IFSA-Argentine Universities Program

If students complete courses while abroad from Purdue colleges that have not approved the program, they might be able to earn transfer credit for those courses. Students interested in pursuing transfer credit should discuss this with both their academic advisor and their study abroad advisor before applying to the program.

The program is open to Purdue students who have completed at least four semesters of university study by the start of the program. Successful candidates will demonstrate academic success, maturity and a desire to experience another culture.

Some of the special program concentrations require more than five semesters of Spanish. See the IFSA website for details.

Students can take courses from just one or from all four of the associated Buenos Aires universities: Universidad de Buenos Aires, Universidad Católica Argentina, Universidad del Salvador, or Universidad Torcuato Di Tella. All of university classes are integrated with regular degree-seeking students, and all classes are taught in Spanish.

Program Concentrations Students may opt to focus their academic program by participating in one of the specialized concentrations (tracks):

Directed Research Concentration:  Replace one to two university courses with a 6-credit Directed Research Project focusing on social problem analysis.

Human Rights Concentration:  Enroll in both university and IFSA-Butler program courses while completing a field experience and research component. Coursework includes: Human Rights in Argentina and Latin America class, one to two university courses, Methodology of Research Seminar, and NGO field experience.

Gender, Diversity and Minority Studies Concentration:  Participate in both integrated and specialized program courses along with research and field experience. Coursework includes: Diversity, Minorities, and Gender Studies class, one to two university courses, Methodology of Research Seminar, and NGO field experience.

Cinema Concentration: Offered in cooperation with the renowned Fundación Universidad del Cine and designed for students with six or more semesters of Spanish and a strong interest in film and media, students explore the booming Argentine film industry and its cultural impact in Argentina. Coursework includes: Introduction to the Practice & Analysis of Argentine Film, two university courses at the FUC, and one university course at one of the AUP universities.

Literature Concentration: Focus on: creative writing, journalism, literary translation, and publishing. Coursework includes: Literary Theory and Analysis class, Spanish class, Literary Studies Methodology Seminar, and a writing workshop or an internship.

This program typically includes the following: 

Arrival and orientation

• Airport pick-up for group flight travelers
• 10-day on-site orientation for semester/year students: Includes transportation, accommodation, activities and most meals
• Welcome meal

Cultural events

• Music and theatre
• Fuerza Bruta
• El choque urbano (percussion show)
• Football matches
• Urban biking and canoe excursion
• Tango: crash course for beginners
• Polo and horse riding demonstration class at an Estancia

Excursions

• 3-day excursion to a destination such as San Martín de los Andes or Bariloche
• 1-day trip to Colonia, Uruguay

Activities organized by program classes or concentration

• Tour of Teatro Colón (operal maintenance class)
• Visit to Museo Eva Perón (Eva Perón, mito y representaciones maintenance class)
• Visit to national Congreso and CGT (research track)
• Art exhibition at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (human rights track)
• Trip to Rosario for the Latin American Cinema Festival (cinema track)

Students should carefully note what costs need to be paid to Purdue University or to an outside agency and what costs need to be paid after arrival at the overseas study location.  This will vary by program.

"Program fee" includes tuition, 13 meals per week, orientation, academic advising services, optional excursions, student union fees at the overseas university, & International Student Identity Card.

Costs for this program are estimated and subject to change. The cost figures listed below are for: Spring 2010

Purdue University financial aid may be applied to the costs of studying abroad. Students interested in receiving financial aid should

• direct financial aid inquiries to the Division of Financial Aid on the West Lafayette campus; 
• consult the brochure entitled, Financial Aid and Study Abroad -- Purdue University Guidelines;
• complete and submit the FAFSA by the appropriate deadline.

NOTE:  Recipients of certain tuition remission and scholarship programs (those funded by the State of Indiana such as Indiana Top Scholars) should pay careful attention to the regulations for using those benefits for study abroad.  Ask your financial aid advisor about any limitations.

Click here for a list of scholarships and grants available to assist with the costs of studying overseas.

For full consideration, students must submit all supporting documents by the dates below.  Popular programs fill quickly, often before the deadline.  To insure a place in a program, apply as early.

As soon as a student submits an on-line application, a My Study Abroad account is created.  Consult the My Study Abroad page for the specific list of requirements for the chosen program since those can differ slightly from program to program.  Applicants may also check on the status of their applications.

After a student is approved for a program, s/he will receive additional information regarding any necessary supplemental paperwork, including any program-specific applications, and confirmation deposits.

Purdue students who have come back to campus after participating in an overseas program are an excellent source of information. Click below to search for students who have participated in this program and are willing to be contacted.  If you get no results, you can use the search form to find people who went to the country you are interested in.

The websites listed below contain information of relevence to this program. Purdue Study Abroad is not responsible for the information at sites not maintained by Purdue; the accuracy of information at external sites cannot be guaranteed.

• Program Sponsor's Home Page: IFSA-Butler
• Program Website
• Search Google(tm)*
• Department of State Consular Information
  (You must find Argentina in list)
• CDC Travel Information (You must find Argentina in list)