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Study Abroad

Our courses take a community-based approach, developing collaborative projects that provide learning opportunities

Getting Started

Quick overview of courses, length, number of credits, and relevant information before you enroll

Explore Courses

Search the courses offered at Las Nubes EcoCampus

Registration & Enrollment

Step-by-step information, including eligibility, saving your spot, financial information, and more

Pre-Departure Planning

Trip preparation, mandatory, and course orientation sessions

While in Costa Rica

Health and safety, intercultural communications, and sharing your experience

Information for Faculty

Information about the process, timelines, and responsibilities for York University professors.

The Study Abroad Program at Las Nubes EcoCampus offers several courses during the academic year, through which students are given an unprecedented opportunity to interact with and learn from the local rural Costa Rican communities through first-hand lessons on tropical ecology, sustainability, indigenous education, arts, health, and conservation.

The emphasis of our programs is on experiential education, building on our long-standing relationships with diverse communities and groups in Southern Costa Rica, including women’s organizations, agricultural cooperatives and producers, environmental protection and social justice groups, and indigenous communities, among others.

Getting Started

Overview

Our courses have no prerequisites and are open to all York University undergraduate (3rd and 4th year) and graduate students. Students can enroll in the courses as elective credits. If you would like these courses to count towards major degree requirements, you must contact your faculty’s/department’s program director and/or academic advisor.

Duration: 10 days for Summer courses, 9 days for Winter courses
Number of Credits: 3
Course Activities: Lectures, guest speakers, hikes, visits to sites and communities, conversations with local stakeholders, and hands-on projects with local organizations.
Room and board: Accommodations are a combination of homestays and hotels depending on the course. Local Costa Rican food will be provided taking into account dietary restrictions and/or preferences.

BEFORE YOU ENROLL
Our courses are intensive as well as physically and emotionally demanding. It is important that you consider these factors before enrolling in any of the courses. You also need to take into consideration all the health and safety risk factors listed on the Government of Canada’s website (Costa Rica Profile). You will need to acknowledge some of these factors on the Risk Assessment forms. If you have questions or concerns regarding accommodations and/or disabilities before enrolling in any of the courses, you should consult with the Department of Student Counselling, Health and Well-being

Explore Courses

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Global Eco-Arts Residency

SU2024

Nature, Neoliberalism, Political Ecology: The Politics of Water in Costa Rica and Latin America (GEOG 4050)

SU 2024

Environmental Psychology (HH/PSYC 3450)

RW2024

Narratives in/of Costa Rica. Individuals, Communities and their Voices (GL/SP/COMS 4608)

SU2024

Educating for a Sustainable Future (EDST/EDUC 3700, EDUC 5445)

SU2024

Conservation and Development for Social-Environmental Sustainability and Wellbeing (ENVS 4810A)

SU2024

Extraction and its Discontents

Promoting Global Health

Community Psychology

Independent Field Work: Social Determinants of Health in Costa Rica (IHST 4000)

Fundamentals of Ecological Engineering (CIVL 4045)

Environmental Law and Justice (ENVS 4421/5061)

Food, Land and Culture (ENVS 5011)

Globalization and Indigenous Peoples (ENVS4215)

Advanced Topics in Environment and Health: Ecosystem Approaches in the Field (ENVS4800A)

Environmental Arts and Food Sovereignty in Costa Rica (ENVS 4810B)

Natural History: Environmental Education in Costa Rica (ENVS 4120)

Protected Area Management in Costa Rica (ENVS 4446)

Registration Information

To enroll in our courses, you need to complete the following steps. This information applies to York University students. Students from other universities check the section for Visiting Students.

Step 1: Check your eligibility & attend an information session

STUDENT ELIGIBITY IS BASED ON THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:

  • Good academic standing
  • Cannot be on any academic warning or probation
  • A minimum of 60 credits completed by either the end of Fall term for the February Reading Week course or by end of Winter for the Summer courses (only applies to undergraduate students)
  • A cumulative GPA of 4.00 for Bachelor’s degree students and a cumulative GPA of 5.00 for Honours’ degree students
Check your eligibility

Based on an evaluation of your academic records, a recommendation for admission into the Study Abroad program will be determined by the Office of Student Academic Services. You will be notified by email of this decision. Non-York Students, please follow this link

WE HOLD SEVERAL INFORMATION SESSIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

All students are welcome to attend. At the session, we will present an overview of our EcoCampus in Costa Rica and the courses, and you will have the opportunity to meet some of your instructors (listed below) and ask them course-related questions. We will also discuss costs and requirements.

Attending an information session for each program is recommended but not mandatory. Not attending a session is not an excuse for missed deadlines and/or requirements.

