Exchange semester in Argentina: I wouldn’t trade it for the world! 

Hi! My name’s Robert and I’m currently on exchange in Argentina for Autumn 2023!! Argentina was definitely a shock when I first arrived. Everything was very crazy and chaotic but now that I’ve been here a while, it’s definitely crazy and chaotic in a good way 😉

My university here in Argentina, UCA (Universidad Católica Argentina) is super nice and welcoming. When we first arrived, we had a week to settle in and get used to our new home Buenos Aires (I still can’t believe I get to say that!!). We started our first two days of university with an orientation where everything was explained to us including, a little bit about Argentinian Culture, Subjects, Requirements, Online Resources etc. They also gave a us complete tour of the campus. Luckily for us, UCA isn’t a huge university so it’s very easy to find your way around.

After having stayed in an Airbnb for the first few weeks, I managed to find a nice apartment with some Venezuelan students. They don’t speak English so that’s been a bit tough but great for my spanish skills. I live in Monserrat which is only about a 30 minute walk from UCA which is located in Puerto Madero.  

I decided to do subjects that were a bit different to what I normally do at UTS. Normally I study Science, but I’ve been taking a communication subjects as not only am I trying improve my español but also my knowledge of local Argentinian culture which has been great! I was lucky enough to choose whatever subjects I wanted as I had free electives to choose from.

The teaching style is very different in Argentina. Classes are 2.5 hours long each and usually in lecture format. However, I can safely say that although the format doesn’t change that much, the conversations and content keep me engaged and wanting to stay longer! I love that every class is another opportunity to keep improving my Spanish and to get to know my new campañeros a little better. 

Apart from university, what surprised me the most is that Argentina is so beautiful. The amount of diversity it has is incredible, from the jungle of the Iguazu to the glaciers of Ushuaia, Argentina has it all. I’ve already done a bit of travelling and I wouldn’t trade it for the world! 

Adiós! Nos vemos en Argentina!

Robert Karp
Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts in International Studies
Autumn 2023 session in Pontificia Universidad Católica, Argentina