Your connection with Latin America
The HSG Latam Term is the international opportunity for Bachelor’s students to experience and gain knowledge in Latin America. Taking place in the spring semester, the programme is open to all undergraduates interested in Latin American cultural, economic and political landscapes and in the challenges and opportunities of emerging markets.
Developed in collaboration between the Institute of Management in Latin America (GIMLA) and the Fundação Getúlio Vargas, one of the best thinktanks in the world, the programme takes place at FGV’s School of Business Administration in São Paulo. Combining academic excellence with real-world impact, the curriculum offers core courses and many electives to meet personal interests and drive career ambitions. Courses and extracurricular activities are co-developed with partners from the private sector, government institutions and international organisations. Latam Term students enhance their intercultural skills through personal inter-action with FGV students from all over the world. Extracurricular activities include network-ing events, volunteering, internships, consultancy projects and study trips to neighbouring countries. Living in São Paulo, students experience a vibrant, culturally diverse and metro-politan lifestyle.
Term Perks
Reason #1: You have the opportunity to study at one of the world’s best think tanks
The Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV) is a Brazilian think tank and higher education institution founded in 1944, dedicated to promoting Brazil’s economic and social development. At present,FGV is considered the best-managed think tank in the world, the top-ranked in Latin America and the 3rd best in the world (The Global Go To Think Tank Index Report issued by the University of Pennsylvania 2020).
Reason #2: You can have a true Latin American experience
São Paulo is a hub and a doorway for travellers to Latin America. The City (Congonhas) and International (Guarulhos) airports have frequent and rather affordable flights to all Brazilian and Latin American capital cities and many more points of interest. In Brazil, you may also travel by car or by interstate bus. Brazil has amazing natural wonders such as forests, mountains, plateaus, or beaches, and is home to many natural and cultural heritage sites (23 with UNESCO world heritage status). The latest addition is the mixed culture and biodiversity site of Paraty and Ilha Grande, just a few hours by car from São Paulo.
Reason #3: You are supported by a local team
Our institute has a local presence in Sao Paulo and our dedicated team will help you to maximize your term experience. The city, country, and Latin American region have
much to offer in terms of destinations, experiences, and opportunities and we will assist you whenever possible.
much to offer in terms of destinations, experiences, and opportunities and we will assist you whenever possible.
Reason #4: You receive a unique cultural exchange experience in a dynamic city
São Paulo is one of the most diverse cities in the world. It hosts the largest diasporas of Japanese, Italian and Lebanese people whose traditions influence the characteristics of several neighbourhoods such as Bixiga for the Italians and Liberdade for the Japanese. There are a plethora of things to do, which should not come as a surprise given that the city has 1.5 times the population of Switzerland. Cultural highlights include the MASP, the Beco do Batman and the Ibirapuera Park with numerous free attractions.
Reason #5: You can stay a full year abroad by combining exchange semesters
A term is a unique exchange experience that can easily be combined with a second semester abroad. Latam Term students can apply for an exchange semester, the Asia Term, or organize by themselves a freemover exchange semester in the Fall semester preceeding the Latam Term. Detailed Information about the application process can be found on the HSG Mobility website.
Reason #6: You can obtain an international work experience
São Paulo has a very active entrepreneurial environment (3 times more businesses than in Switzerland) that also reflects high dynamism in the start-up and innovation scene. Several Swiss institutions (Swisscam, Swiss Business Hub, Swissnex) are engaged in tapping into these market opportunities and our institute is actively supporting such intersectoral knowledge transfer, inserting the Latam Term as part of this environment.
We encourage Latam Term students to add an internship experience to their exchange and facilitate the entire process, from identifying suitable organizations to the signing of the contract.
We encourage Latam Term students to add an internship experience to their exchange and facilitate the entire process, from identifying suitable organizations to the signing of the contract.
