Study in Argentina for Free

Public universities offer many benefits for the students who can’t afford the tuition fees, so that they can study in Argentina for free.

With the continuation of the economic crisis, more students search for higher education opportunities, with minimal costs of education and accommodation. More than 90% of the students are enrolled in the universities supported by the government, in which they get free education despite their financial situation and academic achievements.

Public universities in Argentina for international students

The universities in Argentina were founded on the model of the western education. They achieve a recognized advancement nationally as well as internationally regarding the quality of degrees. You can study in Argentina for free in around 39 public universities (national) with no tuition fees, which are being funded by the Ministry of Education.

These higher education institutions register more than 1.5 million students yearly. During the first decade of this century, the number of foreign students admitting to the public and private universities in Argentina has increased significantly.

The largest part of these foreign students study at the University of Buenos Aires. It is a main public university in Argentina and located in the biggest city and capital. It also comes as one of the most important universities in Argentina.

In 2011, the university registered 10,646 international students in the university programs and 2,165 students in the postgraduate study programs.

The students at the university level are concentrated in the medical, business, economy, architecture, design, and law schools. Moreover, the schools that include the largest number of postgraduate foreign students are engineering, architecture, and design schools.

These schools resemble around 40% of the international graduates, while the dentistry and psychology schools take around 25% of the registration.

Private Education in Argentina

The private university sector attracts many international students as well. Around 30% of the students, according to the Dean of the Business Administration College in the University of Palermo.

Although the students in the private universities pay the tuition fees. But usually, the costs of the bachelor programs are less than in their home country.

While the Argentinian students can register in the free universities without any fees, the international students have to expect to pay a small amount of money when registering in the public university in Argentina.  

If you choose to study in these private institutions, find out the types of scholarships you can apply for Argentina

How much does it cost to study in Argentina?

You can study in Argentina for free in the public universities. On the other hand, attending a private university in Argentina may cost between $5,000 and $15,500 per year to earn a university degree, the fees of the bachelor and some postgraduate programs are free.

Moreover, living in Argentina may be less pricey than many other countries.

Check our article to learn more about the cost of studying and living in Argentina.

Registration in University in Argentina

Study in Argentina for Free

The public universities in Argentina are the best in the country, especially that they are free. There are many good private universities as well, although they are not free, they are not pricey by western standards.

You have different options for the university studying in Argentina. There are some programs that are designed for foreign students, especially those who learn Spanish. Private universities, such as Palermo and Belgrano, offer special programs for Spanish learners. These programs are not free, but considerably less than the average of the study programs abroad.

Remember that it is not easy to enroll in any university you want. For example, the University of Buenos Aires is one of the most ancient competitive universities. It’s the case not only in Argentina, but also in Latin America as a whole. So, you have to be a good candidate to attract attention.

Admission Requirements

Some universities are okay with you to study as a foreign student. Others, such as the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) require a student or resident, except for the students holding a tourist visa. Before registration in any place, check with the embassy and school first.

Get more information from our articles about how to enroll in university in Argentina, and how to get a study visa in Argentina.

Of course, it is better to be able to attend a lecture in Spanish (Porteño Spanish), which is the spoken dialect in Buenos Aires.

Learn more from our article about Learning Spanish in Argentina.

The best universities in Argentina to get free education

A country with the highest literacy rates, Argentina’s reputation has attracted many international students. In addition, the tuition-free policy plays a lot to do with it. Here are some of the best universities in Argentina where you can study for free. 

University of Buenos Aires (UBA)

This is one of the favorite universities in Argentina among international students. Proof is that 15% of their graduates every year are foreign students. The institution’s undergraduate programs are free, but they do charge tuition fees for postgraduate programs. 

However, this cost is lower compared to any other countries. The most popular study subject at UBA include Engineering and Architecture and Design for the undergraduate level and Dentistry and Psychology for the graduate programs. 

La Plata National University (UNLP)

This institution is also in the city of Buenos Aires, a national university which ranks among the top 35 universities in Latin America. The best subject areas include Architecture, Arts, Economics, Law, Medical Science, Humanities, Engineering… to name just a few. 

National University of Cuyo

The Universidad Nacional de Cuyo is the largest higher education institution in the province of Mendoza. Its origin dates back to 1939 and offers free education in the fields of Engineering, Physics, Arts and Plastic Design, Economic Sciences, Medicine, Agricultural Sciences and Applied Sciences…

Discover also our ranking of the top universities in Argentina

About Sara

A professional Eng><Ara translator and writer.

2 comments

  1. hello
    I am from republic of Sudan
    I have a question can I enroll and change my visa from tourist visa to a student visa please

    • Hi Rami,
      Once you got accepted by a university, usually it’s not hard to obtain a student visa. I advise you to apply to first to the university and when you got accepted you can raise with them directly the visa topic.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.