Home to such academics, artists, and revolutionaries as Jorge Luis Borges, Che Guevara, the famous Evita, and even the Pope, it should come as no surprise that Argentina has some buenisimo universities and colleges for international students.
Ready to see some of the best views yet? Study abroad in Argentina for priceless experiences. ??✨
With such a large country and seriously so many choices, where do you begin? Cue gaucho-riding-in-to-save-the-day music, because that’s where we come in! Study Abroad—Argentina is a natural choice. Grab those tango shoes, we’re about to break down the top five Argentina colleges to have you studying abroad in Argentina in no time!
The best Argentina colleges for international students
Time to get down to brass tacks and pick a university in Argentina! Below are our top five Argentina colleges to get you started:
1. Universidad de Buenos Aires
One of the top universities in Argentina, the Universidad de Buenos Aires is one of the best places to study in Argentina. It is the largest university in the country with over 300,000 undergraduate students and the second largest in all of Latin America. With this magnitude of a student body, you are sure to find exactly what you need here!
- Pros: Did we mention that access to this university is free, even for foreigners? Talk about a huge pro. Obviously if you enroll through a program then you will have to pay the program fees, but students who matriculate directly typically do not have to cough up much. ¡Que bueno!
- Cons: There is no central campus for the city’s main university due to the sheer size of it. All of the colleges and institutions are spread out around the city, so you could be taking classes in a different barrio, or neighborhood, than your friends who are majoring in something else. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as it will force you to branch out!
Recommended study abroad programs at Universidad de Buenos Aires:
2. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba
Why study abroad in Argentina anywhere but the education capital? Córdoba, the second largest city in the country, is home to six different universities and several postsecondary colleges, and has been appropriately nicknamed La Docta, or “The Wise”.
- Pros: Universidad Nacional de Córdoba is the oldest university in Argentina, dating back to 1613, and it is also the second largest university in the country. Why study anywhere else when you can enroll in such a historic and thriving university in Argentina?
- Cons: This university is seriously enormous. With over 105,000 undergraduate students alone, the university and campus are hopping. This is great for a student who wants to have their hands in a little of everything, but if you’re looking for a more intimate educational setting, being surrounded by this many students might be overwhelming.
Recommended study abroad programs at Universidad Nacional de Córdoba:
You’ll be fallin’ for the views at Iguazu falls ?
3. Universidad de Belgrano
Known for its connection with almost every program provider in Argentina, enrolling at the Universidad de Belgrano is one of the best ways to study in Argentina for international students. Sizable but still close-knit, this college in the heart of Buenos Aires has something for everyone.
- Pros: There are tons of providers that send international students here, so you are sure to connect with fellow students from all over the world. You could have a grammar class with only students from Italy and then an hour later have a tango class with students from China and Costa Rica. Lots of new friends to make!
- Cons: If you’re hoping for an actual college campus, this isn’t it. The campus is really just one skyscraper in the middle of the city, but its location is ideal for students. The barrio of Belgrano is one of the safer residential regions of Buenos Aires, and it offers tons of inexpensive food options and parks for relaxing in between classes. Definitely makes up for the lack of a real campus!
Recommended study abroad programs at Universidad de Belgrano:
4. Universidad de Congreso
One of the top universities in the Andes-surrounded city of Mendoza, anyone who comes to this region is sure to fall in love. After all, how can you beat learning how to speak Spanish with world-class vineyards and larger-than-life mountains at your fingertips?
- Pros: Located in the heart of downtown Mendoza, it’s hard to beat this spot. Students will have access to just about everything, from quaint bookshops to sprawling parks to hopping restaurants.
- Cons: Universidad de Congreso has a very strong social sciences reputation, which is super handy if you’re pursuing a related field. Those who are pursuing more specialized fields may find a better fit at a larger university, so be sure to choose carefully based on your academic needs!
Recommended study abroad programs at Universidad de Congreso:
5. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina
Known really just as the Universidad Católica Argentina, this university is considered to be one of the best private universities in all of Latin America. With 15 different colleges and institutions spread out between campuses in Buenos Aires, Mendoza, Santa Fe, Rosario, Parana, and Pergamino, this Catholic school’s got it going on.
- Pros: The main campus is located in the super hip neighborhood of Puerto Madero in Buenos Aires, the financial center of the city. Everything in this neighborhood oozes trendiness, so any young person is sure to absolutely love studying here.
- Cons: Don’t let the name deter you, you don’t need to be Catholic to study here! However, do recognize before enrolling that you will be attending a religiously-affiliated private school, so there will be a different vibe than say a public and non-affiliated school like the Universidad de Buenos Aires.
Recommended study abroad programs at Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina:
[Compare Argentina colleges & study abroad programs side-by-side]
Studying in Argentina will have you feelin’ high in the sky (both physically AND mentally) ???
Other things to know before you study abroad in Argentina
Here are a few important things to consider before you book your tickets south:
Argentina is not Mexico
This seems like a no-brainer but we have to comment on it. Most people love to group all of Latin America together into one giant salsa-eating, sombrero-wearing, tequila-drinking culture. We’re here to tell you that IT’S NOT. Like seriously people, look at a map! Argentina is as far from Mexico as Morocco is. Good luck finding salsa all the way down here.
[COOL PROGRAM ALERT: Teen Study Abroad Opportunities through SOL Abroad]
If you’re considering studying abroad in Argentina, be aware of what you’re really considering. Argentine food is more Italian than anything, and wine will win any day over tequila. You’re more likely to be surrounded by tango clubs than anything else, and having a stranger approach you to share a sip of mate tea is not uncommon. Do your research before enrolling in a program here to be sure that you’re really on board with Argentine culture rather than just the idea of Argentine culture!