Reason #7: You do not have to worry about the crediting process
An additional advantage of the Latam Term is that the courses embedded in the partner university pass a streamlined crediting process at the HSG ensured and assisted by our institute, guaranteeing that students pursue their academic lives with a minimum of bureaucracy.
Our course crediting transfer list is based on previous student choices. It gives you precise information on what kind of credits (compulsory, core-elective, elective, area of concentration, skills, etc.) you obtain for which kind of course. The list shows this information for each study direction (BBW, BVWL, BIA, BLE, BLaw) and is growing between terms, currently, we have more than 43 pre-approved courses.
Our course crediting transfer list is based on previous student choices. It gives you precise information on what kind of credits (compulsory, core-elective, elective, area of concentration, skills, etc.) you obtain for which kind of course. The list shows this information for each study direction (BBW, BVWL, BIA, BLE, BLaw) and is growing between terms, currently, we have more than 43 pre-approved courses.
Reason #8: You can strengthen your CV by various extra-curricular activities
Our institute is well-embedded in the Swiss ecosystem and Latam Term students benefit from such close ties. The Swiss consulate, swissnex, and the Swiss Business Hub are regularly organizing events that might be of interest. Furthermore, the HSG Alumni Club in Brazil is an active network of former HSG students who have chosen the region to become self-starter entrepreneurs or to local-ly represent some of the most established businesses from Europe. We organize social gatherings to bring term students in contact with the Alumni club, to learn from their experience and eventually connect the dots for our mentorship and internship program.
Reason #9: You will become a change maker and have a certificate to proof it
The Latam Term is much more than an exchange program. It is designed to promote cooperation between excellence in education and the capacity to produce real-world impact. Consulting and volunteering activities are built-in into the programme. The semi-structured curriculum of the Term is the perfect balance between core courses and the freedom to choose from a variety of elective topics that connects you to your inner drives and career ambitions.
FGV and HSG have a lot of commonalities in the way they approach education and research. Our institute is here to make sure you get the most out of both worlds. Students who successfully complete the Term will receive a certificate jointly signed by the partner university.
Go beyond! Become a change maker.
FGV and HSG have a lot of commonalities in the way they approach education and research. Our institute is here to make sure you get the most out of both worlds. Students who successfully complete the Term will receive a certificate jointly signed by the partner university.
Go beyond! Become a change maker.
Reason #10: You become part of a growing network of like-minded people
Each term student becomes part of a supportive network of like-minded people. We have created a social media group and will invite former term students to regular meetings in St.Gallen. In 2 years we tripled our social media followers and hope to stay in touch with you well beyond your exchange semester.
Since 2021, our partner university is also sending their students for the St.Gallen Connection to the HSG, which is the pendant to the Latam Term. You will be the first Latam Term students who can benefit from structural exchange with FGV students. In the Fall semester preceding your exchange to Brazil, you will meet St.Gallen Connection students (if you are at the HSG), and the same students will be with you in Sao Paulo.
Since 2021, our partner university is also sending their students for the St.Gallen Connection to the HSG, which is the pendant to the Latam Term. You will be the first Latam Term students who can benefit from structural exchange with FGV students. In the Fall semester preceding your exchange to Brazil, you will meet St.Gallen Connection students (if you are at the HSG), and the same students will be with you in Sao Paulo.
Latam Term Testimonials
Latam Term Video Statements
Pleun Vaartjes, BA and Latam Term 21 student
Boris Zgraggen, BBA and Latam Term 21 student
Tim Voser, BLE and Latam Term 21 student
Marco Stopper, BE and Latam Term 21 student
Maxime Besnard, BBA and Latam Term 21 student
Anastasia Dunand, BBA and Latam Term 21 student
Latam Term Credit Transfer List
The current credit transfer list of courses taken so far at the FGV - EAESP. Future students can request new courses to be added to the list.
Latam Term Brochure
This is the 2023 version of the Latam Term Brochure. An actualized version will be uploaded by end of September 2023.
