Are you seeking authentic language and cultural immersion for your study abroad semester? Then Buenos Aires, Argentina, is your ideal destination. 

You will get to learn about exciting academic topics from a Latin American lens in the classroom.  Outside of the classroom, you will dive into the cultural offerings of Buenos Aires and get to know your Argentine homestay host.  We will also provide constant support before and during your semester.

ACADEMIC COURSEWORK

Learn about regional and global topics, while sharpening your cultural insights and language skills at an Argentine university.

CULTURAL IMMERSION

Engaging activities to help you become as immersed as possible in the local culture of Buenos Aires.

WEEKEND excursion

Trip to Iguazú Falls over a long weekend with a group of other international students to see one of the most awe-inspiring sites on Earth.

HOmestay

Comfortable, pre-screened, and well-located homestays with friendly and welcoming Argentine hosts.

Constant Support

24 hours a day, 7 days a week on-site support, plus online resources to maximize your adventures abroad.

 
Apply to the semester study abroad program

If you are a Boston College student, learn more about your specific semester program and apply here.

You will have the chance to learn about new academic topics through your coursework at UCEMA.

Located in the heart of Argentina's economic and financial activity, UCEMA has been training leaders in business, political, and academic worlds for four decades. UCEMA currently offers 14 undergraduate degree programs.

UCEMA offers two programs for international students:

  • Courses in Spanish for students with demonstrated Spanish proficiency (intermediate or higher) across all of UCEMA's academic undergraduate departments.

  • Courses in English with a focus on economics, technology, and business from a global perspective through the Global Semester program. Students who complete a specific number of credits will be eligible for a certificate or diploma that recognizes their participation in the program.

You can choose your classes to dive further into topics related to your studies at your home university, or you can explore new course themes that focus on Argentina and Latin America. We will help you to navigate the course selection process and to integrate into your Argentine university’s sports, clubs, and extracurricular activities so that you can maximize the immersion experience.

 
 
Apply to the semester study abroad program

If you are interested in participating in a part-time internship during your semester, learn more about our semester study + intern program here.

Get to know the hotspots and hidden gems of the city of Buenos Aires and the country of argentina!

 

Immersive Day Trips

ESTANCIA DAY TRIP

Experience a countryside adventure

Day trip to a local “estancia” (ranch) in order to have the complete “gaucho” experience – riding horses, eating a traditional “asado,” playing soccer, traditional board games, and enjoying the Argentine countryside.

 

Tigre Day Trip

Enjoy a day on the riverfront away from the city

A pleasant getaway from the hustle and bustle of Buenos Aires, Tigre is a popular weekend destination for “porteños” (Buenos Aires residents). We will take a day trip to Tigre, go kayaking through the interconnected rivers and streams, and explore the artisanal market.

 

Local Cultural Activities

You will have regular activities in the city of Buenos Aires during your semester program, such as the following:

cooking class

Through cooking, you can get a hands-on feel for one of the staples of Argentine culture; the food! You will learn how to prepare typical specialties of Argentine cuisine, such as empanadas, in an authentic “porteña” kitchen.

tango lesson

Put on your dancing shoes and get ready to learn Argentina’s iconic dance! You will have an introductory tango lesson at an authentic “milonga.”

palacio barolo sunset

The Palacio Barolo is a Dante-inspired landmark that hides a number of curiosities. We will discover the building’s secrets and also get an impressive view of the Avenida de Mayo and the National Congress building.

 
“The Puentes events were consistently just awesome. It felt really good to have Puentes and the other people in my program as a social safety net, and it’s through the events we did together that we ended up becoming really good friends. ”
— Griffin B., Princeton University
“The Puentes events were awesome and always a fun time to bond with people from the program.”
— Laila H., Boston College
 

Destination Guides and cultural guide for Argentina

Easy to reach, breathtaking destinations nearby to explore during your semester abroad

Get to know the incredible landscape and culture of Argentina through self-coordinated travel during your time abroad. As a Puentes participant, you have access to the exclusive Puentes Destination Guides, which offer carefully curated recommendations and insider tips for major destinations within Argentina and Uruguay.  Through the Puentes Culture Guide, you will also be able to learn about the country context, the local slang, cultural differences, and recommendations on how to meet locals and improve your Spanish.

apply to the semester study abroad program

Taller than Niagara Falls and four times as wide, Iguazú Falls offer an unforgettable experience and a spectacle of nature.

Upon seeing Iguazú’s sheer beauty, the United States First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt reportedly exclaimed, “Poor Niagara!”

Ready to have your breath taken away? Iguazú Falls is one Argentina’s most stunning sights. It is a massive collection of waterfalls that makes Niagara look tiny. You will explore Iguazú through a four-day excursion with a group of other international students. If you only take one trip outside of BA, it should definitely be to Iguazú Falls.

  • Spend a full day in Iguazú National Park, peering over stunning viewpoints and taking a boat tour through the waterfalls.

  • Visit “Tres Fronteras” where Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil meet.

  • Take the overnight bus between Buenos Aires and Iguazú, and stay two nights in a hostel while in Puerto Iguazú.

