Music Schools and Programs in Argentina

Music Studies in Argentina

Music in Argentina is taught at university level in faculties of arts and music, where students can train as performers, composers, conductors or music teachers. Programmes are taught in Spanish and combine instrumental or vocal practice with theory, history and, in most degrees, a final project. Our directory lists five schools in Argentina for this subject: two in Buenos Aires and one each in Córdoba, La Plata and Sáenz Peña, in Greater Buenos Aires.

How music degrees are organised

Argentina's Higher Education Law (Ley 24.521) reserves the licenciado degree, the master's (magíster) and the doctorate to university institutions. Officially recognised degrees are valid throughout the country; before enrolling, the ministry's office for the national validity of degrees advises checking that the qualification a school awards is official.

Universities usually offer two parallel tracks. The licenciatura is the professional first degree in a specialisation such as composition, conducting or an instrument. The profesorado qualifies graduates to teach music. At the Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (UNC), the degrees of the music department take five years, and the licenciaturas end with a final project (Trabajo Final); graduates can teach in primary and secondary schools and in higher education. Lengths differ elsewhere: at the Universidad Católica Argentina (UCA), the music licenciaturas listed by the university take four years.

Postgraduate study (specialisation, master's or doctorate) requires a first degree, and postgraduate programmes must be accredited by CONEAU, the national agency for university evaluation and accreditation. UNC's Facultad de Artes, for example, offers a doctorate in arts.

Where to study music in Argentina

• La Plata: the Facultad de Artes of the Universidad Nacional de La Plata offers a Licenciatura en Música and a Profesorado en Música with specialisations in composition, choral and orchestral conducting, music education, guitar, popular music and piano, plus a technical degree in sound and recording.
• Córdoba: the music department of UNC's Facultad de Artes, which also teaches visual arts, film and theatre.
• Buenos Aires: UCA's Facultad de Artes y Ciencias Musicales offers licenciaturas in composition, orchestral conducting, film music, popular music, and piano and chamber music. The Universidad Maimónides offers a licenciatura in music therapy.
• Sáenz Peña: the Universidad Nacional de Tres de Febrero (UNTREF) lists a Licenciatura en Música Autóctona, Clásica y Popular de América and a Licenciatura en Artes Electrónicas.

Admission and language

Under Argentina's Higher Education Law, anyone who has passed secondary education has open and unrestricted access to undergraduate study, but each university runs its own enrolment procedure. At the Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), enrolment for the 2027 intake runs from 9 November to 11 December 2026. Applicants who finished secondary school abroad must present their certificate legalised by the education authority and the Argentine consulate, or apostilled, with a sworn translation if it is not in Spanish.

Students whose native language is not Spanish must prove an adequate level. UNLP accepts the CELU (Certificado de Español: Lengua y Uso), the only Spanish exam officially recognised by Argentina's ministries of education and foreign affairs. Students who completed secondary school in a country that has an education agreement with Argentina, including Spain, Italy, France, Mexico, Colombia, Peru and Brazil, must validate the certificate (convalidación) to enter higher education; the procedure is free.

Visa and residence

Foreign students enrolled in a full degree of the official education system apply to the Dirección Nacional de Migraciones for temporary residence as a student. It is granted for one year and can be extended. The application starts online in the RaDEX system, requires the institution's electronic proof of enrolment, and can only be made from inside Argentina. Students who have not yet entered the country apply for a temporary entry permit as a student of official education; UNLP, for example, starts this process once the conditional enrolment is complete.

Costs

Undergraduate study at state universities is free for Argentine citizens and for foreigners with permanent residence. Since Decree 366/2025 of May 2025, state institutions may charge fees to other students, although scholarships remain possible under university statutes or agreements. Private universities set their own fees. Ask each university what applies to your residence status before you apply.

Careers

Graduates work as performers in orchestras, choirs and ensembles, as composers and arrangers for concerts, film and media, as conductors, and as music teachers in schools, conservatories and universities. Sound and recording graduates work in studios and live production. Music therapy is a separate health-related profession.

Frequently asked questions

Can I study music in English in Argentina?

The music degrees at the schools in our list are taught in Spanish. Students whose native language is not Spanish must prove their level; UNLP, for example, accepts the CELU certificate.

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

The licenciatura is the professional degree in a specialisation such as composition, conducting or an instrument. The profesorado qualifies graduates to teach music in the education system.

How long does a music degree take in Argentina?

It depends on the university. At UNC the music department's degrees take five years, while UCA lists four years for its music licenciaturas.

Is studying music at a public university free for foreigners?

Undergraduate study at state universities is free for Argentine citizens and foreigners with permanent residence. Since 2025, state universities may charge other foreign students, so check the rules of each university.