Argentina & Uruguay

Promotional banner for a four-week Spanish immersion program in Argentina and Uruguay, featuring Buenos Aires and Montevideo landmarks, tango, Caminito, the Río de la Plata coastline, homestays, small classes, faculty leadership, and nine UC credits.

Faculty-Led Spanish Immersion in Argentina and Uruguay

 

This four-week faculty-led Spanish immersion program offers a unique opportunity to experience two of South America's most vibrant cultural capitals while earning University of Cincinnati credit. Students spend two weeks in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and two weeks in Montevideo, Uruguay, combining intensive Spanish-language study with cultural immersion, experiential learning, and faculty-led academic exploration.

Unlike traditional study abroad programs that focus on a single destination, this program allows students to compare two closely connected yet distinct countries that share the cultural heritage of the Río de la Plata. Through language classes, cultural activities, homestays, and guided excursions, students gain a deeper understanding of the linguistic, historical, and cultural diversity of the Southern Cone.

Buenos Aires is renowned for its architecture, bookstores, cafés, museums, tango, and dynamic cultural life. Across the Río de la Plata, Montevideo offers a relaxed coastal atmosphere, historic neighborhoods, and a rich artistic and literary tradition. These two cities provide an exceptional environment for language immersion and intercultural learning.

The program features small classes (maximum of eight students), individualized instruction, and carefully selected host families that provide authentic opportunities to practice Spanish in everyday situations.

Students will stay with local families in both cities. Homestay accommodations include breakfast and dinner, allowing students to experience daily life, local customs, and regional cuisine while strengthening their language skills outside the classroom.

Pre-requisite: Students must have completed SPAN 1002 (or SPAN 1014) or have demonstrated equivalent preparation in Spanish.

What's the cost of the program?

Estimated Program Fee: US$2,980* 

*This estimate includes the $800 UC International Study Abroad Grant for the first eligible students. The estimated program fee before the grant is US$3,780. Airfare and UC tuition are not included. Program costs are subject to change.

What is included in the program fee?

  • Spanish language instruction in small classes (maximum eight students)
  • Southern Cone culture course
  • Course materials
  • Homestay accommodation in Buenos Aires and Montevideo
  • Breakfast and dinner throughout the program
  • Guided cultural activities
  • Weekend excursions
  • Museum and cultural site admissions
  • Airport transfers
  • International health insurance
  • Local program coordination and on-site support
  • Emergency assistance throughout the program

What is not included in the program fee?

  • UC tuition and fees
  • MLTI 3000 Study Abroad Fee ($200)
  • Round-trip airfare
  • Passport fees
  • Personal expenses

The UC International Study Abroad Grant provides $800 toward the program fee for the first eligible UC students. Students must meet UC International eligibility requirements, including the minimum GPA requirement.

Additional scholarships may also be available through the Department of Romance & Arabic Languages & Literatures. Please contact the Program Director for current scholarship opportunities.

Which courses will you take?

Students earn 9 credits through a combination of language, culture, and faculty-led coursework.

Spanish Language Course

One of the following, depending on placement:

  • SPAN 2015
  • SPAN 2016
  • SPAN 3001
  • SPAN 3002
  • SPAN 4001
  • SPAN 4002

Southern Cone Culture

SPAN 3064 – Study Tour: South America

UC Faculty Course

SPAN 3095 – Latin American Cinemas: The Southern Cone

Students must enroll in MLTI 3000 to transfer credits.

These courses strengthen students' Spanish-language proficiency while exploring the history, cultures, and societies of Argentina and Uruguay through an interdisciplinary and comparative perspective. Coursework may also satisfy General Education requirements in areas such as Humanities, Literature, Diversity, Society, Culture, and Ethics, depending on individual degree programs.

How to apply?

For more information and the application link, please click here.

Contact Information

Dr. Patricia Valladares
Program Director
Professor of Latin American and Caribbean Literature and Film
Department of Romance & Arabic Languages & Literatures
University of Cincinnati
Office: CCH 5262
pat.valladares@uc.edu