University of Buenos Aires
The University of Buenos Aires is Argentina's largest public national university, founded in 1821, serving over 330,000 students across 13 faculties with free tuition. Funded primarily by government allocations, it is the only Latin American university ranked in the global top 100 (84th, QS 2027).
- Company typePublic
- Founded1821
- HeadquartersBuenos Aires, Argentina
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What University of Buenos Aires does
The University of Buenos Aires (Universidad de Buenos Aires, UBA) is Argentina's largest public national university, founded on August 12, 1821, and headquartered in Buenos Aires. It serves over 330,000 enrolled students across 13 faculties offering more than 110 undergraduate degree programs and 550+ postgraduate specializations, supported by 23,000+ teaching faculty and 13,400+ administrative and support staff. The institution operates an integrated ecosystem that includes the CBC/UBA XXI admissions system, a public hospital network (Hospitales UBA), a publishing house (EUDEBA), a technology transfer subsidiary (UBATEC), an SME support center (Centro PYME UBA), museums, cultural centers, and the DOSUBA social welfare service. Education is provided free of tuition, with the university funded primarily through direct Argentine government budget allocations supplemented by voluntary tax-deductible donations through the "Por más graduad@s" program, research grants, and technology transfer activities.
UBA's research portfolio spans biotechnology, neuroscience, pharmacology, marine science, agricultural innovation, and AI applications. Notable scientific achievements include the first cloned pig in Latin America with three inactivated genes for xenotransplantation (developed jointly with UNSAM), a nanoparticle-based curcumin delivery system for memory research, deep-sea expedition documentation including the rare giant phantom jellyfish in collaboration with the Schmidt Ocean Institute, and saline agriculture innovation with Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam achieving 80% salinity mapping accuracy. The institution ranks 84th globally in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and 2026, making it the only Latin American university within the top 100 worldwide. Its alumni include five Nobel Prize winners and seventeen Argentine presidents, anchoring substantial intangible brand equity.
UBA's business model is anchored in public government funding (national budget allocations) with supplementary revenue from voluntary donations, research grants and contracts, and technology transfer via UBATEC. The institution does not charge tuition, operating on a freemium education model since the mid-20th century establishment of gratuity. Distribution occurs through 13 faculties (direct enrollment) and centralized undergraduate admissions via CBC/UBA XXI, with international exchange managed through UBA Internacional. Marketing and science communication are conducted through UBA Noticias, UBA Ciencia, Radio UBA, UBA TV, and international cooperation channels. The university's public positioning was tested in May 2026 when approximately 1.5 million Argentinians protested reduced science and education funding, followed by a Supreme Court order requiring compliance with the Ley de Financiamiento Universitario.
University of Buenos Aires firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- University of Buenos Aires
- Legal name
- Universidad de Buenos Aires
- Website
- https://uba.ar
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1821
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- The University of Buenos Aires is Argentina's largest public national university, founded in 1821, serving over 330,000 students across 13 faculties with free tuition. Funded primarily by government allocations, it is the only Latin American university ranked in the global top 100 (84th, QS 2027).
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
University of Buenos Aires industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Research Universities with Multi-Campus Systems (EDAHAAAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Public Research Universities with Academic Medical Centers (AMCs) (EDAHAAAC), Technology Transfer & Innovation-Driven Research Universities (High Commercialization) (EDAHABAH)
Keywords
Where University of Buenos Aires is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Buenos Aires
- HQ country
- Argentina
- HQ region
- Latin America
Offices1 record
Markets served
University of Buenos Aires business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Public Government Funding: As Argentina's public national university, UBA receives direct government funding from the national budget. Education is provided free of tuition (gratuity established mid-20th century).
- Donations and Private Contributions: Voluntary donation programs such as 'Por más graduad@s' (For more graduates) accepting contributions from individuals and companies to fund student scholarships (Becas Sarmiento). Donations are tax-deductible.
- Research Grants and Contracts: Scientific research activities funded through grants, international partnerships, and technology transfer programs via UBATEC and research institutes.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Annual | Free undergraduate and graduate education |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
University of Buenos Aires product offering
Product offeringCore offering
University of Buenos Aires is a public national research university in Argentina, founded on August 12, 1821. It provides tuition-free undergraduate and postgraduate higher education across 13 faculties, runs more than 110 undergraduate degree programs and 550 postgraduate programs, conducts scientific research in disciplines including biotechnology, neuroscience, pharmacology, and data science, and operates the Hospital de Clínicas and a network of more than 2,400 medical centers. It also publishes academic content through EUDEBA, runs the UBA XXI distance-learning university, and offers sports, volunteer, and international mobility programs.
