University of Wisconsin–Madison
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UW Global Gateway in Chile

Panoramic view of Santiago, Chile, with towering palm trees in the foreground and snow-capped mountains in the background under a clear blue sky.

The Summer 2026 program in Chile is funded in partnership with CIEE.

The Office of Experiential Learning, through the generous donations of their donors, provides funding for additional spaces for students in SESP and HIPs programs to participate in Summer 2026.

Chile, Santiago

Limited Capacity Program: This program can accept a limited number of students each term. In the past we have received more qualified applications than available spots. Review of applicants is based on these criteria. You may only have one application per term, however, please have an alternate program in mind in the event that you are not accepted to this program.

Join a small group cohort of Badgers on this fully-funded summer program to Chile! Led by UW Professor Sara McKinnon , Global Gateway is a unique, engaging experience designed specially for first- and second-year UW students.

Through classroom learning, guided visits in Santiago, activities and excursions, students will learn about how climate change has impacted Chileans and how different actors and communities are developing justice initiatives and resilient solutions to combat the effects of these changes. There is no language pre-requisite for this program. 

Each student selected for the program will receive a Global Gateway scholarship covering the program fee, including airfare!

Select applicants will be invited for an interview before final decisions are made. Accepted students will demonstrate a strong commitment to the program and its learning objectives, be an active participant while on the program, and help promote international education upon their return to UW-Madison. Both need and merit-based criteria will be taken into consideration.

This program is offered by UW-Madison in cooperation with CIEE and is funded in partnership with CIEE.


Global Gateway Learning Objectives 
Participants will be able to: 
Academic

  • Learn about, with, and from the communities in which they live and study
  • Ask culturally relevant questions
  • Make connections between academic content learned on campus and ideas generated on program
  • Engage with the course content and explore connections to their major

Professional

  • Explore career interests or goals for future planning
  • Develop and strengthen adaptability and flexibility
  • Expand worldview to engage in a globalized, interconnected world
  • Articulate how the soft skills they developed on their program experience helps shapes future goals

Personal

  • Cultivate empathy and cultural humility
  • Understand and navigate cultural and geographical differences
  • Reflect on personal values and assumptions
  • Build community with others

Explore additional UW Global Gateway Initiatives

Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to providing quality study abroad and domestic study away programs for every UW-Madison student. We work strategically to identify, address, and remove barriers that may prevent participation and to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment for students. Our staff actively engages with students, faculty, and staff from diverse backgrounds and prioritizes the continuous development of our knowledge and cultural competence. We also recognize the importance of increasing access to study abroad for historically underrepresented student populations. We are committed to diversity and inclusion so that every student can engage with and understand their identity through a new lens and continue to develop and make progress on their personal, professional, and academic goals.

Sustainability

We recognize that the future of study abroad, domestic study away, and international internship programming requires a Commitment to Sustainability. We are devoted to examining, developing, and improving sustainability in all our endeavors, aligning with campus priorities and following through with UW-Madison's climate action and Resilience Commitment. Join our efforts and learn more about how to study abroad sustainably.

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Eligibility

  • After applications have been reviewed, selected applicants will be asked to complete a virtual interview. Both application materials and interviews will be considered in acceptance decisions. 

    Must have a Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) on file. The Office of Student Financial Aid has information on how to complete your FAFSA.

    Preference will be given to students with a Student Aid Index (SAI) of $8,000 or less or being part of Bucky’s Pell Pathway program for the past or current academic year.

    Preference given to students who have not previously participated on a UW Study Abroad program.

    Students who have previously participated on a UW Global Gateway Program or received a UW Global Gateway Fellowship are not eligible to receive a second UW Global Gateway award.
  • Academic standing eligibility requirements are based on year in school (first or second year) and not on academic credits. Transfer students’ years of study are calculated by adding the years of study at previous institutions and total years at UW-Madison
  • 2.0 cumulative GPA
  • Freshman, Sophomore
  • Open to UW-Madison degree-seeking students only
  • Good academic and disciplinary standing
  • At the time of application and the semester prior to participation, UW-Madison students must be currently enrolled. Transfer Students to UW-Madison need to be currently enrolled at their home institution

Advising Location

Program Structure

UW Signature

Subjects

Classroom Language

English

Housing

Hotels

Program Duration

Late May – Mid June 2026

Application Deadline(s)

Summer 2026 1/23/2026 Cost Details

Future durations will be posted at a later date.

