National University of Córdoba

Key facts

Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 7 November 2026.

About the National University of Córdoba

UNC traces its origin to the Jesuit Colegio Máximo in Córdoba, where higher studies began in 1613 without the right to confer degrees. Pope Gregory XV’s apostolic brief of 8 August 1621 gave that right, King Philip IV ratified it in 1622, and the university was declared inaugurated in April 1622. Its nickname is “Casa de Trejo”.^[2] The Jesuits ran it until their expulsion in 1767; the Faculty of Law and Social Sciences dates from 1791.^[2]

In 2023 the university’s statistical yearbook counted 157,559 students in its undergraduate and pre-degree table.^[8]

How is the National University of Córdoba ranked?

In the QS World University Rankings 2027 (published 18 June 2026), UNC is in the 801–850 band. Infobae reports that it moved up from 851–900 and was the only Argentine university in its list that advanced.^[3] The aggregator xuanxiao shows the same band for 2027 and 851–900 for 2026.^[11] QS publishes its ranking at topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access, so we could not read QS directly. Another outlet, C5N, printed 851–900 for UNC, which is the 2026 band.^[12]

QS gives UNC a band, not a single position. Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.

What can you study at the National University of Córdoba?

UNC has 15 faculties:^[1]

• Architecture, Urbanism and Design; Arts; Agricultural Sciences
• Communication Sciences; Economic Sciences; Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences
• Medical Sciences; Chemical Sciences; Social Sciences; Law
• Philosophy and Humanities; Languages; Mathematics, Astronomy, Physics and Computer Science
• Dentistry; Psychology

The university publishes an annual guide to its undergraduate and pre-degree programmes with study plans and the levelling cycle for each.^[9] Foreign students who come for a term or a year can apply through the international exchange office, which also lists Spanish and culture courses (PECLA).^[7]

How much does the National University of Córdoba cost?

Undergraduate: free of charge

UNC’s statute (Article 82) says: “El ingreso, como así también el desarrollo de la enseñanza, serán completamente gratuitos” (admission, and teaching, are completely free). The Higher Council recalled this in Ordinance 1/2011 and ordered that running costs of the faculties be met from the public budget.^[4]

Foreign students without permanent residence

Decree 366/2025 amended Article 2 bis of the Higher Education Law. Free undergraduate study at state institutions covers Argentine citizens and foreigners with permanent residence; each state university may set fees for other foreign students. In July 2026 the Under-Secretary for University Policy said that rectors have been legally authorised to charge since 28 May 2025.^[5]

After the government’s first announcement in December 2024, UNC told the press that it would not charge non-resident foreign undergraduates; a UNC official said the fee “is not a real source of income”.^[6] We found no later UNC decision to charge (checked 7 November 2026). For scale: the university’s yearbook counted 3,733 foreign students in 2023, 3,050 of them in undergraduate programmes,^[8] while the December 2024 press report gave about 2,000 foreign undergraduates (1.3% of about 150,000 students).^[6] The two sources count differently, so treat both as indications.

We did not find a fee table for UNC postgraduate programmes; ask the programme directly. Living costs are not included; see our Argentina guide.

How do you apply to the National University of Córdoba?

Undergraduate. Pre-enrolment for undergraduate and pre-degree programmes takes place once a year at each faculty. UNC publishes the dates and the links to each faculty’s site on its page for new students, which at the time of reading was still headed “Preinscripciones UNC 2024”, so check the current year’s dates. Foreign nationals, like Argentines over 25 without a secondary diploma, have to meet additional specific requirements, which that page links to.^[9]

Degree already earned abroad. To have a foreign undergraduate degree revalidated or convalidated at UNC, you submit the original diploma, a transcript with theory and practice hours, and the syllabuses of the subjects passed. All documents must be authenticated and legalised, and you must name an address in Córdoba for the procedure. A written request to the rector is needed. Graduates from certain countries can use agreements that simplify convalidation.^[10]

Postgraduate. Foreign graduates need their undergraduate title revalidated or convalidated, and the Spanish certificate CELU at advanced level if their first language is not Spanish.^[10]

Exchange. Exchange students apply through the university’s international students portal.^[7]

We give no deadlines here because they change every year.

Which language level do you need?

UNC asks for the Spanish certificate CELU at advanced level when you want a foreign degree revalidated or convalidated, or when you apply for postgraduate study and Spanish is not your first language.^[10] For entering a first degree, the pages we read do not state a certificate level; the page on foreign applicants points to specific requirements for foreign nationals.^[9]

More about studying in Argentina

• Argentina: best universities
• Cost of Studying Abroad
• International Student Scholarships
• University Ranking Methodology

More university profiles in Argentina

• Buenos Aires Institute of Technology (ITBA)
• National University of La Plata
• Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina
• University of Buenos Aires