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ITAM Mexico City
Application deadlines: To study in the Fall - Mar. 1st, Spring - Oct. 1st & Summer - Feb. 1st
****Please note, you need an active passport in order to apply for this program.
Study Abroad in Mexico City, Mexico
The Fox School of Business & Management and Temple IGMS/CIBER have recently partnered with the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM) to form a student exchange relationship for business majors.
Contact
International Programs, CIBER/IGMS Alter Hall 701
Nicole Riley, Associate Director, (215) 204-3960
Rebecca Geffner, Director, (215) 204-4197
Breanne McCord, Assistant Director, (215) 204-1725
General Information
ITAM was founded in 1946 by the Asociación Mexicana de Cultura under the leadership of the distinguished industrialist, Mr. Raúl Bailleres. ITAM, located near Mexico City , was established to offer students the opportunity to attend a challenging private university dedicated to quality teaching and research in business related disciplines. ITAM is one of the top-ranked schools in Mexico and Latin America , and is one of the only two schools in Mexico accredited by AACSB International. Reforma, one of Mexico’s most prominent newspapers, recently published poll results ranking ITAM number one in Business, Accounting, International Relations, Research, and Prestige. Visit the ITAM website for mor information.
Exchange Program Requirements
Fox School of Business students must meet the following criteria to participate in the exchange: 1) must be enrolled full-time at the time of application; 2) must have completed two years of full-time study or the equivalent; 3) must have a cumulative GPA of 3.00; 4) Temple CIBER will help facilitate Foreign Language Evaluation process to ensure student has sufficient proficiency in the spanish language to be successful in this program.
Tuition
Students are admitted to ITAM as special non-degree candidates and pay full-time FSBM tuition at Temple for the semester they are abroad. Students are required to be enrolled at ITAM as a full-time student.
Language Proficiency
Most classes are given in Spanish with a large number of English texts used. While there is a direct relationship between the level of language ability and the advantages available to the student in Mexico, ITAM has received students with varying degrees of skill in Spanish. All have managed to have very successful experiences at ITAM and in Mexico. Language proficiency will be determined on an individual basis.
Transfer of Credit
Course selection and transfer of credit are to be selected from the pre-approved course equivalency and signed off by Philomena Trinidad, study abroad advisor. You will need to set up an appointment for course selection after you have been admitted into the program at philomena.trinidad@temple.edu
Grades
All classes are graded in whole numbers only, on a ten-point system. Ten is the highest grade and the lowest passing grade is six.
Academic Style
The highly-charged atmosphere at ITAM is electric with the sense of purpose. The school has played an important role in training many of México’s current leaders. Today, the need for more highly-trained professionals has intensified, and the ITAM, aware of this, instills students with the knowledge necessary to carry out structural changes and economic modernization crucial to the country’s future. As a result, ITAM demands academic excellence and, in return, it offers students the most advanced training available in their fields of specialization.
Undergraduate Programs
- Actuarial Science
- Applied Mathematics
- Business Administration
- Economics
- International Relations
- Political Science
- Law
- Accounting & Financial Strategy
- Computer Science
- Telematics Engineering
- Industrial Engineering
Registration and Arrival Dates
Class schedules are generally available about one month before the beginning of classes. Exact registration dates will be included in the student's acceptance letter but normally students must confirm final schedules approximately one week before classes begin. If students cannot arrive on time, they must keep in close contact with the Academic Exchange Office in case there is any problem with class selection or schedules. ITAM will do its best to give preferential enrollment in classes to exchange students. Every effort is made to provide an opportunity for our exchange students to integrate fully with our regular students.
Undergraduate Semester Calendar
Fall Semester runs from early August to late December and the Spring Semester spans from mid-January to the end of May.
Documentation
Students must have a valid passport and Visa for the duration of their study abroad program. Visa’s can be obtained at the Consul of Mexico, 111 S. Independence Mall E., The Bourse Building, Suite 310, Philadelphia, PA, 19106, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday.
Location
ITAM is located on the southwest side of Mexico City, near the National University, San Angel and Pedregal "colonias" or neighborhoods. The undergraduate campus is close to the Televisa San Angel studios, while the landmark closest to the graduate campus is Hospital Angeles. The nearest metro stations are Miguel Angel De Quevedo on Line 3 and Barranca de Muerto on Line 9. Shuttles run from the undergraduate campus to these stations every hour on weekdays when classes are in session.
The Campus
The main campus is a traditional group of buildings in the south of Mexico City, including a newly-built gymnasium, soccer field and industrial engineering laboratories. Three miles further south is the Center for Research and Graduate Studies, a complex of beautiful modern buildings which extend into a courtyard with glass covered arcades. The use of transparent elements in the construction was both physically and symbolically intended to provide "an enlightened fountain of knowledge".
