ARGENTINA - ISEP Universidad Blas Pascal

To be eligible to participate in this program, students must meet the following requirements:

• Good academic and judicial standing during time of application AND time of participation in program
• Undergraduates must have completed at least two semesters of study at Lake Forest College AND have second-semester sophomore status or higher before participation. 
• At least 18 years of age by the program’s departure date. 
• Be able to stay at the host program for the duration of the semester, including through the exam and travel periods
• Minimum GPA of 2.75.  
• Must have a minimum of 4 semesters of college-level Spanish or the equivalent
• The student must submit ISEP language proficiency report in the application, even if native speaker.

Students applying to ISEP must apply for an Exchange option (in any country) as a first choice but may apply to a Direct option as a back-up. Direct options may have an additional cost (see a financial section for more information).

Córdoba is Argentina’s second largest city as well as the capital of the province with the same name. It has become a recognized historic and cultural center due to its strategic location in the heart of the country. Córdoba, known as “La Docta” (from the Latin docere, meaning “to teach”), has become the home to more than 130,000 students from around the world who seek to gain not only academic knowledge but also cultural immersion.

Experiencing Córdoba’s surrounding nature and wildlife destinations is an absolute must. The nearby lakes and rivers attract water sports enthusiasts from around the world, while local mountains and valleys are ideal for hiking, horseback riding, rock climbing, hand gliding, and other outdoor activities.

Córdoba, with its warm and inviting inhabitants, offers students the unique experience of being fully integrated into Argentine lifestyle and customs.

To learn more about Córdoba and all it has to offer, click here. 

To learn more about the visa process for this country, please visit the ISEP Country Handbook for Argentina. 

The UBP is particularly strong in Business Administration and Accountancy, Computer Engineering, Environmental Management, Institutional Communication, Law, Telecommunications Engineering, and Tourism.

To assist in determing the appropirate number of credits, transcripts from ISEP insitutions in Argentina usually unclude the weeklyu contact hours, total contact hours (per semester), or credits.

To earn 4 Lake Forest credits, students must take 168 total contact hours. 

To Earn 3 Lake Forest credits, students must take 126 total contact hours. 

The number of credits listed here is estimated, and GEO will work with you, your advisor, and the registrar to ensure you are earning enough credits to keep you on track for graduation.

Language Courses: Non-intensive Spanish language courses are offered in addition to regular classes during the academic year or semester for High Intermediate and Advanced levels.

A 6-week pre-session, intensive Spanish Language, and Culture course are offered before the Argentine spring semester (July), at an additional cost.

HINTS FOR RESEARCHING COURSES

One Spanish as a second language course is also included in ISEP benefits. ISEP students may be particularly interested in courses from the Programa de Intercambio Internacional (Semestral), which are Argentine language, history and culture courses for international students.

Note: The courses may not be available each semester. Some courses are full-year only (February-November) and these are known as annual. 

Academic Environment and Teaching Style

Please understand that the academic system is quite different. Classes are usually lecture-based, instead of discussion or group work. Classes are often much larger than those found at Lake Forest College. Grades are based heavily, at times almost entirely, on one end-of-term exam, though some courses will also offer a midterm.  Professors are often more formal than those in the United States.

All courses/modules may have prerequisites.  Some departments may have limitations on numbers of courses that can be taken within or outside it.  Be aware of these limitations.

Please review the country handbook for more information on ISEP placement information, the education system, grades, class hours, and classroom etiquette.

Blas Pascal University is a private institution of higher education dedicated to the training of future highly competitive professionals, via theoretical knowledge put into practice under the motto “to know and to know how.” UBP aspires to develop creative professionals prepared for a growing competitive market, emphasizing the value of solidarity and ethical commitment to sustainable development in Argentina.

UBP is committed to educational innovation and change in teaching and learning models, using the most up-to-date technological resources. Blas Pascal University is the only educational institution with an on-campus Student Residence. The International Relations Center helps the exchange student adapt to Argentine society and facilitates shared cultural experiences, which is the primal objective of our programs. 

ORIENTATION

During orientation, the ISEP Coordinator and staff from the International Office will go over academics, housing, health, emergencies, safety and general information. Orientation consists of three 3-hour-a-day sessions during which participants will be given an explanation on university procedures for enrollment, grading scales, and class schedules. A campus tour will help students get acquainted with UBP facilities. On the last day of orientation, students take a placement test to determine their level of Spanish for the semester, and they will go on a tour around the city to become familiar with the most important sites of Cordoba.

STUDENT ACTIVITIES

Student activities include a welcome lunch, an International Club, a city tour, excursions to the Hills, Tango and horseback riding lessons, and a farewell party. Students will have free access to all campus facilities (library, cafeteria, weight-lifting room, tennis courts, etc). 

Students also have the opportunity to pair up with a tutor, in the form of a buddy program. Tutors are local students who accompany, guide and help the international students during their period in Argentina.

All students are housed with host families and eat most meals (about 19 per week) with the host family. 

For all approved programs for guaranteed financial aid transferability, students pay their Lake Forest College tuition plus a program fee. The program fee for a semester with the ISEP Exchange to Universidad Blas Pascal includes orientation, on-site director, university fees, housing, and the equivalent of 19/meals per week. The Direct fee includes all of the above, plus insurance.  

ISEP costs for Exchange are usually the most cost-effective, as it is intended to promote mobility of students around the world. Direct options are available for those students that prefer to attend a school with limited availability for Exchange, though costs may be different as they are set by the host school. However, the program fee may be different than that of Exchange, which tend to be less expensive to promote more exchange opportunities for all schools.

Here is an estimated budget for the Fall 2019/Spring 2020 programs:

Tuition rates and program fees are subject to change each year, but this information was up-to-date as ofMarch 2019. We will notify applicants, and update this page if the program fee or other estimates change.

You can discuss with Financial Aid your specific aid package and your expected family contribution.

Deposits to other programs, if required, are paid by the student to the host program, and will appear as a credit on your study abroad term bill from the College.

Keep in mind that you may spend more or less in certain areas like personal expenses, travel, meals, or airfare, depending on exchange rates and your own spending habits. Classroom or lab fees are not included in this estimate and will depend on your course registration choices.  

Don’t forget to apply for scholarships! A great listing can be found here.