Art History Schools and Programs in Argentina

Art History Studies in Argentina

Palacio de Aguas Corrientes in Buenos Aires

Art history in Argentina is a university subject that studies the visual arts and other artistic practices in their historical and social context. Degrees are taught in Spanish. Our directory lists one school in Argentina for this subject: the Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), a public university founded in August 1905 in La Plata, the capital of Buenos Aires Province.

How the degree is 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.

As in other arts subjects, Argentine universities usually offer two parallel first degrees. The licenciatura prepares graduates for research, criticism, curating and cultural management. The profesorado qualifies them to teach the subject in the education system. 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.

Studying art history at the Universidad Nacional de La Plata

At UNLP, art history is taught at the Facultad de Artes, in its Departamento de Estudios Históricos y Sociales. The faculty offers a Licenciatura en Historia de las Artes and a Profesorado en Historia de las Artes, alongside degrees in visual arts, audiovisual arts, design and music, so art history students share a faculty with practising artists.

For the 2027 intake, the faculty's online pre-registration runs from 9 November to 11 December 2026. Applicants must have finished secondary school or be in their final year, complete the pre-registration form with the required documents, and attend the faculty's entrance course (Ingreso). Foreign applicants also submit their passport or identity card, a legalised or apostilled secondary-school certificate validated by the Argentine education authority, proof of Spanish if it is not their native language, and a vaccination certificate. UNLP offers scholarships for students, including university housing (albergue), financial aid, rent support and the university dining hall.

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.

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

Art historians work in museums, galleries and archives, in heritage conservation and cultural management, in art criticism and publishing, in research, and, with the profesorado, as teachers in secondary schools and higher education.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I study art history in Argentina?

Our directory lists the Universidad Nacional de La Plata, whose Facultad de Artes offers a licenciatura and a profesorado in the history of the arts.

Do I need to speak Spanish?

Yes. Classes are in Spanish, and UNLP asks applicants whose native language is not Spanish to certify their level, for example with the CELU.

When can I apply to UNLP for 2027?

Pre-registration at the Facultad de Artes runs from 9 November to 11 December 2026, followed by the faculty's entrance course.

Is it free for foreign students?

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 with UNLP.