1. What are the prerequisites for GAIAS?
- Completion of at least one year of university-level studies.
- Minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale).
- English proficiency: Applicants who are not native English speakers, MUST provide documentation of proficiency in English before being admitted to GAIAS.
- For students applying to the "Evolution, Ecology & Conservation in Galapagos," "People, Politics and The Environment" and “Marine Ecology” programs: Completion of one general biology and one general ecology course is required.
- For students applying to the "Race, Gender and Etnicity"program: An intermediate-level of Spanish is required.
- Mountain Studies Program: one intordutory course to Geology is required.
2. Is there a minimum GPA requirement?
Yes. The minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) is 3.0.
3. Is there a Spanish language requirement?
There is no Spanish language requirement, except for the "Race, Gender, and Ethnicity" program.
4. What kind of students should apply?
GAIAS is a demanding academic program. Dedicated students who wish to participate in conservation efforts, and who are ready to take on the challenge of studying in a foreign country are encouraged to apply.
5. What are the program dates?
Please contact the GAIAS Program Coordinator for the latests dates (gaias@usfq.edu.ec)
6. When should I apply?
The application deadlines are as follows:
June 15 Fall Semester
November 15 Spring Semester
NOTE: GAIAS has a rolling admissions policy . This means that it is important to apply early , as programs may fill before their deadlines.
7. How much does the program cost?
For current cost information, please contact Alexandra Anda at: gaias@usfq.edu.ec . Please indicate the program that you are interested in and your home university.
9. What do GAIAS program costs include?
Costs Include:
- Pre-departure information
- Orientation
- Tuition
- Airport transfers
- Resident Coordinators in Quito and Galapagos
- Private transport to and from the university during your stay in Quito
- Trip to the Tiputini Biodiversity Station in the Amazon (Politics and Evolution program only)
- 2 mainland coastal trips (Marine Ecology only)
- Riobamba trip (highlands)
- Other mainland trips (City Tour, Mitad del Mundo)
- Full room and board in Quito and Galapagos (3 meals per day) with some exceptions– please see note below**
- Domestic airfare (Quito-Galapagos-Quito / Coca-Quito / Manta-Quito)
- National Park Fee
- Program related trips in Galapagos
- Galapagos boat day tours
- Basic Spanish course (optional)
Costs do NOT include:
- International airfare
- Textbooks (and tranportation of textbooks to the Islands)
- International medical insurance
- Personal expenses
- Visa expenses
-
Meals on weekends in San Cristobal, lunches on specific days students have free afternoons in Quito, and on the recommended arrival and departure dates
-
Optional 1-credit course, "Introduction to Digital Photography"
- Quito airport fee upon departure
- Tips
10. Can I send personal references with my application?
Personal references should only be sent as support (and not in place of) the two academic references required with the application.
11. What is the notarized Certificate of Health?
This is something that your physician will give to you after a routine physical exam. Sometimes the Certificate of Health is in the form of a letter and other times it is a standardized health form that your physician will fill out. It should state that you are in good physical health, free of contagious diseases, and that you are able to participate in the program. This letter needs to be notarized by a Public Notary. (This is an important document because the Ecuadorian Consul will also ask for the Certificate of Health when you apply for the visa).
12. Who is the contact person for GAIAS?
Alexandra Anda
GAIAS Program Coordinator
Universidad San Francisco de Quito
PO Box 17-12-841
Campus Cumbaya
Quito, Ecuador
Email: gaias@usfq.edu.ec
Fax: (593-2) 289-0070 ATTN: Alex Anda
Phone:     (593-2) 297-1845
13. When do I find out if I've been accepted into the program?
Once we have received all of your application materials our admissions committee will review your application. Admission decisions are then notified once the program has the minumum number of students to open.
