Medicine Schools and Programs in Argentina

Medicine Studies in Argentina

In Argentina, medicine is a first university degree that leads directly to the professional title of Médico (doctor). Students enter straight after secondary school; there is no separate pre-medical bachelor's degree. The programmes at the schools listed here last six years, are taught in Spanish and end with a year of supervised clinical practice.

SpainExchange lists 5 schools in Argentina with medicine programmes: three in Buenos Aires and one each in Córdoba and La Plata. They include two national universities, the Universidad Nacional de Córdoba and the Universidad Nacional de La Plata, and the private Universidad Austral, Universidad Abierta Interamericana (UAI) and Universidad Maimónides.

How the medical degree is organised

The Higher Education Law (Ley 24.521) treats medicine as a profession regulated by the State. For these degrees, article 43 requires study plans to follow the basic curriculum and practical-training criteria set by the Ministry of Education, and the programmes must be accredited periodically by CONEAU, the national agency for university evaluation and accreditation. CONEAU accredits only degree programmes declared of public interest under article 43.

The schools' own pages show a common structure. The Universidad Maimónides and the UAI both describe a six-year, on-campus programme leading to the title of Médico. At the Universidad Nacional de La Plata, the first years cover the basic sciences, starting with anatomy, histology and biology, and the clinical years include internal medicine, surgery, paediatrics, obstetrics and public health. The sixth year is the Práctica Final Obligatoria, a compulsory final practice of 1,400 hours. Argentine study plans are measured in hours, not in ECTS credits.

In January 2025 CONEAU was recognised by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) as an accrediting agency for medical programmes. According to CONEAU, this allows graduates of accredited programmes to practise in countries that require this condition, especially the United States, where it is a requirement of the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). The UAI, for example, publishes the CONEAU resolutions that accredit its medicine programme.

Admission and language

Under the Higher Education Law, applicants need a completed secondary education and must meet the admission system that each university sets. In practice this varies. The Faculty of Medical Sciences of the Universidad Nacional de Córdoba runs a levelling course (ciclo de nivelación) for new medicine students, while the UAI offers an entrance course and personal interviews with the programme's staff.

Teaching, exams and clinical practice are in Spanish, so international students need a good command of the language before they start. Students who finished secondary school in a country that has an education agreement with Argentina, such as Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Spain, France, Italy, Mexico, Peru or Uruguay, must have their certificate validated (convalidación) to study at a national institution. The procedure is free.

For a full degree, the university must be registered in the national register of sponsoring institutions (RENURE) and applies to the Dirección Nacional de Migraciones for the student's entry permit. Once it is approved, the student collects the visa at the Argentine consulate. The temporary residence is granted for up to one year at a time.

Costs

Decree DNU 366/2025 changed the rules for public universities. Undergraduate study at state institutions is free for Argentine citizens and for foreigners with permanent residence; state universities may charge other students, who can still receive scholarships where university statutes or agreements provide them. International students should therefore check the current rules of the Universidad Nacional de Córdoba or the Universidad Nacional de La Plata before applying. Private universities charge tuition fees; the UAI, for example, advertises special discounts for foreign students.

Where to study medicine in Argentina

• Universidad Nacional de Córdoba: Faculty of Medical Sciences in Córdoba, with university hospitals such as the Hospital Nacional de Clínicas and a maternity and neonatal hospital
• Universidad Nacional de La Plata: six-year plan that ends with the 1,400-hour Práctica Final Obligatoria and a summative exam
• Universidad Austral: Faculty of Biomedical Sciences on the university's campus in Pilar (Buenos Aires province), with a clinical simulation centre
• Universidad Abierta Interamericana (UAI): six-year programme in Buenos Aires and Rosario, accredited by CONEAU
• Universidad Maimónides, Buenos Aires: six-year programme that, according to the university, has more than 30 years of history

Recognition and careers

An officially recognised Argentine degree has national validity and qualifies its holder to practise throughout the country, while the provinces keep their powers to regulate the professions. Graduates usually go on to specialty training; the Universidad Austral's faculty, for example, offers residencies and rotations. Graduates can also move into research, teaching or public health.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to study medicine in Argentina?

Six years at the universities listed here, including a final year of supervised clinical practice. The title awarded is Médico.

Is medicine free for foreign students at public universities?

Not necessarily. Since decree DNU 366/2025, free undergraduate study at state institutions is guaranteed for Argentine citizens and foreigners with permanent residence; state universities may charge other students.

Do I need to speak Spanish?

Yes. Medicine programmes in Argentina are taught in Spanish, and clinical practice with patients is also in Spanish.

Can I practise in the United States with an Argentine medical degree?

CONEAU's recognition by the WFME in January 2025 means that CONEAU-accredited medicine programmes meet the condition required by the ECFMG. Graduates still have to complete the US licensing process.