SUMMARY

In Latin American universities, the European model for Doctoral studies has prevailed up to not so long ago. However, postgraduate education in Argentina does not consist only of doctoral studies but also, and in a decreasing order of complexity, of Master’s degrees and diplomas, reflecting the incorporation from the 80’s of the American model in the region. In Argentina, these three levels of graduate education are ruled by the Higher Education National Act 24521/95, which also establishes that all postgraduate studies –be them diplomas, master’s degrees or doctoral studies-, must be accredited by the National Commission of Evaluation and University Accreditation. The Argentinean experience referred to postgraduate education in Surveying is very recent: the Surveying Doctorate from the National University of Catamarca, with its beginnings in the ‘90s, is the first and only academic top level offer in Argentina and Latin America, addressed exclusively to surveyors. Since its creation, a total of 36 Argentinean, Brazilian, Uruguayan and Guatemalan students have applied for it, and although a significant percentage has abandoned or delayed their studies, four candidates have achieved the degree of Doctor in Surveying