Arts Schools and Programs in Argentina

Arts Studies in Argentina

Palacio de Aguas Corrientes in Buenos Aires

Arts degrees in Argentina are offered by public national universities and by other institutions, covering the visual arts, music, audiovisual media, design and art history. At university level they are taught in Spanish and combine studio or practical work with theory and history.

SpainExchange lists 1 school in Argentina with arts programmes: the Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), a national university founded in August 1905 in La Plata, in the province of Buenos Aires. Its arts degrees are taught at the Facultad de Artes, one of the university's 17 faculties.

How arts degrees are organised

Argentine universities distinguish between two kinds of undergraduate degree in the arts. The licenciatura is the professional and academic degree. The profesorado has the same artistic subjects plus teacher training. Shorter technical degrees (tecnicaturas) prepare for a specific trade. Degrees are described by years and subjects rather than ECTS credits.

At UNLP's Facultad de Artes, most degrees have several orientations:

• Artes Plásticas (licenciatura and profesorado): ceramics, drawing, stage design, sculpture, printmaking, mural painting and painting
• Música (licenciatura and profesorado): composition, choral conducting, orchestral conducting, music education, guitar, popular music and piano
• Artes Audiovisuales: cinematography, screenwriting, directing and film theory and criticism
• Historia de las Artes, with an orientation in the visual arts
• Design degrees: Diseño en Comunicación Visual, Diseño Multimedial and Diseño Industrial
• Technical degrees: Tecnicatura Universitaria en Fotografía and Tecnicatura en Sonido y Grabación

Postgraduate study

After the licenciatura, graduates can continue to a specialisation, master's or doctorate. Under the Higher Education Law (Ley 24.521), these postgraduate programmes must be accredited by the Comisión Nacional de Evaluación y Acreditación Universitaria (CONEAU).

Admission and language

Pre-registration for the Facultad de Artes for the 2027 academic year is online and runs from 9 November to 11 December 2026. New students then take an entry course before classes begin. A secondary-school certificate from abroad must be legalised by the education authority and the Argentine consulate, or apostilled. Applicants whose native language is not Spanish must prove an adequate level of Spanish, for example with the CELU certificate (Lengua y uso).

Students from countries with an education agreement with Argentina, among them Spain, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Chile and Italy, must also convalidate their secondary-school certificate with the national education authority; the procedure is free. Foreign students enrolled as regular students at an officially recognised institution can apply for a temporary student residence, and UNLP tells foreign applicants that they need a student visa.

Costs

Under Ley 24.521, undergraduate studies at state universities are free for Argentine citizens and for foreign nationals with permanent residence; universities may charge other students for educational services. UNLP describes itself as a public, free institution with no cap on places. Students should budget for materials and instruments, and check current conditions with the faculty.

How to choose and careers

The main choice is between a licenciatura and a profesorado: the profesorado adds teacher training. Within each degree, the orientation defines the specialism. Graduates work as artists, musicians, designers, audiovisual professionals and art historians, or teach in schools and universities after a profesorado.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a licenciatura and a profesorado in the arts?

Both cover the same artistic field. The profesorado adds teacher training, while the licenciatura is the professional and academic degree. UNLP offers both for most of its arts programmes.

Which arts subjects can I study at UNLP?

The Facultad de Artes offers visual arts, music, audiovisual arts, art history and three design degrees, plus technical degrees in photography and in sound and recording.

When can I apply to start in 2027?

Online pre-registration at UNLP's Facultad de Artes runs from 9 November to 11 December 2026.

Do I need to speak Spanish?

Yes. Classes are in Spanish, and UNLP asks non-native speakers to prove their level, for example with the CELU certificate.