DATE TIME LOCATION PROFESSOR
Reading WeekWed, Nov. 22, 2023 11 AMZoom, RegisterAdrienne Perry
Summer AbroadThu, Nov. 16, 202311 AMW255, Schulich | Register
Tue, Nov. 28, 2023 12:30 PMZoom, RegisterLaura Levin & Brandon Vickerd
Thu, Jan. 18, 202411 AMZoom, RegisterMaria Constanza Guzman
Wed, Jan 24, 20243 PMGlendon Maria Constanza Guzman

Step 2: Enrollment Process

You can enroll in one course or in as many courses as your program allows. The cost to participate in any course includes:

York Tuition

Amount varies, whether you are an undergraduate or graduate student, domestic or international student (refer to the Student Financial Services website for more information)



+

Program Fee

To cover all in-country transportation, room and board, as well as park entrance fees that are part of course programs. Accommodations include a mix of homestays with local families, lodges and hotels



+

Flight Fare & Travel Insurance*

York International (YI) provides an award to all participating York students to help cover fare costs. All participants are required to have travel insurance. Students must register directly with GuardMe

The program fees for 2024 are as follows (in Canadian dollars):

Number of Courses Number of Credits Program Fee (CAN$)
13$1,300
26$2,400
39$3,300
412$4,200
515$5,000
618$5,700

York University does not make flight or travel insurance arrangements for students. For each course, you will be given specific information as to when to arrive and where will you be picked up and dropped off. Any activities or plans made outside our course program are the student’s responsibility.

A $200 non-refundable deposit per course must be submitted by the deadlines listed below. All courses are capped, and spots are considered on a first-come first-serve basis.

Note that you won’t be able to pay the deposit unless we have checked your eligibility!

  • On the eligibility email that we will send to you, you will receive the instructions to pay for the deposit ($200 per course, non-refundable)
Reading WeekDecember 11, 2023
Summer AbroadMarch 1, 2024

Enroll in the course(s) through the REM system. Enrollment in these courses is restricted. Note that you will not be able to enroll in any course unless you have been approved to participate and have paid the deposit. Summer registration starts at the beginning of March each year, you will not be able to add any Summer course before that time.

If you are a graduate student and your course is not listed as a graduate course, you are required to submit a request to enroll in an undergraduate course. Fill out this form, submit it to your program director and copy us on your submission.

Note: If you have already enrolled in any of the Study Abroad courses in Costa Rica, you are not permitted to re-enrol in the same course. If you do, the Repeated Course Policy will be implemented. For more information on Repeated courses please visit https://myacademicrecord.students.yorku.ca/course-repeat

These are the courses offered in 2024:

The remainder of the program fee must be paid by:

Reading WeekJanuary 19, 2024
Summer AbroadApril 1, 2024

To calculate the remainder owed, you need to deduct the deposit from the initial program fee.

Dropping Courses: We take your deposit as a commitment to your participation. If you withdraw from the course(s) after paying the remainder of the program fee, the activities and items for which we have pre-paid on your behalf and counting on your participation will be deducted from the program fee

Selected faculties and departments at York University have created bursaries and awards to support student participation in international experiences. Note that your application to these bursaries and awards is contingent to your enrollment in the Las Nubes Study Abroad courses and applications will be processed only after the mandatory sessions.

Las Nubes Study Abroad Fund (LNSAF)

This is fee subsidy provided to students who participate in the courses offered by Las Nubes at the Las Nubes EcoCampus.

Eligibility Criteria: All York University students participating in the Las Nubes Study Abroad programs are eligible to receive the LNSAF. The amount of LNSAF funding is based on: 

  1. Financial need (students with financial needs will be given higher consideration) 
  2. Good academic standing (B+ or higher) 
  3. Number of courses registered for at Las Nubes 
  4. External funding or other awards applied for/received 
    There are two categories:
    • Category 1: Full one-course subsidy ($1,300 each, 4 per year)
    • Category 2: Offered to support students enrolled in one or more courses.

No application is needed. However, you need to complete the Office of Student and Financial Services' Student Financial Profile (SFP). On the SFP website, please select APPLY NOW to complete your submission. Complete the Office of Student and Financial Services' Student Financial Profile (SFP). On the SFP website, please select APPLY NOW to complete your submission.

York International Mobility Award (YIMA)

York International provides all degree-seeking York University students a travel subsidy to support their participation in global learning opportunities (no application needed).

Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, Study Abroad Fund

For LA&PS students who want to study or participate in academic international activities abroad as part of their degree but need financial assistance. The application is available through the Go Abroad website

Glendon, Experiential Education Fund

For Glendon students enrolled in the GL/SP/COMS4608 course. The application is available through the Experiential Education website

Step 3: Prepare and pack for your Trip

You must attend this session, as we will discuss logistical travel details and give specific instructions for your trip.