There are benefits of studying abroad through a program
While we aren’t advocating for signing up for a program with only people like you and avoiding matriculating into a university, you should be aware of why so many students use a program. Most study abroad programs in Argentina provide things like visa assistance (for students staying longer than 90 days), and this seriously cannot be overstated. Unlike most countries, getting a student visa is something you have to do once you’re already living in Argentina, and working through the consulates and visa offices can be challenging to say the least.
Having a perk like visa assistance alone is something that’s worth enrolling in a program for. Beyond that, most programs also provide housing assistance and take their jobs of finding reputable host families very seriously. While Argentina is beautiful, there are definitely some areas to avoid in terms of crime, and program providers are excellent at giving their students safe and unique regions to live in. All this is not to say that enrolling in a program is always the best route, but the benefits of being part of a program are definitely something to consider.
[MORE: How to choose the right study abroad programs for you]
Taste some of the best steak in the world (and maybe pair it with a glass of their homegrown wine) ?
You should start brushing up on your Spanish now
Argentina is famous for its very unique dialect of Spanish. Castellano, or castilian, is a dialect coming from Castile, Spain that the settlers brought with them all those years ago. Even if you studied the use of voseo in your Spanish classes, the Argentine castellano accent is sure to make it impossible to understand at first. Pronounced more like Italian than anything, expect to be very confused for your first few weeks in Argentina. Don’t fret, though...once you learn this challenging dialect, all other forms of Spanish will seem very easy!
Prepare to eat a lot of meat
Locals in Argentina love meat even more than they love dulce de leche, which is seriously saying something. Vegetarian options have started popping up in larger cities, but you’ll be hard pressed to find vegetarians outside of metropolitan areas. There is no larger staple of Argentine culture than an asado, or open-fire barbecue with tons of different meats, and steak is a must-have on a regular basis. This isn’t to say that vegetarians won’t survive here, but be aware that you might have to eat more cheese empanadas than anything else (which we swear is not a bad thing).
Choose your region carefully
Argentina is huge. With so much land, you should expect that there are a lot of differences from place to place. From the overwhelmingly bustling Buenos Aires in the east and Andes-surrounded vineyards in the west, to the tropical rainforests in the north and the larger-than-life glaciers in the south, Argentina seriously has everything. Because it stretches across so much, you could be in total summer for the entire year or you could be in total winter for the entire year. Do. Your. Research.
Beyond climate choices, you also need to seriously consider the type of environment you want to be in. Just like there’s a huge difference between Miami and Denver, there is a huge difference between Buenos Aires and...well...everywhere. You need to really weigh if being in a greater cosmopolitan region of 13 million people is best for you, or if you would prefer to be surrounded by natural beauty and immersed in the indigenous culture more.
[MORE: Argentina on top list of places to study in the Americas in 2018]
Waddle away to visit some of the “locals” during one of your excursions! ?
Stay longer
We’ll shout it louder for the folks in the back: Argentina is huge. We promise that no amount of time spent in this beautiful country will be enough. Each area of Argentina is completely different from its neighbor, so no matter how much of the country you see, there will always be more. If you’re enrolling in just a summer or semester here, be sure to have a few extra weeks after classes end when you can stay longer if you want.
Beyond the fact that there is so much to see here, just the logistics of getting around are another reason to extend your stay. Because the country is so big, it’s not always easy to get from place to place, and flights are notoriously expensive here. Overnight buses rule the Argentine budget transportation world, which is great except for the fact that getting from one end of the country to the other can take days. If you’re trying to get from Buenos Aires to Patagonia on a budget, it won’t be for a weekend trip!
It’s inexpensive
If you’re studying abroad on a budget, head to Argentina! Even in the upscale parts of Buenos Aires (notoriously the most expensive areas of the country), the cost of living is still very affordable. Anyone comparing study abroad program costs will notice that tuition prices are quite low, and the most expensive part of coming to study in Argentina for international students will probably be your plane tickets to get here. It’s totally possible to have an awesome life on a student budget in Argentina.
[MORE: How to pay for studying abroad]
Live the way Argentinians do: "En unión y libertad" (In Unity and Freedom). ??
Argentina is recovering
Did you know that Argentina had a massive civil war just 40 years ago? The 1970s-80s were a rough time in Argentina, with the government being overthrown and run by basically dictators. Hundreds of thousands of desaparecidos, or “disappeared”, were captured by the regime and never seen again. While Argentina is relatively stable now, a huge part of the population is living today without spouses, children, and friends that were killed by the government. Being immersed in a culture that’s recovering from some serious heartache is something that you just can’t learn about in a classroom.
Argentina is truly the best of all worlds
From exciting cities filled with people from all walks of life to unparalleled natural beauty spread out between rainforests, ranches, glaciers, and beaches, Argentina seriously has it all. Beyond the geographic diversity, Argentina has the best of both worlds when it comes to culture as well. This large country is home to a deeply-rooted latin and indigenous culture mixed with European architecture and food, especially in Buenos Aires. After all, it’s not called the “Paris of the South” for nothing!
Study in Argentina—the sooner the better
Studying abroad in a place like Argentina will absolutely open your eyes to some of the most amazing wonders of the world, as well as some deep challenges. You will be tested every day while studying here, but the rewards you’ll get are so worth it. Don’t cry for me Argentina, the truth is you’ll never leave. Study in Argentina ahora!
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