 
 
 
apply to the semester study abroad program

You will be staying in a homestay with an Argentine host in Buenos Aires in a nice, residential neighborhood, with great public transportation access.

You will join your homestay hosts for dinner five nights a week from Sunday to Thursday, and your breakfast is included daily.

 

All homestays include a private bedroom, bedding, towels, weekly cleaning, and Wi-Fi access.

We carefully select homestay hosts that share our enthusiasm for cultural exchange. Hosts tend to be retired couples, a single adult, or a two-parent household with or without children. You will get to improve your Spanish through being fully immersed in Argentine culture!

“[My host parents] were absolutely amazing and went above and beyond to make sure I was cared for every step of the way during my sixth months. They helped me navigate buses, sewed my clothes when they ripped, helped my with my homework and so much more. They were central to my experience in BA.”
— Ashley S., Boston College
“If I were to tell you everything good I had to say about [my host mom], I think this form would crash. She is friendly, adventurous, convivial, welcoming, and hilarious. Dinners with her and my eventual Argentine roommate were absolutely one of the highlights of my entire experience. If anyone coming into Puentes has reservations about living in a homestay (as I did!) I would tell them to absolutely go for it - there’s no better way to really “live” in Argentina. (Or practice your Spanish, for that matter!)”
— Griffin B., Boston College
Apply to the semester study abroad program

Before, during, and after your Puentes experience, our team is dedicated to making your adventure abroad as enjoyable and meaningful as possible.  

 

Pre-Departure Preparation

In advance of your departure for Argentina, we’ll give you access to the exclusive online Puentes Participant Portal with detailed pre-departure steps, information to help you prepare for your travels and life abroad, and a directory of fellow students.  We will also accompany you throughout the process to secure your student visa. You will participate in the Pre-Departure Webinar with the Puentes team to review program details and your pre-travel questions.

Airport Pickup and Orientation

Upon your arrival to your destination city, you are welcomed at the airport by Puentes staff and transported to your new home.  We’ll also provide you with a welcome packet with a local transportation card, local snacks, and a few other essentials for your first days in the country.  You will have an Orientation seminar to tell you all about the city and the Puentes program, followed by a Welcome Dinner so you can get to know your fellow participants.

 

On-Site Support

The Puentes team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on the ground, in-person.  Puentes is always available to help you work through any adjustments to your life abroad.

Lasting Impact

Your Puentes experience doesn’t end after your study abroad semester.  After completing your Puentes adventure, you join the network of Puentes alumni. We are committed to continuing to build bridges for your future.

 
“Puentes has been an excellent resource for Boston College students studying in Buenos Aires since 2016. Before the students go abroad, Puentes helps students secure a visa and will provide a virtual orientation so that students feel prepared. When the students arrive in Buenos Aires, Puentes successfully arranges student housing, provides excellent internship opportunities and helps students navigate the course selection process. We are very happy with [the team] and Puentes and the work they do for our students.”
— Patrick O’Donnell, Assistant Director, Office of Global Education, Boston College
Apply to the semester study abroad program

Called the “Paris of South America,” Buenos Aires is one of the most cosmopolitan cities of South America.

Life in Buenos Aires can be a stimulating international experience, while simultaneously seeming familiarly modern.

The cultural offerings are endless — take in great Latin American art, cheer along with the “hinchas” (fans) at a lively soccer game, dance to live music, and more. The city of Buenos Aires has a population of 3.5 million people, so it is the bustling hub of the country and offers a fast-paced backdrop to work and life. Buenos Aires is a great destination for people who are drawn to the hustle and bustle of big cities, who are comfortable navigating city life, and who are excited by metropolitan, apartment building living.

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“I came to Argentina expecting to travel a bit if I could, get some work experience, and improve my Spanish a little. I left knowing the most intricate details of early Argentine history, the joys of passing “mate” around in the late afternoon in a park with your friends, and what it’s like to love someone in a different language. And all of that was because of Puentes. If you’re reading this, I really hope you come to Buenos Aires - you won’t regret it one bit.”
— Griffin B., Boston College
apply to the semester study abroad program
 

Are you a university looking for an on-site partner to conceptualize, organize, and implement your study abroad program? We can manage your study abroad programs in Buenos Aires, Argentina! We are an ideal partner to oversee boutique study abroad programs for universities that are looking for a more hands-on, personalized, cohort experience for their students.

Coordinate your study abroad program with puentes
 

Application Process

1- SUBMIT THE INTEREST FORM 

We’ll ask you a few basic questions to understand which program you are interested in and when you might be joining us. Please submit this form by December 11 for students interested in studying during the first semester (March to July), or by April 28 for students interested in studying during the second semester (July to December).

2- apply to ucema

Based on your responses to the form, we will share the next steps for you to complete your application to UCEMA.

3- pay the program fee

After receiving admission to UCEMA, you will need to pay the program fee to Puentes to confirm your spot.

4- Program preparation begins

After you pay the program fee, we will send you access to our exclusive Puentes Portal and ask you to submit our Pre-Program Form so we can begin to plan your program.

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