Product overview
The University of Buenos Aires (UBA) is a large public research university with 13 faculties, 6 secondary schools, over 110 undergraduate degree programs, and more than 550 graduate programs. It operates a network of public hospitals (RED de HOSPITALES) and maintains various research institutes. The institution does not offer a defined product or technology service portfolio in the traditional sense; it primarily provides higher education services, research capabilities, and public healthcare through its hospital network.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CITEP: Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo de la Tecnología Educativa
- UBATEC
- EUDEBA
- UBA XXI
- CBC
- DOSUBA
- Centro Cultural Rojas
- Cine Cosmos
- Red de Museos
- Hospitales UBA
- UBA en Acción
- UBA Digital
- Ambiente UBA
- UBA Verde
Products and services
- Undergraduate degree programs
Companies that use University of Buenos Aires
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
University of Buenos Aires technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
University of Buenos Aires partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Vrije Universiteit AmsterdamcoreJoint saline agriculture mission with The Salt Doctors assessing soil and water salinity risks threatening agricultural productivity. The Saline Agriculture Innovation Hub developed salinity mapping achieving 80% accuracy and demonstrated sorghum as viable alternative crop.
- Schmidt Ocean InstitutecoreCollaborative deep-sea expedition aboard R/V Falkor (too) documenting rare marine species including the giant phantom jellyfish (Stygiomedusa gigantea) and discovering new species and cold seep ecosystems along Argentina's continental shelf.
- UNESCOflagshipSolar energy project at Villa Ocampo heritage site in Argentina involving roof adaptation and photovoltaic panel installation to reduce electricity consumption and emissions. Achieved 44% reduction in traditional energy consumption in first month of use.
- LAN Cono Sur OfficeminorJoint mission organization with Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and The Salt Doctors to assess salinity risks in agriculture across Argentina and Chile.
- Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM)coreJoint research collaboration with UBA researchers achieving the birth of the first cloned pig in Latin America with three inactivated genes for xenotransplants. Work conducted at UBA's Veterinary Faculty.
- The Salt DoctorsminorOrganization specializing in saline agriculture that partnered with Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and conducted joint missions to Argentina and Chile.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
University of Buenos Aires competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Universidad de Chile: Another major Chilean public research university and historic competitor to UBA in regional rankings. Comparable as a publicly funded Latin American research university with broad faculty coverage and free public education.
- Universidade de São Paulo (USP): Brazil's flagship public research university with comparable scale (80,000+ students), strong research output, and public funding model. Comparable as a major LatAm public research university competing for regional academic leadership.
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM): Largest public research university in Latin America with similar scale, free tuition model, multi-faculty structure, and top-tier global ranking. Most directly comparable peer as a public national flagship university serving hundreds of thousands of students.
- Universidad de la República (UdelaR): Uruguay's primary public research university with similar free public education model and federal funding structure. Comparable as a smaller-scale regional public university facing similar Latin American funding constraints.
- Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (PUC): Chile's leading research university with strong QS rankings and stable tuition-funded model. Comparable as a top Latin American research university competing for talent, faculty, and international recognition.
- Universidad Nacional de Colombia: Colombia's largest public university serving 50,000+ students across multiple campuses. Comparable as another major Spanish-speaking public research university in the region competing for research funding and rankings.
Broad incumbents
- University of Oxford: Global top-ranked comprehensive research university with similar multi-faculty structure and Nobel laureate heritage. Comparable as a global benchmark for ranking position and research breadth, though with vastly greater financial resources.
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT): Global top-5 research university with comparable depth in biotech, AI, and engineering research. Comparable as a benchmark for research excellence, technology transfer (via UBATEC equivalent), and innovation output.
- Stanford University: Global research leader in technology transfer, biotech commercialization, and academic-industry partnerships (e.g., Stanford's Office of Technology Licensing analogous to UBATEC). Comparable as a benchmark for monetizing university research output.
Regional players
- Universidad de los Andes (Colombia): Leading private research university in Colombia with strong regional ranking. Comparable as a competitor for top students and faculty in the region, though operates on a private tuition-funded model unlike UBA.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
University of Buenos Aires social profiles
Digital presenceUniversity of Buenos Aires financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
University of Buenos Aires leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
University of Buenos Aires funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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University of Buenos Aires M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about University of Buenos Aires
What does University of Buenos Aires do?
University of Buenos Aires is a public national research university in Argentina, founded on August 12, 1821. It provides tuition-free undergraduate and postgraduate higher education across 13 faculties, runs more than 110 undergraduate degree programs and 550 postgraduate programs, conducts scientific research in disciplines including biotechnology, neuroscience, pharmacology, and data science, and operates the Hospital de Clínicas and a network of more than 2,400 medical centers. It also publishes academic content through EUDEBA, runs the UBA XXI distance-learning university, and offers sports, volunteer, and international mobility programs.
Is University of Buenos Aires a public or private company?
University of Buenos Aires is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was University of Buenos Aires founded?
University of Buenos Aires was founded in 1821. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is University of Buenos Aires based?
University of Buenos Aires is headquartered in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in the Latin America region.
How does University of Buenos Aires make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Public Government Funding is the primary driver. The others are donations and Private Contributions and research Grants and Contracts.
Who are University of Buenos Aires's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Universidad de Chile, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Universidad de la República (UdelaR), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (PUC) and Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Broad incumbents are University of Oxford, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Stanford University. Universidad de los Andes (Colombia) is listed as a regional player.
Does University of Buenos Aires have an API?
No public API is recorded for University of Buenos Aires.
What industry is University of Buenos Aires in?
University of Buenos Aires's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAAAI, Public Research Universities with Multi-Campus Systems, with a secondary code of EDAHAAAC, Public Research Universities with Academic Medical Centers (AMCs). Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.