Nacel Select is the high school exchange in Argentina for students who want a say in where they live and study. You pick your preferred area, and Nacel finds a vetted host family and a local school there.
Select High School Exchange Program in Argentina
In the Classic High School exchange program in Argentina, we place our students in Córdoba Province, not in the capital but in smaller towns. The Select Program is for students who are very specific and want a placement according to their area selection.
Areas selected can be: Sierras Chicas, North of Córdoba Province, Rio Cuarto city, near the lake. See the Classic program if you're happy to let Nacel choose your placement.
Learn more about the Argentinian school system and the experience of an exchange student in Argentina.
How selection works
- Apply and interview with a Nacel counselor.
- Tell us your preferred area
- Nacel confirms what's available
- You're matched with a host family and school, and receive their details before departure.
Extra preferences
Besides the Area Selection, an extra fee is also charged on our Classic exchange fee if you wish:
- To continue practicing some uncommon sport for the host country: for a school year, this option costs $1,500
- To attend a specific school with certain subjects, which might be required by the home school: for a school year, this option costs $1,500
- To attend a private or bilingual school: for a school year, this option costs $3,500 + private school costs
- Special diet:
Celiac, vegan, and severe allergy-related diets: for all program durations: USD 200 per month
Vegetarian diets are included in the Classic program.
Please consult us.
Clubs and activities outside school
Much of teenage social life in Argentina happens after class, in neighborhood clubs. Local teens go there to play sports, take language or art classes, rehearse in a band or theater group, or work out at the gym. Depending on your host town, you may find volleyball, basketball, soccer, music, visual arts, and handicrafts.
Joining a club is one of the fastest ways to settle in. You'll meet people who share your interests, hear Spanish in relaxed everyday situations, and get to know teens from different backgrounds. It also keeps your week full and gives you a reason to leave the house on the days you feel homesick.
Want to keep up an uncommon sport? Tell us in your application. It may involve an extra fee, and we'll confirm what's realistic in your chosen area.
Living with your host family
You'll live with a host family in Argentina, with breakfast, lunch, and dinner at home included. Every family has been vetted. You'll receive their details before you travel, so you can start getting to know each other.
Life at home follows a different rhythm from what you may be used to. Lunch is usually around 1 to 2 pm, and there's often a snack, the merienda, around 6 pm. Dinner comes late, at about 9:30 or 10 pm, and the whole family typically eats together. Expect to be invited to weekend asados and to try mate. These are the moments where your Spanish improves fastest.
Your host family gives you far more than a room. They show you how everyday life works, from family traditions to local customs. Your coordinator is there if you need extra support.
Please note: In most cases of the Select Program, we will have to pay a stipend to the host families.
Arrival and orientation
Nacel picks you up at Córdoba airport (COR) and takes you to an orientation camp, where you'll stay in a hotel with other exchange students and our staff. Over the first days, you'll follow a 15-hour Spanish course, learn how school and host family life work, and meet the team supporting you during your stay. The orientation camp applies to semester and school year programs.
Afterwards, we take you to your host family if they live within 200 km of Córdoba. Families farther away involve a separate transport cost.
Throughout your stay, a local coordinator stays in touch with you and your family and is your first contact for any question or problem. Nacel also provides a 24/7 emergency hotline.
Program Dates 2027:
Term:
- February 25th to May 20th 2027
- July 22nd to October 20th 2027
Semester:
- February 25th to July 8th 2027
- July 22nd to December 17th 2027
School year:
- February 25th to December 17th 2027
- July 22nd 2027 to June 19th 2028
Select High School exchange in Argentina 2027
Prices valid for March and July 2027 intakes.
* Price in US Dollars per participant.
Not included: Application Fees (65 EUR)
High School Abroad in Argentina:
- Semester Abroad Argentina
- School Year Abroad Argentina
- High School Summer Abroad Argentina
💰 What's Included in the Price?
- 20+ years of experience providing high-quality study-abroad programs
- Processing of student applications
- Select Host school placement (Area Selection) and tuition fees (except in case of private schools charging extra fees)
- Host family accommodation with full board (meals eaten at home)
- Airport pick-up and transfer from Cordoba airport on arrival to the orientation camp (return transfer to Cordoba airport depends on the host family’s location)
- Transfer from the orientation camp to the host family if they live less than 200km from Cordoba
- Orientation session on arrival, including a 15-hour Spanish course
- Necessary documentation for the student to obtain a student visa for Argentina and visa guidance
- Regular Progress Feedback
- Access to an in-country support team, and Nacel Student Support staff
- Support, assistance, and 24/7 Hotline
🚫 What's Not Included?
- Round-trip international airfare
- Non-compulsory insurance (lost luggage, flight delay, etc.)
- Visa (Programs for 2, 3, and 5 months only require a tourist visa), passport, immigration, and medical exam fees
- Extra activities organized by the school or others
- Extra language courses, extra excursions
- Extra preferences (sports, diet, type of school, special subjects, etc)
- Local transportation (eg: to and from school)
- Transportation from Cordoba (after orientation camp) to the host family if the host family is located more than 200km from Cordoba
- School supplies and calculators, school books, school and sport uniforms, meals taken at school, school fees in case of a private school
- Personal expenses and spending money
- Return transfer
- Medical, Liability and Emergency Repatriation Insurance
Nacel Select is open to motivated students who meet the following criteria:
- Age: applicants are usually 14 to 18 years old. If you're 19 or have already graduated, get in touch and we'll review your application individually.
- Student status: you should currently be in secondary school or in the early years of college or university. Students taking a gap year are also welcome to apply.
- Spanish and grades: you'll need at least one to two years of Spanish classes behind you, along with solid school results.
- Interview: every applicant has a conversation with one of our counselors before being accepted.
Above all, we look for curiosity, initiative, and a real desire to learn. Those qualities matter more than anything else for a successful year abroad.
