Astronomy Schools and Programs in Argentina

Astronomy Studies in Argentina

Argentine National Congress, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Astronomy studies the formation and evolution of celestial bodies, from planets and stars to galaxies and the large-scale structure of the universe. In Argentina it is a degree in its own right, built on advanced physics and mathematics and closely linked to the country's university observatories.

SpainExchange lists 2 schools in Argentina with astronomy programmes: the Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (UNC) and the Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP). Both are public national universities with no tuition fees and no cap on admissions. Teaching is in Spanish.

How the astronomy degree is organised

The main undergraduate qualification is the Licenciatura en Astronomía, a five-year degree that prepares graduates for research and teaching.

• At the UNC, the degree is taught by the Facultad de Matemática, Astronomía, Física y Computación (FAMAF). A new curriculum started in 2023 and fully replaces the 2013 plan from 2027. The first years cover mathematical analysis, algebra and general physics; later years add electromagnetism, astronomical optics, observational astronomy and data reduction, general relativity, quantum mechanics, astrophysics and celestial mechanics. The fifth year consists of specialisation courses, seminars and a final project (trabajo especial) linked to research at the Observatorio Astronómico de Córdoba.
• Students at the UNC can also earn the Tecnicatura Universitaria en Astronomía, an intermediate qualification after the first three years, which allows them to work in technical support, for example in collecting and processing astronomical data.
• At the UNLP, the Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y Geofísicas (FCAG) offers a five-year Licenciatura en Astronomía with 30 to 35 subjects. The first three years are basic training in mathematics and physics; from the fourth year all subjects are electives chosen for a specialisation, which ends with a seminar and a practical project.

Both universities offer a doctorate (Doctor en Astronomía). The UNC doctorate started in 1956, is accredited with category "A" by the national accreditation agency CONEAU and has official national validity; it includes an English-language exam. The FCAG doctoral programmes at the UNLP charge no fees.

Admission and language

Undergraduate admission is open: there is no entrance exam with a fixed number of places, but faculties run levelling courses before the first year. FAMAF's intensive levelling course for 2027 runs in January and February, with registration between 11 November and 12 December. At the FCAG, registration for 2027 runs from 9 November to 11 December 2026.

Foreign applicants need their secondary-school certificate legalised by the Argentine consulate or apostilled, and then validated by the Argentine Ministry of Education. Students from countries with an education agreement with Argentina, including most of Latin America, Spain, France and Italy, follow a free validation procedure. Documents not in Spanish must be translated by a certified public translator. Applicants whose native language is not Spanish must prove adequate Spanish; the UNLP accepts the CELU certificate or its own CertEA.

To study a full degree, non-Argentine students need a student visa or a temporary student residence from the Dirección Nacional de Migraciones, which is applied for online through the RaDEX system. The university's enrolment certificate and a criminal record certificate are among the requirements.

Where to study astronomy in Argentina

• Universidad Nacional de Córdoba: FAMAF in Córdoba teaches the degree in connection with the Observatorio Astronómico de Córdoba, where specialisation courses are based.
• Universidad Nacional de La Plata: astronomy has been taught in La Plata since 1935, when the Escuela de Ciencias Astronómicas y Conexas, the first in Latin America, was created at the observatory. The observatory and the school merged in 1983 into today's FCAG.

Careers in astronomy

The Licenciatura qualifies graduates mainly for research and teaching. According to FAMAF, astronomers work at observatories and research centres in Argentina such as the observatories of Córdoba, La Plata and San Juan, the El Leoncito Astronomical Complex (CASLEO), the Instituto Argentino de Radioastronomía and the Instituto de Astronomía y Física del Espacio. Most research careers continue with a doctorate. Many projects are carried out in cooperation with research groups in other countries.

A degree obtained in Argentina may need recognition in the student's home country before it can be used there; check with the education ministry at home.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to study astronomy in Argentina?

The Licenciatura en Astronomía takes five years at both the UNC and the UNLP. At the UNC, students can also obtain an intermediate technical qualification after three years.

Is studying astronomy in Argentina free?

The UNC and the UNLP are public universities that charge no tuition fees for undergraduate degrees, and the UNLP's astronomy doctorate also has no fees.

Do I need to speak Spanish?

Yes. Courses are taught in Spanish, and applicants whose native language is not Spanish must prove their level, for example with the CELU certificate.

Can I do a PhD in astronomy in Argentina?

Yes. Both universities award the Doctor en Astronomía. The UNC programme is accredited by CONEAU with category "A".