A high-level view of the city of Buenos Aires

Coming to NYU, study away was something I really wanted to do. As a person of Latin American descent from El Paso, Texas (located along the Mexico-US border) and a student double majoring in Spanish and Politics, I knew that Buenos Aires was the place for me to study away.

And it’s easy to study away at NYU! Over 3,000 students study away every year at one of our three degree-granting campuses and 12 global academic sites. Since all study away sites are part of NYU’s vast global network, you take NYU classes taught by NYU professors in NYU academic buildings.

How do you get here? Apply a semester before you want to go. For example, I filled out an interest form in fall 2021 to study away in spring 2022. Within about a month, the Office of Global Programs reached out to discuss next steps. They help make the application and visa process as easy as possible. Your tuition stays the same and your financial aid (scholarships, loans, grants, etc.) travels with you!

At the same time, additional grants and scholarships are available to study away students. I was able to obtain the Global Equity Fellowship along with a Global Pathways Scholarship. With that support, I had resources to finance my study away in Buenos Aires.

 

A student standing in front of a colorful building in La Boca, a neighborhood in Buenos Aires
Me in the neighborhood of La Boca, famous for its bright, painted buildings

As a double major, I actually found it easy to plan my classes in Buenos Aires. Half of my classes counted toward my Politics major and the other half toward my Spanish major. Since I’m especially interested in Latin American studies and international politics, my classes were tailored toward the diplomatic relationship between the US and the Latin America region. I also selected classes about the cultural history of Argentina.

Truly any student can study away no matter where or what they are studying. Study away is available to all NYU students, regardless of their location or major. My friends at Buenos Aires include Ben, a Business major at NYU Stern, and Jenna, an NYU Gallatin student, studying advocacy and labor justice. As long as you plan in advance, any student can study away and stay on track for their degree requirements.

Person standing in front of Villa Ocampo on a sunny day
Villa Ocampo is the former home of Victoria Ocampo, one of Argentina's greatest cultural figures
Classes Within Context

At NYU Buenos Aires, each student is required to take a Spanish language course to help adapt as they study away in their local context. Courses range from Spanish for Beginners I to more advanced classes in Latin American literature and culture.

“Taking a Spanish class, especially one that was three hours long, offered the perfect opportunity to practice my speaking and comprehension skills and ultimately immerse myself to a greater extent outside the classroom,” says Ben Wierzbicki (Stern ’22).

As a heritage speaker of Spanish, I took the course Cultural History of Latin America: Ciudad, Paisaje, y Arquitectura. The class focused on cities, landscapes, and architectures through their aesthetic representation. The discussions, lectures, readings, and essays were all conducted in Spanish. It was the perfect opportunity to refine my academic Spanish.

This class, among all other classes at NYU Buenos Aires, is tailored to its local context. Rather than general history or literature classes, your study away classes focus on Argentine history, literature, and culture. Emphasizing the local context definitely enhances your study away experience. For example, in my cultural history class, I learned about the Argentine writer Victoria Ocampo and took a field trip to her family villa the next week.

The Academic Building
The facade of the NYU Buenos Aires study away academic building from the street
The NYU Buenos Aires academic building

At NYU Buenos Aires, all of my classes occurred in a stunning four-story, Tudor-style building. The building was once home to the Angolan Embassy! I felt like I was taking class where history took place. Not to mention, all of my classes were about a one-minute walk from each other.

The NYU Buenos Aires academic center is located in the pedestrian-friendly Parisian-style neighborhood of Recoleta. Austin Li, an International Relations major, describes Recoleta as a “beautiful neighborhood with French style architecture and convenient as well. You can find everything you need, from restaurants and empanada shops to bookstores, supermarkets, cafes and more!”

I would often visit a variety of different coffee shops before class. Afterwards, I would visit an array of empanada shops. Not only did this give me energy before and after class, but it was also a great, easy way to engage with the local culture.

Me drinking coffee in front of a picture of Julio Cortazar
Drinking coffee in London City, the cafe where the writer Julio Cortázar would frequent
Student Life

The student life team at NYU Buenos Aires aims to make your study away experience as enjoyable and engaging as possible. Paint nights, neighborhood tours, ice cream outings—a wide range of activities is offered inside and outside the city. Still, you should also make time to explore on your own!

One of the best parts of study away is moving to a new city and being able to explore. Finding your new favorite coffee shop and sampling the empanadas (through many taste tests!) with your friends is a necessity. Buenos Aires has a host of things to do. Picnic in one of the many parks of the city. Shop in the neighborhood of Palermo. Enjoy a sunny day in the botanical gardens.

Friends sitting in the grass at Parque de la Memoria, a public space in Buenos Aires
My friends hanging out in the Parque de la Memoria
Travel

To be sure, the ability to travel from place to place is one of the most exciting parts about study away. Traveling within Argentina can be affordable and is fairly easy. During a three day weekend, I was able to hop on a ferry and visit Montevideo, Uruguay and for another I was able to hike the trails of Patagonia in Ushuaia – the southernmost city in the world and the closest city to Antarctica.

Next, for spring break I visited my family in Chile, but many students took advantage of the week to explore many must-see spots in Patagonia. For lodging, splitting an Airbnb rental with friends or booking a hostel are usually the most affordable options. And for activities, research what’s free, what has a student or young person rate, and what you might need to make reservations for.

Ivan and friends standing in front of a mountain in Tierra del Fuego National Park
My friends and I during a hike in Tierra del Fuego National Park

With the ability to study seamlessly around the world, NYU offers a truly global education. And as NYU’s singular site in Latin America, NYU Buenos Aires has so much to offer!

From art and culture to food and classes you can’t take anywhere else, I know you’ll have just as great of a time in Buenos Aires as I did.

Ivan Brea is a current senior studying Politics & Spanish and Portuguese alongside a minor in Social and Public Policy at NYU’s College of Arts and Science. He was born in New York City but was predominantly raised by a Dominican father and a Nicaraguan mother in the Texas city of El Paso, situated on the Mexico-United States border. When he is not on campus being involved with LUCHA or the Catholic Center at NYU, you can find him assiduously viewing all types of cinema and reading literature with a cup of masala chai always in reach.