo de Oro Precolombino, with its sparkling collection of pre-Columbian gold; or the Museo de Jade, which boasts the world’s largest collection of jade.
Programs in San Jose Includes:

Art and Design Studies for Advanced Spanish Speakers: This program offers advanced Spanish speakers the opportunity to study art and design abroad by taking integrated courses with local Costa Rican students in the areas of advertising design, architecture, digital animation, interior design, photography, and product design. Students are highly encouraged to complete an intensive month of Spanish upon arrival and may consider taking one elective course in Spanish for international students to complement their studies with local students. Program fees include a maximum of up to 18 credit hours, which may consist of a mix of integrated courses with Costa Rican students and 1-2 courses designed for visiting international students.

Latin American Studies and Internship: This program at the Universidad Veritas provides an opportunity for students to improve their Spanish language skills, gain professional experience, and earn academic credit toward their degree plan by studying and participating in an study abroad internship in San José, Costa Rica. Students must enter the program with an advanced level of Spanish.

Multidisciplinary and Environmental Studies: Students who choose to study abroad in San José through API’s Multidisciplinary and Environmental Studies Program at the Universidad Veritas have the opportunity to complete a Spanish language course and select from a wide variety of elective course offerings in English or Spanish. Students participating in the quarter program complete one intensive, 4-week Spanish course (representing a total of 80 contact hours) and three elective courses. A semester program option is also available. Contact hours for each elective course range from 48 to 60 hours and students are advised that their home institution could choose to award between 3-4 U.S. semester credits for each elective course. All students will complete a Spanish placement test online prior to their departure to determine their Spanish level.

Summer Multidisciplinary and Environmental Studies: Students who choose to study abroad in San José through API’s Multidisciplinary and Environmental Studies Program summer program at the Universidad Veritas have the option to focus on improving their Spanish skills, complete elective courses in English or Spanish, or both! Students have two options depending on which track they select - including an intensive language course, intensive language and an elective, or two elective courses.

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API / Academic Programs International Scholarships

API Study Abroad First Generation Scholarship

API is pleased to support students who are the first in their families to attend a college or university. The First Generation Scholarship award ranges from $250 to $750 per session and is available for academic year, quarter/semester, and summer students.

$250-$750

FALL/YEAR: June 10 SPRING SEMESTER / WINTER QUARTER PROGRAMS: October 15 SPRING QUARTER: December 15 SUMMER: April 1

In order to be eligible to apply, students must meet the following requirements: Have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher Be a first-generation college student (i.e., parents and grandparents did not attend a college or university). Show financial need. Letter of recommendation, two essays,

API Study Abroad STEM Scholarship

The API STEM scholarship is offered for API participants who are studying science, technology, engineering or mathematics. The API STEM Scholarship award ranges from $250 to $750 and is available for academic year, quarter/semester, and summer students.

$250-$750

FALL/YEAR: June 10 SPRING SEMESTER / WINTER QUARTER PROGRAMS: October 15 SPRING QUARTER: December 15 SUMMER: April 1

In order to be eligible to apply, students must meet the following requirements: Have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher. Major in an area classified as a STEM field (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics). Special consideration will be given to students who are taking courses related to their major while abroad. Show financial need. Letter of recommendation Two essays

API Student Athlete Scholarship

It is not an easy task to juggle the demands of college athletics with academic responsibilities while pursuing other interests on campus. API supports both current and college-bound student-athletes participating on our programs. We welcome student-athletes across all divisions of the NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA to apply.

$250- $750

FALL/YEAR: June 10 SPRING SEMESTER / WINTER QUARTER PROGRAMS: October 15 SPRING QUARTER: December 15 SUMMER: April 1

Only for student-athletes across all divisions of the NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA. Students applying must also have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0, and submit a letter of recommendation and two essays.

API-Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Awards

The Gilman Scholarship Program offers awards for undergraduate study abroad and was established by the International Academic Opportunity Act of 2000. This scholarship provides awards for U.S. undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or four-year college or university to participate in study abroad programs worldwide. Students participating in an API program who have been awarded a Gilman scholarship will be eligible to receive up to $1,000 in matching contributions from API for a study abroad program, or up to $500 in matching contributions from API for an intern abroad program. To receive this award, Gilman winners should indicate their scholarship details on their financial aid information after acceptance to an API study abroad program.

Up to $1,000

See Gilman deadlines in link below.

See Gilman requirements in link below.

API Study Abroad Community or Technical College Scholarship

This scholarship is offered to API participants who attend a community or technical college in the U.S., and awards range from $250 to $750 per session.

$250-$750

FALL/YEAR: June 10 SPRING SEMESTER / WINTER QUARTER PROGRAMS: October 15 SPRING QUARTER: December 15 SUMMER: April 1

Letter of recommendation, two essays,

API Study Abroad Diversity Scholarship

API is proud to provide a diversity scholarship in order to support students from a variety of backgrounds. The API Diversity Scholarship award ranges from $250 to $750 and is available for academic year, quarter/semester, or summer students. In order to qualify for this scholarship, students must be one or more of the following: a U.S. military veteran, a non-traditional student (30 years old or older), a student with a disability, a minority student, and/or a LGBTQ student.

$250-$750

FALL/YEAR: June 10 SPRING SEMESTER / WINTER QUARTER PROGRAMS: October 15 SPRING QUARTER: December 15 SUMMER: April 1

In order to qualify for this scholarship, students must be one or more of the following: a U.S. military veteran, a non-traditional student (30 years old or older), a student with a disability, a minority student, and/or a LGBTQ student. Letter of recommendation Two essays

API Study Abroad Regional Scholarships

The API regional scholarships (Asia/Middle East, Europe, Latin America) provide awards that range from $250 to $800 per session. All API students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher are encouraged to apply. The scholarship is both need and merit-based. We will review your academic record, essays and financial need as stated in your own words. This scholarship is offered to quarter/semester, academic year, and summer students.

$250-$800

FALL/YEAR: June 10 SPRING SEMESTER / WINTER QUARTER PROGRAMS: October 15 SPRING QUARTER: December 15 SUMMER: April 1

3.0+ GPA, Letter of recommendation, two essays,

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