14. Is it necessary to send the Acceptance Statement back?
YES! Even if you are unable to attend GAIAS, you must send the Acceptance Statement back with the appropriate information filled out. If you decide to participate in the program, you will be required to pay a $200 non-refundable deposit in order to reserve your space in the program. If you pay by a wire transfer, then you must include an extra $15 for the transfer fee.
15. Can GAIAS credits be transferred to other universities?
Yes. USFQ-GAIAS currently has exchange agreements with over 45 institutions in North America, Europe and Asia. Students who come under an exchange agreement with one of our partner institutions will have their credits transferred back to their home institution automatically. Students who come as “independents” (i.e. students who come from a home institution other than one of USFQ’s exchange partners) are advised to talk to their Study Abroad Office or a Faculty Advisor to see if USFQ credits can be transferred to their home university.
16. Are 15 credits a full-time program? How many credits is one course?
USFQ uses the U.S. system of credits in which 12 or more credits is considered a full-time program. Each GAIAS course is worth 3 credits, 45 contact hours each.
Note: Courses are taught in intensive 3-week modules, therefore students only enroll in one course at a time. Classes typically meet for three hours per day, Monday through Friday, with occasional weekend activities and/or excursions.
17. Will I receive a transcript?
Yes. You will receive one official transcript from the Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ). Additional transcripts must be requested and paid for by the student or his/her educational institution.
18. How do I request additional transcripts?
Please click on the ALUMNI link in order to view instructions and print the Official Transcript Request Form.
19. What institutions are affiliated with USFQ?
To see a list of our partner institutions, please visit the website: http://www.usfq.edu.ec/1PROG_INT/convenios.html
20. How should I pay the application fee? Is it possible to send checks?
The fee should be paid by US check or wire transfer to:
Corporación de Promoción Universitaria (CPU)
Account Number: 140155306*
ABA Number: 066011350
Name of Bank: Pacific National Bank
Address: 1390 Brickell Avenue
Miami, Florida, 33131-3324
USA
*Please include the account #140155306 on the front of the check.
21. What forms of payment does USFQ accept? When must I pay for the program?
Complete payment must be made before arrival in Ecuador. An invoice with detailed payment instructions will be sent to you after being accepted into the program.
USFQ accepts the following forms of payment:
From outside of Ecuador :
Electronic transfer or US check to the CPU-GAIAS bank account in Miami , Florida . (See details above, in Question #20).
From USFQ:
Cash, travelers checks, personal checks or corporate checks from a sponsoring institution. The ONLY credit card accepted by USFQ is the Diners Card.
22. What does the "Room and Board" expense include?
Room and Board includes housing with a host family and three meals per day. In San Cristobal , breakfasts are typically at the student's place of residence (host family), and group meals are arranged for lunches and dinners in local restaurants around town.
23. Is there financial aid available?
To date, USFQ-GAIAS does not offer any type of financial aid to international students. Students are advised to research financial aid opportunities through their home universities, national organizations, and/or their government.
24. Is it possible to take courses in Spanish at GAIAS?
GAIAS currently offers a 1-credit Basic Spanish course. This course is for beginners who would like to acquire basic knowledge of the Spanish language. Students will also have plenty of opportunities to practice Spanish with the local community.
25. Does GAIAS provide an orientation?
Yes. A two-day orientation is provided at the USFQ main campus in Cumbaya. A second orientation is provided onsite at the GAIAS facilities upon arrival in Galapagos.
26. How much time is spent in Quito ?
Students participating in the Evolution and Politics tracks will spend the first module (i.e. 3 weeks) in Quito. During these three weeks, students will have classes at the USFQ main campus and will travel to the Tiputini Biodiversity Station (TBS) in the Amazon Jungle and Riobamba and Chimborazo in the highlands of Ecuador. Weekend trips to other sites of interest, such as the equatorial divide at Mitad del Mundo, and the snow-capped volcano Cotopaxi.
Students participating in the Marine Ecology track, will spend the first modules in Quito. During this time, students will go on a city tour of Quito, and spenf two full weeks in the mainland coast of Ecudor performing field work.