APPLY NOW

 

You will take one course while on the UW Global Gateway Program in Chile. 

Climate Justice in Chile and Beyond (3 credits)

This course will be taught by Professor Sara McKinnon.

This interdisciplinary course examines the intersections of climate justice and sustainability in Chile, a country characterized by profound ecological diversity, extractive economies, and struggles for environmental justice. Students will examine how climate change disproportionately affects marginalized communities, including Indigenous peoples, rural populations, and urban poor, and analyze the political, economic, and historical factors driving environmental injustice in Chile. The course combines perspectives from environmental studies, social movement studies, and international law, and Latin American studies to critically examine sustainability efforts, government climate policies, and international climate frameworks within the Chilean context. By the end of the course, students will be equipped to analyze the ethical dimensions of sustainability, evaluate the effectiveness of climate policy, and propose equitable solutions rooted in social and environmental justice.

** Participants will be expected to engage with the Office of Sustainability and other campus entities pre and post program to support campus sustainability efforts and connect them to their on-site program experiences. 

Course Equivalents

Use the links below to see a list of courses that past students have taken on this program and the UW equivalents. Note: This list only includes pre-approved courses for your program and may not be an exhaustive list of courses, departments or equivalents. Courses may not be available the semester you are abroad. You will receive instructions on the course equivalent process after acceptance. View Course Equivalents

Program Leader

Sara McKinnon

Professor of Rhetoric, Politics & Culture and Director, Latin American, Caribbean, & Iberian Studies, Department of Communication Arts

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IAP Gilman Incentive

Description
IAP will provide a guaranteed $1000 scholarship to students applying to the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship for the first time and meet the Gilman's scholarship eligibility requirements and application deadlines.

Students can only receive the IAP Gilman Incentive one time in their academic career. No additional application to IAP is needed and our staff will notify recipients after the Gilman scholarship deadline. Award Amount
$1000

How to Apply
For more information and to apply, visit the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship website. No additional application is needed for the IAP Gilman Incentive award. Students can only receive the IAP Gilman Incentive one time.

UW Global Gateway Summer Programs

Description

This scholarship is available to degree-seeking UW-Madison undergraduate students who are admitted to the UW Global Gateway study abroad program. 
For more information on program locations and details, visit the UW Global Gateway Initiative page. 

Each program provides a full scholarship, including airfare, for 15 students with demonstrated financial need (preference give to students with EFC under $12,000).

This prestigious scholarship was established by International Academic Programs, in partnership with the Office of Student Financial Aid, to introduce students to the issues of globalization and prepare students for success in an increasingly interconnected world.

Award Amount
Full scholarship plus airfare

Eligibility Criteria
How to Apply

Interested students should apply for the UW Global Gateway Program of their choice by the application deadline. 

IAP WISc Scholarship

Description

This scholarship was established by International Academic Programs (IAP) to assist undergraduate student participants in the Wisconsin International Scholars (WISc) Program with building their global competence and citizenship skills, which is the core goal of the WISc Program.  Each WISc Scholar is eligible to receive scholarships as follows: 

1) 1 scholarship of $2500 toward participation on a short-term study abroad program duration (winter intersession, spring break, or summer), and

2) 1 scholarship of $4000 toward participation on a semester program OR 1 $6000 towards a year long program.

These scholarships can be used for students attending any approved UW-Madison study abroad program. 

Award Amount
$2500-$6000

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible for student participants of the Wisconsin International Scholars (WISc) Program at UW-Madison.

How to Apply

Students apply through the WISc Scholar Travel Grant application.