Student Population
ITAM undergraduate enrollment numbers approximately 4200 students, with roughly 1000 in Economics and another 1000 in Business Administration and Accounting. The other 2200 are enrolled in the remaining eight programs. At the graduate level, there are approximately 1000 students, with 500 in the MBA program. University Extension Programs, all of which are graduate level programs, serve another 1000 members of the Mexico City Community at any given time.
Housing
ITAM does not own or operate any type of residence, although both the Academic Exchange Office and the landlords make considerable effort to accommodate exchange students. ITAM will do its best to offer comfortable, secure accommodation within a reasonable distance from the campus as a service to the exchange students, but the arrangement is ultimately made between the student and the landlord. Exchange students can usually share an apartment with other exchange students, either close to campus or the nearest metro station. There are also a number of home stay options with varying degrees of (in)dependence; that is, with ranges of services from all meals and maid service to independent access and no contact with the families.
Housing Costs
Costs vary in accordance with the level of services required for housing and the lifestyle pursued by the student. Mexico is a land of contrasts, particularly in terms of standard of living. At all price ranges, however, students should be prepared to pay two month's rent upon arrival at their chosen accommodation. Here are some figures for housing regularly available:
- One-bedroom apartment, fully furnished, daily maid service, short bus or taxi ride to campus on direct route. US$600 month.
- Two bedroom, 1 bath apartment, fully furnished, maid service and linen change weekly, within walking distance to metro station. US$600 per month.
- Four-bedroom, two bath house, walking distance to undergraduate campus. US$350 per month per person.
- Private room and bath in house or apartment with limited access to kitchen facilities. US$250-300 per month. Most have security at entrance to subdivision.
Currency, Money and Banking
The official currency is the Mexican peso. Since Mexico is so close to the U.S. , many prices tend to stay the same in dollar terms but may fluctuate more if there is devaluation. The easiest way to keep funds in Mexico is with an international credit card affiliated with an ATM network such as Cirrus or Plus. Students should also bring some U.S. dollar-denominated travelers checks with them as a back-up source of funds. U.S. dollar traveler's checks are easily exchanged at banks or exchange houses located all over Mexico City . It is a bit difficult to establish a bank account in Mexico City but not impossible. Citibank, for example, requires the student visa, an initial deposit of 5000 pesos, proof of address in Mexico and proof of an account under the students name in his or her own country (banking reference). The STUDENT VISA IS A MUST for opening a bank account.
Although relative prices fluctuate, in general, Mexico City is less expensive than large cities in Europe and North America . Transportation is relatively inexpensive. A taxi ride to ITAM from the airport is currently around US$30. A metro ticket, which can take you all over the city costs 3 pesos, a first class round-trip bus ticket to Acapulco : 800 pesos. Hotels in beach areas vary greatly but usually some can be obtained for US$75 per night or less. Meals at ITAM can be obtained for US$4.00 at either campus and there are small restaurants in walking distance of both. Mexico City has a good variety of restaurants for most tastes and budgets. In many you can eat well for 60 pesos. The main meal is at midday . Breakfast and suppers are less expensive. (Exchange rate July 2009: $1US = 13.17 Mexican Pesos via www.xe.com)
Student Services
ITAM has some of the most advanced computer equipment in Mexico . It is equipped with specialized facilities for designing econometric models, applied project evaluations and market analyses. The Computer Center often develops its own software to meet internal demand for specific requirements. There is access to more than 500 databases through the Data Consultation Service and ITAM is connected to four Mexican satellite information systems. Computer Rooms with Personal Computers and terminals to ITAM´s mainframes are open to students on both campuses. Faculty and staff are connected to Internet and this service, including access by modem, can also be made available to students. Students have access to large computer centers on both campuses, with the graduate campus housing a specialized finance laboratory.
Supplementary Spanish Language
For the first six weeks of Fall and Spring semesters, ITAM offers a supplementary Spanish language class at no cost for exchange students. Although students are tested for their language ability, the level of the course will correspond to the mean level of the group. Students find the course useful for improving their Spanish language skills and adapting more easily to Mexico.
Library
Libraries are located at both campuses and contain approximately 28,000 volumes, 671 periodicals, 4000 documents and technical reports and changing numbers of CD-ROMS with card catalogue files on areas of ITAM specialization. ITAM students and staff also have access to national, international, and ITAM´s own data banks as well as specialized bibliographic information services.
Books
Bookstores and copy services are located on each campus, with a branch of the American Book Store at the Río Hondo campus. The cost of books published abroad can be slightly higher (10-20%) than those found in US bookstores.
Cafeteria
Each campus has cafeterias for students providing snacks, light lunches and hot, hearty meals. There are also low-priced restaurants, providing a varied selection of menus, within walking distance of both campuses.