While in Uruguay, you will live with a carefully selected host family and attend a local high school. When you study in Uruguay for a year, you’re sure to make lifelong friends!
| PROGRAM | DEPARTURE | RETURN | FULL TUITION |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Spring Year | Late January | Mid-January | $15,595 |
| 2026 Fall Year | Mid-August | Early July | $15,595 |
- Placement with a host family
- Spanish course
- Enrollment in a local Uruguayan high school
- Airport transfers
- Domestic and international travel
- All pre-departure and post-arrival orientations
- Pre-program support by trained YFU staff
- Support from a YFU Uruguay Area Representative while on the program
- Comprehensive insurance
As a student, you will choose a track of study such as biology, science, humanities, or liberal arts. Courses within the tracks are generally compulsory. School placement in a private school is possible, and students may be required to wear a uniform. The expectations of students are high, so it will be very important for students to take their studies seriously.
All students applying for the year program must be available for a mandatory National Pre-Departure Orientation which usually takes place in mid-July or early-mid December (Spring departures). This orientation is a required part of the program aimed at preparing students for their experience overseas.
To kick off the program, students attend a 4-day arrival orientation in Uruguay. Students will also complete an intensive Spanish language course, from which they receive a certificate of completion from YFU and a final grade. Year students participate in a mid-year orientation, and all students will participate in a three-day re-entry orientation to reflect on their experiences and prepare for reverse culture shock.
Uruguayan schools rarely offer extracurricular activities. However, YFU students are encouraged to get involved in their communities by joining local clubs, teams, art institutes, and other activities in their towns.
Year program students will also usually have the option of participating in a number of educational trips and excursions during their stay at an additional cost. More information about all of these optional cultural expeditions will be offered at the arrival orientation in Uruguay.
December: A 6-day YFU summer camp in La Paloma, visiting seaside nature resorts, touring a castle and lighthouse, and enjoying the spectacular beaches.
May: A 5-day trip to Colonia and Buenos Aires, with guided city tours, museum visits, and historical sightseeing. Take a ferry between the two cities and stay in a hotel.
- 2026 Fall Departure: Students born March 30, 2008 – July 30, 2011.
- 2026 Spring Departure: Students born December 30, 2007 – December 30, 2010.
- Students who do not meet the age requirements or will graduate from high school before the start of their program will be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis.
Spanish. Previous language study is not required. All students will attend an intensive 2-week language course after arrival in Montevideo. With 80 hours of language training, this is especially helpful for students with no prior knowledge of Spanish. All students will take a Spanish as a Second Language course, consisting of up to 40 hours of lessons throughout the exchange experience, included in the program tuition. Students will be placed at an appropriate level based on a language test before arrival. At the end of the program, students can take a final exam in Spanish designed by a certified language academy.
Exchange students may be placed throughout Uruguay in small cities, medium-sized cities, and the countryside, with occasional placements in metropolitan areas. Family life is very important in Uruguay!
