Located at the bottom of South America, Argentina is the second largest country on the continent and the eighth largest country in the world. Despite being located in the heart of Latin America, Argentina boasts a distinctly multicultural flare. This is due to its large population of immigrants.
Anyone who chooses to come to Argentina is in for the adventure of a lifetime. Here, you’ll find some of the most breathtaking natural environments in the world in addition to lively and thriving cities. The Argentinian landscape is vast and varied; from the unforgettable vistas of Patagonia to crystalline streams, the highest peaks in South America to dense forests, the environment here is full of natural wonders.
In addition to boasting beautiful landscapes, Argentina also has some incredible cities. The country’s capital, Buenos Aires, is one of the liveliest South American cities and a hotspot for people from all over the world. Here you’ll get the chance to explore humming plazas, learn how to tango, and enjoy some of the most delicious steaks you’ll ever taste in your life.
If you’re looking for a place which is multi-cultural and has a lot to offer Argentina is guaranteed to keep you engaged and entertained. With a country this large and diverse, the only way to truly sink your teeth into all that it has to offer is to stay for an extended period of time. Studying Abroad lets you do just that.
Popular Locations in Argentina
Argentina is a very large country. Unless you’re fluent in Spanish, there are certain regions where you won’t be able to live for practical purposes. That’s why it’s important to choose a city in which English is spoken and well understood.
Buenos Aires
Known as the ‘Paris of South America’, the capital of Argentina is a rich melting pot of cultures, flavors, and traditions. Within a thriving cosmopolitan setting you’ll get to experience the best that Argentina has to offer, from all of the delicious foods and wine, tango clubs, historical buildings, art, language, and so much more.
Cordoba
The second largest city in the country, Cordoba is located within the beautiful rolling hills in the middle of Argentina on the Suquía River. From this central location, you’ll be able to easily explore the rest of Argentina.
Mendoza
Located on the foothills of the Andes, this quaint and charming city is considered one of the most beautiful cities in all of South America. This location is perfect for those students who are interested in pursuing outdoorsy studies.
What to study in Argentina?
Every year, about 90,000 international students come to study in Argentina. This makes it one of the largest destinations in South America for study abroad programs.
Some of the most popular programs and courses offered in Argentina for international students include:
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Spanish - Argentina is one of the largest Spanish speaking countries in the world and is therefore a prime destination for foreign students to learn Spanish. However, in Argentina a unique form of Spanish is spoken which is distinct from that of other Spanish speaking countries. If you’re looking to build up some auténtico Spanish language skills, there’s no better place to do so than Argentina.
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Art History – One of the most immersive places to study a subject like art history, Argentina offers many different options in this field.
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Economics, Business, Finance, or Trade – Argentina has a strong economy and is an economic leader in Latin America. Studying these subjects here will give international students the unique opportunity to see how Latin American players affect the global economy.
All about Argentina
Climate
Argentina is situated in the Southern Hemisphere and therefore has seasons which are reversed from those in the Northern Hemisphere. They are:
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Winter – June through August
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Spring – September through November
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Summer – December through February
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Fall – March through May
Due to Argentina’s large size as well as the variations in altitude, there are many different weather conditions and microclimates in the country.
The northern regions of the country are subtropical and are therefore more hot and humid, and experience greater rainfall. In the central part of the country, the climate is generally pleasant and temperate, but can get very hot in summer and very cold in winter. In the south, you have the sub-Antarctic regions of the Patagonian Sea where it can get quite cold.
Seasonal and day to day variations are very common making Argentina’s weather a little difficult to predict.
Transportation
There are many different modes of transportation in Argentina. What is available to you will depend upon the city you are in. Generally, the following types of transportation can be found in the country:
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Subway – Known as the ‘Subte’, these are most commonly found in bigger cities such as Buenos Aires. Tickets can be purchased at all subway stations
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Buses – Known as ‘micro’ or ‘colectivo’
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Taxis
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Remise – A type of radio taxi that charges a fixed rate according to time and distance
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Cross country buses – An affordable way to travel to different cities, these buses offer great services
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Airline – The two domestic airlines, Aerolíneas Argentinas and Austral, offer high quality and inexpensive flights to a number of destinations in Argentina
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Railway – These operate in many cities and connect distant locales
Food
If you’re a meat-lover, you’ll adore living in Argentina because meat is an integral part of every meal and menu in the country. If you’re a vegetarian, you may have a hard time avoiding all the meat.
While in Argentina, be sure to sample of the many delicious foods that the country has to offer. Just a heads up, when eating out, you’ll be charged a cubierto fee or sit-down fee. Also, be sure to avoid tap water and ice.
