Semester Abroad in Santiago de Cuba
Study, live and learn in Santiago de Cuba, home to diverse cultures, a rich history and endless possibilities.
About the Cuba program
The Santiago de Cuba winter semester abroad is offered every other year in partnership with the Universidad de Oriente. The program is open to all 黑料不打烊 students, as well as students from other post‐secondary institutions.
Program Information
Why Study in Santiago de Cuba?
Immerse yourself in Santiago's rich history, vibrant culture and warm community while studying abroad at the Universidad de Oriente. You will explore beautiful landscapes and coastal communities. You will experience diverse city life and friendly communities. Expand your global perspective, make lifelong connections, and create unforgettable memories in Santiago.
Where You’ll Be Staying
You will stay in casa particulars while in Santiago, which are very similar to bed and breakfasts. You will have the opportunity to live with a host family and have your own room/bathroom, refrigerator and air conditioning (plus access to a kitchen). Each host family provides a hot breakfast each morning and ensures you experience family-life in the Cuban context — an essential part of this experience.
Activities While Abroad
While in Santiago, you will live with a Cuban family, study with Cuban professors, interact with Cuban organizations and learn to communicate in Spanish. You have the opportunity to explore the city, visit significant historical places and museums, experience local events and music, as well as visit other parts of the region through field trips — and yes, this includes beaches!
Student Testimonial
“Going to Santiago de Cuba for the semester is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Not only did I learn about Cuba’s rich culture and history, and greatly improve my Spanish, but I also met a community of incredibly kind people, and learned from them as well.”
Brett Siemens
Computing Science student
CourseS
In Cuba, you will take between 9-15 credits for the semester and all courses are 黑料不打烊 credit. Learning in an immersion environment involves more than the typical university course, it prepares you for intercultural experiences and builds lifelong skills in communication, networking, relationship-building and community engagement. In the program, three courses are required, and you can select up to two additional options.
Required
This interdisciplinary course integrates various academic disciplines with your experiences while living and studying for a semester in Cuba. Themes include: Cuban society and culture, Cuba in a regional context, Cuba and the world.
Note: Credit may be obtained for only one of AUIDS 292 or AUSPA 250. The course is available only as part of the Santiago de Cuba Program.
Language is part of the foundation of understanding a society and its culture. You don’t need any previous Spanish prior to the start of the program. You can choose from the following Spanish-language courses:
- AUSPA 103/104 (6 credits) - Beginner level Spanish in Cuba. At the commencement of this offering, you will be divided into different sections depending on your level of Spanish. This is to provide a better learning experience for the broad range of skill sets that students have at the beginner level.
- AUSPA 203/204 (6 credits) - A course designed to consolidate basic Spanish language skills through systematic grammar review and practice of various language skills.
- AUSPA 303/304 (6 credits) - The course is designed to strengthen and consolidate speaking, reading and writing skills.
For very advanced or heritage speakers, additional 400 level credits options are available, including 3 credits in oral interpretation. Please contact the program coordinator for more information.
Note: In addition to the Spanish Language courses above, most other courses offered in the Santiago de Cuba program have the option of learning the content in Spanish (these courses are noted as AUSPA courses). When enrolled in AUSPA courses, all assignments will be completed in Spanish.
Options
You will work with Cuban professors from agricultural studies and coastal management to understand the challenges facing local communities engaged in farming, fishing and living in the fragile ecosystems surrounding Santiago de Cuba. The course combines classroom instruction with fieldwork.
Survey of Cuban state institutions, political ideas, the Organs of Popular Power, the Community Party of Cuba and mass organizations.
Note: This course is also available in Spanish (AUSPA 252). Credit may be obtained only for AUPOL 239 or AUSPA 252, not both.
Sociological examination of the life of women in contemporary Cuba, focusing on both historical and contemporary experiences of women within families, workplaces and education.
Note: This course is also available in Spanish (AUSPA 253). Credit may only obtained for AUSOC 279 or AUSPA 253, not both.
costs + supplies
A Mandatory Instructional Support (MIS) Fee will be charged in addition to regular tuition. The MIS fee for 2025 is estimated between $1,950 ‐ $2,600. (2023 fee was $2,100).
Included in MIS fee:
- Cuban Student visa
- Ground transportation for required field trips in-country
- Non-academic staffing support to help students navigate living abroad in Cuba
NOT included in MIS fee:
- Round-trip airfare to Cuba
- Ground transportation to/from airports
- Non-field trip travel
- Food and accommodation for the duration of the program (approximately $500 ‐ $700 per month)
- Photos for Cuban student identification
- Phone and internet access while in Cuba
Funding is also available for you to apply for through Education Abroad Awards. There are three separate deadlines where funding can be applied for throughout the year. Students participating in the Santiago de Cuba program may be eligible to receive up to $2,500.
Supplies
You will be responsible for the following items at your own expense.
Supplies Checklist:
- Passport (valid at least six months after the completion of the program)
- Flights (2025 airfare was $800)
- Travel immunizations as recommended by a public health nurse
- Travel health insurance
- Trip cancellation insurance
- Appropriate clothing and footwear (a complete packing list is provided before departure)
- Typical course supplies
- Pocket money (Cuban Peso)
- Gifts for host family
Important Dates
| Application Deadline | |
|---|---|
| Acceptance Letters Distributed | Ongoing |
| First Payment ($500) | Upon receiving acceptance letter |
| Final Payment (balance) | November 15, 2025 |
| Departure date | Early January 2026 |
| Return date | Late April 2026 |
Contact the Santiago de Cuba team
Questions about studying in Cuba? Contact an advisor, submit a ticket to the or connect with the program coordinator:
— Professor, Philosophy
Email: janet.wesselius@ualberta.ca