Argentina's UBA rejects government claim that 39% of med students are foreigners

Adrián Ravier University of Buenos Aires foreign student percentage tuition policy data dispute

Presidential spokesperson Adrián Ravier said that 39 % of the regular students in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) are foreign, citing figures from the Subsecretariat of University Policies. He added that the government would review the number if it proved false and defended a proposal that public universities be allowed to charge tuition to non‑resident students.

UBA vice‑rector Emiliano Yacobitti refuted the statement, publishing official statistics that show foreign enrolment of only 6.1 % in the Medicine faculty and 2.5 % of all university admissions in 2026. Similar data were released by other Argentine universities, indicating the government's 39 % figure is far above the actual share of foreign students. The dispute has reignited debate over university financing, autonomy and the prospect of tuition fees for international students.

Entities

Adrián Ravier · Argentine government · Emiliano Yacobitti · Faculty of Medicine (UBA) · National University of La Plata (UNLP) · Subsecretariat of University Policies · University of Buenos Aires · University of Buenos Aires (UBA)

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[DISPUTED] Adrián Ravier claimed that 39 % of University of Buenos Aires students are foreigners. cadenadelosandesfm.com.ar · diariondi.com · www.laplata1.com · www.datoposta.com · www.cronica.com.ar · +4 more
[● 2 SOURCES] Ravier said the government spends money to train foreign students who eventually return to their countries. cadenadelosandesfm.com.ar
[DISPUTED] UBA vice‑rector Emiliano Yacobitti stated that foreign students represent 6.1 % of the Faculty of Medicine enrollment. diariondi.com · www.laplata1.com · cadenadelosandesfm.com.ar · www.datoposta.com · www.cronica.com.ar · +4 more
[● 2 SOURCES] Ravier said the figure would be reviewed if it proved false. cadenadelosandesfm.com.ar
[● 2 SOURCES] Ravier defended the possibility for autonomous public universities to charge foreign students. cadenadelosandesfm.com.ar
[DISPUTED] Official UBA data shows that foreign students represent 2.5 % of total admissions in 2026. diariondi.com · www.datoposta.com · www.cronica.com.ar · www.bigbangnews.com · diariotextual.com · +2 more
[○ 1 SOURCE] Foreign students account for 6.1% of admissions to the Faculty of Medicine at UBA. diariondi.com
[● 11 SOURCES] The government proposes allowing public universities to charge tuition to foreign (non‑resident) students. www.laplata1.com · cadenadelosandesfm.com.ar · corta.com · www.datoposta.com · www.cronica.com.ar · +6 more
[● 9 SOURCES] Ravier said the government would review the 39 % figure if it proved false. www.laplata1.com · cadenadelosandesfm.com.ar · www.datoposta.com · www.cronica.com.ar · www.bigbangnews.com · +4 more