Studying medicine in Argentina can be a unique and interesting experience. The country offers both public and private medical schools, and the University of Buenos Aires is one of the country’s most internationally visible universities. However, there are several strong options outside Buenos Aires as well, including public and private institutions in provinces such as Mendoza and La Rioja.
Students should expect medical studies in Argentina to be taught in Spanish, so strong Spanish skills are essential. Admission rules vary by university. At the University of Buenos Aires, foreign undergraduate applicants do not take an admission exam and begin through the Ciclo Básico Común (CBC), while other medical schools may require an entrance course, exams, or other university-specific steps.
Below are some of the notable medical schools in Argentina.
Is it expensive to study medicine in Argentina?
Argentina has both public and private medical schools. Public universities can be very affordable, but the current national rule on tuition-free undergraduate study applies to Argentine citizens and foreign nationals with permanent residence in Argentina. Public institutions may charge students who do not fall into those categories, although scholarships may be available in some cases. Private universities charge tuition and fees, so costs vary significantly by institution.
How can you get admission to medical school in Argentina?
Argentina’s higher education law provides free and unrestricted access to undergraduate higher education for students who have completed secondary education, and any leveling or orientation process cannot be selective, exclusionary, or discriminatory. In practice, applicants still need to follow each university’s process and provide the required documents. For example, UBA medicine students complete the CBC first, while other universities may require a pre-admission course, written exams, or a vocational course.
How long does medical school take in Argentina?
Most medicine programs on this list take around six years. Some structures differ: the University of Buenos Aires publishes a six-and-a-half-year program, the University of Mendoza lists five years of coursework plus one year of Compulsory Final Practice, and several programs include a final practical or rotating internship component before graduation.
Top Medical Schools in Argentina
1. University of Buenos Aires Faculty of Medicine
The University of Buenos Aires is one of Argentina’s most internationally recognized universities and is a leading public option for medicine. Its medical degree is listed by the Faculty of Medicine as lasting six and a half years and is divided into four cycles:
- The Ciclo Básico Común (CBC), the first cycle for UBA undergraduate programs
- The biomedical cycle, which focuses on the structure and function of the healthy human body
- The clinical cycle, which includes study in the faculty, university hospitals, and hospitals associated with the faculty
- The Compulsory Final Practice (Práctica Final Obligatoria, or PFO)
2. National University of La Rioja
The National University of La Rioja is a public university in the province of La Rioja. Its medicine degree is an on-campus program that awards the title of Médico/a and has a stated duration of six years. The official study plan also lists an entrance exam as part of the first year, so applicants should check the current admissions process before applying.
3. University of Salvador School of Medicine
The University of Salvador is a private Jesuit-rooted university in Buenos Aires. Its history traces the founding act to 1956 and official recognition in the late 1950s.
The University of Salvador Faculty of Medicine offers a six-year medical degree leading to the title of Médico. Its current medicine page states that admission includes an introductory entrance course, mandatory final exams, and a limited number of places, so applicants should review the current requirements and fees directly with the university.
4. University of Mendoza School of Medicine
The University of Mendoza is a private, nonprofit institution in Mendoza. It was constituted in 1959, began teaching in 1960, and was registered as a private university and nonprofit civil association in 1962.
The medical program lasts five years of coursework plus one year of Compulsory Final Practice. The university lists the medicine degree at its central campus and San Rafael campus, with practical clinical activities carried out in major healthcare centers in Mendoza Province.
5. National University of Cuyo School of Medicine
The final university in our list of top medical schools in Argentina is the National University of Cuyo (UNCuyo), a public university based in Mendoza. UNCuyo is made up of 12 academic units, three institutes, and six secondary schools, including its Faculty of Medical Sciences.
The medical degree here lasts six years and has a total workload of 6,834 hours. Applicants should also check UNCuyo’s current entry process, as the Faculty of Medical Sciences publishes admission conditions, vocational-course requirements, and exam information for medicine applicants.
I hope that this article was helpful. If you are interested, visit the Scholarships Page and Open Courses Page for International Students!
