Address: Haya de la Torre s/n, Pabellón Argentina, Ciudad Universitaria, X5000 Córdoba, Argentina
Engineering, Astronomy, Chemical Sciences
Founded in 1613, the National University of Córdoba is the oldest university in Argentina and one of the oldest in the Americas. It is a public university with a rich history and a vast campus that hosts 15 faculties and numerous research centers.
Córdoba is the oldest university in Argentina and one of the oldest in the Americas, and its Jesuit core still stands in the city centre as the Manzana Jesuítica, listed by UNESCO in 2000. The modern university works at a different scale: about 136,000 students and 11,000 staff, which comes to roughly twelve students per employee, a high figure even among large Argentine universities.
In 1918 student protests here launched the University Reform, a movement that put students on governing bodies, ended clerical control and spread across Latin America. Science arrived early too. The Córdoba Observatory, founded in 1871 under the American astronomer Benjamin Gould, still belongs to the university and trained generations of Argentine astronomers. Today the Faculty of Mathematics, Astronomy, Physics and Computation and the Faculty of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences carry the technical side.
Research covers astronomy, chemistry, agricultural science and medicine, with many institutes run jointly with CONICET. The city has also grown into a sizeable software and electronics cluster, which gives engineering and computer science graduates local employers. International relations are coordinated by a dedicated pro-rectorate and cover exchange programmes across Europe, North America and Asia.
Undergraduate study has long been free at Argentine national universities. Classes are in Spanish, entry procedures differ by faculty, and several degrees run an introductory course before the first semester. The Sierras de Córdoba are within an hour’s drive for anyone who wants to leave the city at weekends.
Some figures help set expectations. Roughly 700,000 people have graduated over four centuries, and the 15 faculties are split between the university city on the edge of town and older buildings in the historic centre. Students from outside Córdoba usually look for shared flats in Nueva Córdoba, the student district, and many walk or cycle between lectures and housing.
Domains taught:
Agriculture, Astroscience, Chemistry, Engineering, Life Sciences, Mathematics, Physics
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Engages in numerous international collaborations and exchange programs with institutions across the globe, supported by its Pro-Rectorate for International Relations.
Research:
UNC is a major hub for scientific and technological research, particularly in astronomy through its observatory, as well as in chemistry, medicine, and agricultural sciences, with strong ties to national research agencies.
Famous Alumnis:
Arturo Capdevila, Santiago Derqui, Dalmacio Vélez Sarsfield
Another national school that puts agriculture, chemistry and physics at the centre is National University of Rosario, and it is also a public institution, and runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.
Both schools build their programmes around astroscience, chemistry and physics, and National University of La Plata is the one to compare first within the country, since it covers computer vision and software engineering as well, and is slightly smaller, at about 115,000 students against roughly 136,000 here.
On content, National University of Cuyo and this university are close, as both teach agriculture, chemistry and physics; it is smaller, enrolling about 45,000 students against roughly 136,000 here, and is also a public institution.
National University of Buenos Aires sits close to this institution on chemistry, physics and mathematics; it teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral, and covers civil engineering and electrical and electronics as well.
Think of National University of the South when agriculture, chemistry and life sciences is the priority: it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
Cairo University brings a Egypt setting to the same core fields, agriculture, chemistry and physics, and it is also a public institution, and runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.
Students considering a move abroad can look at Aarhus University in Denmark, where astroscience, agriculture and chemistry also form the core, and it runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes, and covers nanotechnologies and bioengineering as well.
For chemistry, physics and mathematics outside the home country, University of Belgrade in Serbia is a natural reference; it is also a public institution, and runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.
Abroad, National Autonomous University of Mexico (Mexico) covers astroscience, chemistry and physics in a comparable way, and it covers finance and data analytics as well, and is larger, enrolling about 372,755 students against roughly 136,000 here.
University of Granada in Spain is the nearest foreign match on astroscience, chemistry and physics; it is also a public institution, and runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.
*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 Córdoba?
The main university city is on Haya de la Torre in Córdoba, while the historic buildings stand in the old centre of the city.
How old is the university?
It grew out of a Jesuit college in 1613 and is the oldest university in Argentina and one of the oldest in the Americas.
What was the 1918 University Reform?
It was a student movement that began in Córdoba. It demanded autonomy, student participation in governance and free academic expression, and it influenced universities across Latin America.
How large is the university?
It has about 136,000 students, 11,000 staff and 15 faculties, plus numerous research centres.
Is tuition free?
Undergraduate study at Argentine national universities has traditionally been free of tuition. Check current conditions for foreign applicants.
In which language are courses taught?
Courses are taught in Spanish. Exchange students usually need an intermediate level of Spanish.
Does the university have an observatory?
Yes. The Córdoba Astronomical Observatory, founded in 1871 by Benjamin Gould, belongs to the university and remains active in research and teaching.
Where can you study engineering?
Engineering degrees are taught mainly at the Faculty of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences, while physics, astronomy and computer science sit in the Faculty of Mathematics, Astronomy, Physics and Computation.
What are the main research areas?
Astronomy, chemistry, agricultural sciences, medicine and engineering, with strong ties to national research agencies such as CONICET.
Who are some well-known alumni?
Dalmacio Vélez Sarsfield, author of Argentina's civil code, Santiago Derqui, a former president, and the writer Arturo Capdevila studied in Córdoba.
Agriculture, Biomedical Sensors, Chemistry, Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Innovation, Research and Development, 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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