Address: Avenida Alem 1253, B8000 Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Chemical Engineering, Agronomy, Computer Science
Founded in 1956, the National University of the South is a public university in Bahía Blanca. It was created with a strong emphasis on science and technology, modeled after American and British universities, with a departmental structure rather than traditional faculties.
Bahía Blanca, in the south of Buenos Aires province, is a port city with a large petrochemical complex, and the National University of the South grew up beside it. About 22,000 students and 2,500 staff give roughly nine students per employee. The university uses a departmental structure instead of faculties, modelled on American and British practice, so students take courses across departments such as chemistry, physics, geology, computer science, engineering and agronomy.
Chemical engineering is the best-known strength. The Pilot Plant for Chemical Engineering, run jointly with CONICET, and the Argentine Institute of Oceanography both operate from the Bahía Blanca scientific hub, which gives students real laboratory and field access. Computer science and mathematics are also well established, and the departmental model makes it easier to combine fields, for example data work with geology or process engineering.
Research is intensive for a university of this size, with the largest groups in chemical engineering, geology, oceanography and computer science, and most of the institutes run in partnership with CONICET. The petrochemical plants and the port give local industry a direct stake in graduate training. International exchange is organised by the Secretariat for International Relations, with agreements in Europe, the Americas and Oceania.
Undergraduate tuition is free and courses are in Spanish. Bahía Blanca is a quieter city than Buenos Aires, rents are lower, and the coast and the university’s campus are easy to move around. Applicants should check the department that runs their degree for entry requirements and for the structure of the first year.
About 80,000 people have graduated from the university, and Bahía Blanca relies on them: engineers, chemists and geologists staff the port, the petrochemical plants and the scientific institutes. Students who want to work in energy or process industries often combine coursework with technical placements in the area, and the compact city makes it easy to move between campus, laboratories and housing without a car.
UNS has a wide range of international agreements for student exchange and research with universities in Europe, the Americas, and Oceania, coordinated by its Secretariat for International Relations.
Research:
It is a research-intensive university, particularly strong in chemical engineering, geology, oceanography, and computer science. It hosts several major research institutes in collaboration with CONICET.
Famous Alumnis:
N/A
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
2500
Current students***:
22000
Foreign students***:
0%
Cumulative former students***:
80000
Pros
Strong focus on science and technology, high-level research institutes, departmental structure promotes interdisciplinary work, high academic standards.
Cons
Located far from the capital, smaller than the major national universities, limited program diversity outside of its core strengths.
Best For
Individuals looking for a high-quality, research-oriented education in science and technology in a quieter coastal city.
The comparison with National University of La Plata is straightforward on subjects, since both focus on computer vision, chemistry and life sciences, and it covers astroscience and physics as well, and is far larger, with about 115,000 students against roughly 22,000 here.
National University of Cuyo sits close to this institution on agriculture, chemistry and engineering; it is larger, enrolling about 45,000 students against roughly 22,000 here, and is also a public institution.
National University of Córdoba is the closest domestic counterpart for agriculture, chemistry and life sciences; it covers astroscience and physics as well, and is far larger, with about 136,000 students against roughly 22,000 here.
National University of Rosario overlaps with this university on agriculture, chemistry and engineering, so the two are easy to compare, and it is also a public institution, and runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.
National University of Buenos Aires follows much the same lines as this university, with chemistry, software engineering and engineering as common ground, and it teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral, and covers civil engineering and physics as well.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
Aarhus University brings a Denmark setting to the same core fields, agriculture, chemistry and life sciences, and it runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes, and covers astroscience and nanotechnologies as well.
For a study option in China with a comparable spread of marine science, chemistry and life sciences, Qingdao University is the reference point: it is larger, enrolling about 46,000 students against roughly 22,000 here, and is also a public institution.
In Saudi Arabia, King Khalid University teaches much the same core subjects, chemistry, life sciences and software engineering, and it is larger, enrolling about 61,708 students against roughly 22,000 here, and is also a public institution.
For chemistry, life sciences and software engineering outside the home country, University of Oslo in Norway is a natural reference; it covers astroscience and geotechnics as well, and is slightly larger, at about 28,000 students against roughly 22,000 here.
A foreign alternative with a similar emphasis on chemistry, life sciences and software engineering is Trinity College Dublin in Ireland, and it also offers mba programmes and covers nanotechnologies and physics as well.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
Where is the National University of the South?
It is in Bahía Blanca, on the Atlantic coast of Buenos Aires province, with its main address at Avenida Alem 1253.
What is special about its structure?
It is organised in departments rather than faculties, a model inspired by American and British universities that encourages cross-disciplinary courses.
How large is the university?
About 22,000 students and 2,500 staff.
What are the main fields of study?
Chemical engineering, agronomy, computer science, geology, oceanography, mathematics, physics and engineering.
Is tuition free?
Undergraduate study at Argentine national universities has traditionally been free. Foreign applicants should check the current rules.
Which research centres are linked to the university?
The Pilot Plant for Chemical Engineering and the Argentine Institute of Oceanography, both operated with CONICET, are among the best known.
Is there industry nearby?
Yes. Bahía Blanca has a petrochemical complex and a major port, which creates links for chemical, industrial and environmental engineering students.
In which language are courses taught?
In Spanish.
Does the university offer exchange programmes?
Yes. The Secretariat for International Relations manages agreements with universities in Europe, the Americas and Oceania.
What is student life like in Bahía Blanca?
It is a medium-sized city with lower living costs than Buenos Aires and a student population large enough to support cultural and sports activity.
Chemistry, Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Research and Development, Sustainability, Sustainable Development
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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