Reading WeekJanuary 12, 202410 AM - 12 PM
Summer AbroadApril 5, 202410 AM - 12 PM
You can also read the Summer Abroad Student Manual (2019) prepared by Las Nubes Alumni, Christina Nardini, to get a student’s perspective of the overall experience at Las Nubes. Photo credits: Helen Davidko & Fatima Ali

With the information provided by the Safety Abroad Manager from York International and once you have gathered all your travel details (flight info, itinerary, travel insurance information, etc.), complete Travel Registry and Informed Consent Form. This is a mandatory step and needs to be completed by:

Summer AbroadApril 10, 2024

Some professors hold mandatory orientation sessions, where course details, expectations, assignments, and preparation materials are discussed and handled. If your schedule conflicts with these sessions, make sure to inform your professor ahead of time, so alternate arrangements can be made.

HH/PSYC 3450January 26, 202410 AM
PANF 3030/5030TBCTBC
GL/SP/COMS 4608TBCTBC
GEOG4050TBCTBC
ENVS 4810A/5081TBCTBC

Important Information

Students who require accommodations need to meet with their advisors beforehand and provide their professors with letters of accommodations at the course orientation sessions. Accessibility may be limited in certain areas in Costa Rica and we cannot guarantee that we will be able to meet all your accommodation needs. Should you have any questions or concerns before you enroll in any of the courses, you should schedule an appointment with the Department of Student Accessibility Services at York University

Our courses are intensive as well as PHYSICALLY and EMOTIONALLY demanding. It is important that you consider these factors before enrolling in any of the courses. You also need to take into consideration all the health and safety risk factors listed on the Government of Canada’s website (Costa Rica Profile). You will need to acknowledge some of these factors on the Risk Assessment forms.

We have also put in place a Health & Safety Plan. Participants will receive instructions regarding protocols at the mandatory session.

Canadian citizens do not require a visa to enter Costa Rica. Refer to Costa Rica's Embassy in Canada for requirements for citizens of other countries. If you are travelling to Costa Rica via a third country, make sure to verify whether you need a 'transit visa' or not.

We take your deposit as a commitment to your participation. If you withdraw from the course(s) after paying the remainder of the program fee, the activities and items for which we have pre-paid on your behalf and counting on your participation will be deducted from the program fee.

Students are required to have the travel insurance approved by York University. Students must register directly with GuardMe

Visiting Students

If you want to participate in one or more of our courses and you are not currently registered at York University, you must complete the registration process described below, which varies depending on whether you are an undergraduate student, a graduate student, an exchange student, or if you want to enroll for professional development/personal reasons and are not seeking to complete a degree.

Before you start with this process, we recommend that you attend one of our information sessions (Step 1, above). At the session, we can answer your questions regarding programs and course content. This process, as well as collecting all required documentation may take several weeks, so we recommend that you start early.

Registration Information

Request a Letter of Permission (LOP) from your home institution

Consult with your program director, advisor, or Chair to confirm that you are allowed to take courses outside your program/degree. If you are allowed, then you need to request a Letter of Permission (LOP) from your program containing the following information:

  • Student information: Student number, complete name, institutional email address, faculty, major/degree program(s).
  • Unambiguous statement of student’s level (if undergraduate, that you currently are in your 3rd or 4th year).
  • The maximum number of credits and the Las Nubes Study Abroad course(s) names/codes the student is allowed to enroll at York University (check the list of courses above under Step 2).
  • Contact information of the person in charge of approving the LOP.

Note: If English is not the official language of the student’s home institution, a letter issued by the international office at their home institution verifying your English proficiency must be submitted in addition to the LOP. Students can check York University’s language proficiency requirements here.

The LOP must be submitted to lasnubes@yorku.ca by:

DEADLINE DATE
Summer AbroadMarch 1, 2024
Submit Admissions Form

Only after having submitted your LOP to us, please complete the Visiting Students Admissions Form

Be officially admitted to York and Enrollment Process

Once you have been admitted to York, you will receive a YorkU student number. From this point forward, you can continue with Step 2 of the process.

Financial Information

The cost to participate in any course includes:

  • York University Tuition: The amount varies, whether you are an undergraduate or graduate student and a domestic or international student
  • Program Fee: Listed below, includes all in-country transportation, room, and board, as well as park entrance fees that are part of course programs. Accommodations include a mix of homestays with local families, lodges, and hotels.
  • Travel Insurance: All participants are required to have travel insurance. Students must register directly with GuardMe through York International’s website

You can enroll in one course or in as many courses as your program allows. The program fees for 2024 are as follows (in Canadian dollars):

Number of coursesHUC, CALAREO and York Exchange Partners (CAN$)Other Institutions (CAN$)
1$1,300$1,450
2$2,400$2,750
3$3,300$3,750
4$4,200$4,600
5$5,000$5,500
6$5,700$6,300

York University does not make flight or travel insurance arrangements for students. For each course, you will be given specific information as to when to arrive and where you will be picked up and dropped off. Any activities or plans outside our course program are the student’s responsibility.