Global Education Office

The University of Lima is located in the heart of Lima, Peru's capital city.  Lima has an incredibly historic past (it was founded in 1535!) yet is also a modern city in constant growth.  Located on the coast of Peru, Lima is home to many archaeological sites, many between the slopes of the famous Andes mountains.

The numerous museums in the metropolitan area display the richness of Peru’s pre-Columbian and colonial past. Within Lima itself are the well-restored burial sites (huacas) of the pre-Inca coastal cultures, and south of the city stand the remains of Pachacamac, one of Peru’s largest pre-Hispanic religious centres.  Museums with great works of art, archaeological sites, beaches, the boardwalk, valleys, natural reserves, the nightlife, the thrill of adventure sports, and the exquisite cuisine gives Peru’s capital an authentic personality and makes studying in Lima a truly unique experience.

Advising:
Interested students are strongly encouraged to meet with Sarah Carrier prior to applying to this program. Please email her at syoung8@vcu.edu and list the days and times you are available to meet over a two week period.

To Apply:

Students must have at least a 2.75 GPA to apply and should have at least intermediate Spanish language skills.  Applicants should complete the online VCU application and submit it to VCU Education Abroad by April 1 for the fall and full year semesters and October 1 for the spring semester.

Once nominated by VCU Education Abroad, students must complete the Universidad de Lima online application for foreign students.  For application guidance, contact Sarah Carrier at syoung8@vcu.edu

Tuition and Fees:
Tuition for VCU students is based on VCU tuition and fees. Students will be charged through VCU Student Accounting for the cost of 12 credits of tuition.

Students are responsible for paying all other costs on their own (i.e. not billed through VCU Student Accounting) such as:
Housing
Meals
Airfare
Books and supplies
Passport and visa
Living expenses
Special course fees (e.g. lab fees)
Personal travel

We encourage all students to explore the Funding Options section of our website to learn more about paying for your study abroad through financial aid, scholarships and other funding opportunities.

Curriculum:
Applicants must have strong command of the Spanish language to participate in this exchange.  Business and Engineering coursework are taught in English but Spanish is the language of instruction for the majority of all other disciplines.  Three weeks before the start of each semester, the university will offer intensive daily Spanish courses for exchange students.


The grading system is on a 0 to 20 scale and students must receive a grade over 11 to pass a course.  Students must earn the equivalent of the grade of C or higher in a given course to be eligible for transfer credit. Students are required to take the necessary steps to ensure that transcripts are received from the university upon return to VCU.

Academic Calendar:
Review important dates at Univ de Lima on their website. Keep in mind that, due to the Southern Hemisphere Calendar, Peruvian universities operate on a reverse schedule from those in the US.

Session 1: March-July
Session 2: Late July to early December

Housing:
The Universidad de Lima does not offer student dormitories or residence halls but will provide students with assistance in finding adequate accommodations near campus.  Students can request to be paired with a Peruvian host family, rent an apartment, or live in a student boarding house with other exchange students.

The cost of housing options will depend on the district (Miraflores is the most popular district for exchange students), but the average price is 300-400 USD per month,

Dining and Other Services:

The Universidad de Lima does not offer student meal plans.  Monthly costs for food are estimated to run from $150-200 and most students cook in their homes, with their host families, or eat at many of the local restaurants near campus.

The Universidad de Lima offers a PALS programs, where students of the university volunteer to assist exchange students with adapting to life at the university and with navigating their new city.  Airport pick ups are also available upon request.