27. Where will I live?
While in Quito students stay with a host family. Upon their arrival from the Galapagos Islands, studnets will stay at a local hotel before departing to their home countries.
While in San Cristobal, Galapagos students live with a host family in order
to improve their Spanish and integrate more fully into the local community. GAIAS has a network of trained families and is able to assist with family
placements in San Cristobal.
28. Do students share bedrooms?
Students will have their own bedroom in the host family´s place of residence.
29. What are the highlights of the GAIAS program?
The GAIAS semester-long program includes these important highlights:
- Field trips & fieldwork in select courses
- Small class size & individualized attention
- Optional 1-credit course, "Introduction to Digital Photography"
- Optional Basic Spanish course
- Galapagos day boat tours
- Trip to Isabela Island
- Trip to Riobamba and Volcano Chimborazo (Ecuadorian highlands)
- Trip to Tiputini Biodiversity Station in the Amazon jungle ( http://tiputini.usfq.edu.ec/ ) Evolution and Politics programs only
- Quito City Tour & Mitad del Mundo (equatorial divide)
- Resident Coordinators in Quito and Galapagos
30. What should I pack?
For a complete list of what to pack, in addition to tips in planning your trip abroad, please click on the link "Planning Your Trip Abroad"
31. Are there any required immunizations?
See your doctor at least 4-6 weeks before your trip to allow time for immunizations to take effect. The CDC recommends the following vaccines for Ecuador (as appropriate for age):
- Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG).
- Hepatitis B, if you might be exposed to blood (for example, health-care workers), have sexual contact with the local population, stay 6 months in the region, or be exposed through medical treatment.
- Rabies, if you might be exposed to wild or domestic animals through your work or recreation.
- Yellow fever vaccination (REQUIRED for the Tiputini trip)
- As needed, booster doses for tetanus-diphtheria and measles.
Malaria
Malaria is not a problem in Quito or the Galapagos, although it is found in Ecuador at altitudes below 1500 meters. There will be short trips planned to the Amazon jungle and the Ecuadorian coast during the first three weeks of the program, and malaria medication is recommended for these regions. For this reason, you should discuss the proper malaria medication with your doctor and take the necessary precautions. Larium is the drug recommended by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Yellow Fever
A WHO vaccination record (with yellow fever vaccination record) is REQUIRED to get to the Tiputini Biodiversity Station in the Amazon jungle. Local authorities will not permit you to enter the region without it.
32. What kind of volunteer work is available at GAIAS?
For Students:
There are a number of volunteer opportunities available with institutions such as CDF, PNG, CEMEI, SICGAL, and INNFA. In addition to these institutional opportunities, GAIAS students may design volunteer and research projects tailored to their own personal, academic and/or professional interests. Students will need faculty approval before embarking on any project.
In additiona, GAIAS seeks experienced ESL teachers throughout the year to volunteer at its community college in San Cristobal. Teachers receive free room and board in exchange for their services.
Minimum requirements: Applicants should be native speakers of English. They should have a BA in Education or other related field OR have a TESOL certificate plus two years of teaching experience. There is a minimum time commitment of three months. There is no salary for this position.
For more information about volunteer opportunities, please contact Alexandra Anda: gaias@usfq.edu.ec
33. How to planning your trip?
Download PDF
Useful websites about Ecuador and the Galapagos:
• www.ecuadorexplorer.com
• www.ecuador.org
• www.vivecuador.com
• www.thebestofecuador.com (has specific information about San Cristobal and Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, where GAIAS is located)
• www.gct.org (the Galapagos Conservation Trust, a charity committed to conservation of the Galapagos. You'll find information about the islands, flora and fauna, conservation issues, news and current projects being funded by GCT).
• www.galapagos.to (Human and Cartographic History of the Galapagos Islands) www.galapagostour.com (Official website of CAPTURGAL, the Galapagos Tourism of Commerce)
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