Some of the top foods in Argentina include:
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Asado/parrillada – Barbequed and grilled meats
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Chimichurri – A delicious and fresh green salsa made of finely chopped parsley, oregano, onion, garlic, chili pepper flakes, olive oil, lemon or vinegar. It is frequently used on grilled meats and savory foods
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Provoleta – Slices of sharp and pungent cheese are topped with herbs and chili flakes and then grilled. The result is a mouth-watering treat which is caramelized on the outside and gooey on the inside. It is commonly served with chimichurri or some olive oil
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Dulce de leche – A rich sauce made from boiling condensed milk until it becomes a thick golden-brown caramel paste
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Alfajores – Rich, soft, and crumbly short bread cookies that typically come stuffed with dulce de leche
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Empanadas – Pastry stuffed with meats, cheeses, and vegetables baked or fired
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Matambre arrollado – Very thin cut of beef stuffed with herbs, olives, vegetables, and boiled eggs. The meat is rolled around the fillings and then grilled, baked, or boiled. The name of this dish translates to ‘rolled up hunger killer’ because these thin meats are usually the first to come off the grill
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Carbonada – A rich savory and meaty stew perfect for the colder months. This dish is made with meat, potatoes, vegetables, and then topped with fruits. The stew is then spooned into hollowed pumpkins and placed on the barbeque to cook. The precise ingredients of this dish vary by region
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Choripán – This street food is made with pork and beef chorizo sausage which is grilled over charcoal or wood flames. It is then topped with chimichurri, caramelized onions, pickled eggplants, green peppers and a host of other condiments and served between slices of crusty bread
Accommodation
As a student in Argentina, you’ll have several different options when it comes to accommodation. These include:
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Homestays – If you’re interested in living with a host family in Argentina, this option is for you
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Dorms – On campus housing is usually available on a first come first serve basis
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Independent housing – There are a variety of small flats or apartments which you can rent
Language
Although it is commonly thought that Spanish is the only language spoken in Argentina, there are in fact over 40 different languages spoken in the country. Broadly speaking, these languages can be divided into two distinct groups:
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Indigenous languages – These include those which are spoken by native peoples and tribes in the different regions of the country. For instance, in the south, Mapuche and Quechua are two of the languages that are spoken
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Immigrant languages – Argentina has a very large population of immigrants and therefore, languages such as Italian, Polish, French, Chinese, and Russian are some of the many languages spoken here
As for Spanish, the most widely spoken language in the country, Argentina’s take on it can be distinguished from that of other Spanish speaking countries. Since there was such a large population of immigrants, the Spanish spoken here is very influenced by their dialects and pronunciations.
Things to Do
There is so much to do in Argentina; you might want to plan out all of your free time in order to make the most of your stay in the country.
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Visit Iguazu Falls – One of the seven wonders of the world
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Explore Patagonia – One of the most remote and untouched natural landscapes in the world
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Take a trip to the Andes Mountains
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Learn how to tango
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Visit the Reserva Faunística Península Valdés wildlife reserve
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Visit exciting cities like Buenos Aires and Cordoba
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Taste the many wines that Argentina is famous for
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Take a trip to the Lake District
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Travel to Tierra del Fuego
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Go see Perito Moreno Glacier
Visa and Immigration
Any individual who enters Argentina will initially do so as a tourist. Tourist visas are obtained on site upon landing in Argentina. Be advised that all U.S. citizens who travel to Argentina are required to pay a Reciprocity Fee of USD$160 to Argentine Migrations online before boarding a plane to Argentina. The receipt for this fee must be shown at the airport prior to boarding and may be used multiple times to enter Argentina over the lifetime of your current passport.
In order to obtain a student visa upon landing, you must be 18 years or older. If you are a student under the age of 18, you will not be able to obtain a student visa in Argentina
For Programs Less than 90 days
If you’re coming to Argentina for a summer program or a short intensive course, you can obtain a tourist visa which is valid for 90 days. You do not need to supply any additional documents; just the receipt for the Reciprocity Fee.
Programs over 90 days
For academic programs which are for a semester, a full year, or longer you will need to first obtain a tourist visa as described above. Once successfully in Argentina, you will need to make a request for a student visa within the first 30 days of your arrival at the Dirección Nacional de Migraciones.
You will need the following:
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Proof of clean criminal record
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A round trip ticket
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A valid passport with proof of an Argentinian tourist visa stamp
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Letter of acceptance from host university
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$AR 600 student visa processing fee, payable in cash only
It’ easy to see why Argentina is so popular with international students; with its beautiful natural landscapes, rich culture, delicious foods, thriving cities, and excellent programs, who wouldn’t want to come here? Studying abroad in Argentina is guaranteed to be an exciting, rewarding, and life-changing experience for all those brave enough to venture to the ends of South America.