Universidad Marista de Mérida Exchange Program

This exchange program offers students full Spanish immersion with the Universidad Marista de Mérida Exchange Program, based in Mérida, Mexico. Study directly alongside your peers at a small, private institution keeping with the Marist educational tradition.

Program Location

Mérida is in the former heartland of the Mayans, and continues to celebrate the cultural heritage. The city has a population of almost one million inhabitants, and remains ranked as top five in quality of life of all Mexican cities. Mérida is a thirty-minute drive to the beach of Progreso, a 3-hour drive from Cancun, and a 2-hour plane ride from Miami.

Institution

The Marist University of Mérida (Universidad Marista de Mérida, or ‘UMM’) is a private Catholic university founded in 1996. While UMM started with 142 students and 30 faculty members, it has grown to host over 2,500 students and more than 400 faculty members. UMM’s mission is the academic, human, and spiritual development of students through education, research, community service and development. In line with the Marist tradition, UMM follows a model of ‘live to learn,’ and incorporates the four pillars of learning: learning to do, learning to live together, learning to know, and learning to be.

 

Academics

Students enrolling with the Marist College – Universidad Marista de Mérida exchange will enroll right alongside their host university peers. The exchange works in both directions, meaning students from Mérida will join their peers at Marist as well. As part of the exchange, all academic tracks are open to exchange students. For Marist students at Mérida, this means access to courses from any of the fifteen licenciaturas offered by UMM, click here to find the listing.

Courses at UMM are offered entirely in Spanish, though students are able to take a pre-semester Spanish language course, and a Spanish language course during the semester.

Over 80% of professors are working professionals, meaning courses seek to combine theory with experience. Additionally, the school’s size permits a favorable level of personalized attention to students’ success. Students can search through program tracks and courses offered by searching the departments by clicking here. 

Student Life & Co-curricular

UMM has an extensive number of events and activities on campus: music, sports, cultural events, workshops, lectures, and activities within the language center. In addition to on-campus sport, the city of Mérida also keeps a calendar of activities, which you can view by clicking here. 

Housing

Given the nature of the exchange, students arrange their own housing for their semester with UMM. Students have the choice to live in a few different types of housing:

• House or apartment for an individual
• Shared house or apartment
• Host family

Each has benefits and challenges and students should examine their objectives for their study abroad semester when considering which type of housing to pursue. UMM remains at students disposal to assist students in their selection.

Admission Criteria

• Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA at the time of application
• Completion of four (4) semesters College-level Spanish (or equivalent) at time of study
• Sophomore standing or higher at the time of study abroad
• Academic Advisor approval of program and coursework

How to Apply

Enrollment is limited, and applicants are encouraged to apply early. Click here for more information on the Marist Abroad application process. Marist students must complete the Marist Abroad application and be accepted before applying to the overseas program.

Additional Information

If you have any additional questions about the program contact the Program Coordinator at caitlin.paul@marist.edu. 

Please click here for additional information on the program.