Over 50,000 International Students Flock to Buenos Aires to Study

Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, is working to become a world-class destination for international students, aiming to return to pre-pandemic levels. In 2022, the city received more than 50,000 international students, according to a new report.

The study from Study Buenos Aires and the National University of San Martín found that of the total 52,707 students studying in the city in 2022, about 20,945 attended universities, and the remaining 31,762 were students benefiting from short-term learning opportunities, Erudera.com reports.

The number of students attending universities has nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels, to 20,945 in 2022 from 21,735 in 2019.

However, the total number of international students in the city has significantly reduced compared to the pre-pandemic figures of 2019. During that period, Buenos Aires hosted 85,699 international students, a 38 percent decline from 2019 to 2022.

Mauro Alejo Guevara, general director of International Relations in the Buenos Aires government, told the Pie News that international students pursuing degrees in Buenos Aires are mainly from South America.

He added that the number of postgraduate students is up, especially those from Brazil and Colombia while highlighting the need for more students from other countries.

In 2022, international students contributed $389 million to Buenos Aires economy through their spending in the city including living expenses and other fees.

According to education ministry data, 117,820 international students enrolled at all universities across Argentina in 2021, of which 99,693 were undergraduates.

In other words, international students accounted for 3.9 percent of the total student population that year. There were 18,127 postgraduates, representing 10 percent of the student population.

Nearly all of the international students in 2021 were from the Americas (95.93 percent), only 2.9 percent from Europe, and 1.17 percent from other continents.

The average cost of living for international students in Argentina ranges from $2,500 to $4,500 per year. Public higher education is tuition-free, while private universities charge international students between $3,000 and $20,000 per year for undergraduate and graduate studies. Meanwhile, PhD studies cost around $2,300 to $27,000 annually.

Universities in Argentina offering free tuition include the University of Buenos Aires, Universidad Nacional de la Plata, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, and Universidad Nacional de General San Martín.

Some other universities, such as Universidad Tecnológica Nacional – Facultad Regional Córdoba, Universidad del Cema, Universidad Católica de Córdoba, Universidad de San Andres, and Torcuato Di Tella University, have tuition fees ranging from $50 to $13,400.

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