SIT Study Abroad: Argentina: Public Health in Urban Environments

I absolutely loved this program and would recommend it to anyone interested in studying public health in a Spanish-speaking context. I learned so much‚ both academically and personally. I developed a really close relationship with my host mom and learned so much about Argentinian history and culture through conversations with her. I loved the program's emphasis on experiential learning in addition to traditional classroom learning, and I feel like I gained a much broader perspective on health in general. I could not be more grateful for this experience!

This program is a great opportunity for people who want to gain on-the-ground public health experiences. I felt myself challenged by all aspects of the program and definitely improved my Spanish skills as well as my understanding of public health systems outside the United States. That being said, keep in mind that this is a very intense program that is not comparable to a classic European study abroad trip. You will either be in class or on a field visit from 9:00-5:00pm most days. While this presents great learning opportunities, it may take a little bit of time to get used to the Argentine teaching style, which includes 2-3 hour lectures with little discussion. Overall, be prepared to find yourself being pushed outside your comfort zone. It may be uncomfortable at first, but the program provides great academic and professional experience that will no doubt benefit you upon your return.

This program was an incredible experience from start to finish. The classes were super interesting and relevant, covering important public health topics that felt even more meaningful thanks to the immersive activities and trips around the country. Everything we learned in class was reinforced by real-world experiences, making it such an engaging way to study public health. The homestays were hands down the best of any program in Buenos Aires. While other students in different programs had mixed experiences, everyone in SIT raved about their host families. It was the perfect way to practice Spanish, experience daily life in Argentina, and feel truly at home in the city. The SIT team, professors, and partner organizations were all amazing—super knowledgeable, supportive, and passionate about their work. They made the program not just educational, but also really meaningful. And of course, Buenos Aires itself is the perfect place to study abroad. There’s so much to see and do, from exploring neighborhoods to enjoying live music, great food, and cultural events. People are warm and welcoming, and the city has an energy that makes every day exciting. Overall, this program was enriching, inspiring, and just an all-around amazing experience. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for an immersive and impactful study abroad experience!

If you are interested in anything related to healthcare and want to improve your spanish speaking skills I HIGHLY recommend this program. It is an amazing blend of health related topics, spanish language immersion, and fun/exploration of a new city. All of the program directors were so supportive and helpful throughout the process. They understand that it's a hard change and are willing to help with literally anything! You are placed with a host family who is picked specifically for you based on your interests and lifestyle needs (and the homestay coordinator is incredible with making connections and helping out with anything you need for this) and this experience is really helpful for spanish language immersion. There were SO many program sponsored (and required) trips and events that allowed us to see a lot of different parts of the country while still doing some school-related work! There was also some time to travel on our own and explore more! At the end of the program there is an internship or independent project that was super fun, there is a lot of independence and it looks great on resumes for the future. The whole experience, from the people to the location to the food to the school/fun balance was just amazing and I can't speak highly enough about it! (I added a few pictures but these are just a few of the TONS of things we got to experience)!

SIT Public Health in Urban Environments was an incredible program that facilitated growth and learning for me and all my fellow participants. Through immersive excursions and the homestay living arrangements, I was able to get to know Buenos Aires and Argentina through diverse and qualified perspectives. It had a profound impact on my worldview and understanding of healthcare-- both as a global and necessarily local phenomenon. My Spanish has improved drastically and I would recommend this to anyone interested in getting to know a new city.

My experience studying abroad in Argentina with this program was amazing! I had the opportunity to take classes from various professionals related to the health care system in Argentina along with traveling to various regions in Argentina to learn directly from different communities. During these excursions, we were able to visit the mountains in Mendoza and Iguazu Falls in Misiones. The academic staff and my host mom were incredible and extremely supportive. During the last month, I had the opportunity to complete an internship with a neonatologist. Lastly, I gained valuable friendships with the other students in my program. I would definitely recommend this program to any students interested in health care and improving their Spanish skills!

I loved the academic and the culture-immersion of my program! It was amazing to have a lot of excursions all around the country (so prepare to be packing every single weekend). I lived with a host family, whom I absolutely loved and were one of my biggest supporters and cared for me. I loved all of the friendships I made and all of our fun outings! The administration was amazing and I enjoyed getting to know them individually. I hope to come back to Argentina soon and reconnect with all of them! I am sure that these are connections that I want to maintain for a long time <3

This is an excellent program if you are passionate about public health topics and are looking to improve your Spanish. It is language intensive and can be intimidating at first, the academics are intense, especially if you are not confident with your Spanish skills, but the professors are patient and understanding and will accommodate your levels to help you learn and grow. We traveled almost every other weekend, and while it is a program that focuses on urban environments there are many opportunities to explore and visit lots of the beautiful natural sites across Argentina!!! I highly recommend taking trips to the amazing Patagonia, El Calafate and Bariloche! This is not a Europe-like clubbing and partying study abroad experience and can be challenging at times, but rewarding at large. Argentinians are extremely loving and warm people and this program will allow you to make connections and meet many interesting people. I am studying public health and looking to pursue a career in health care and have felt that this program helped me an incredible amount not only with improving my Spanish and understanding another country's public health system, but also with understanding the importance of how the social determinants of health shape not only the individual's, but community's experiences with health.