The National University of the South is the largest university in southern Argentina, with around 30,000 students. Its presence gives Bahía Blanca a noticeably younger, more active energy than most provincial Argentine cities of similar size — the streets around the campus fill with students in term time, and the city has a reasonable café and bar culture as a result.
The main campus occupies a substantial area in the northern part of the city, with some handsome academic buildings. The university runs cultural events, concerts, and exhibitions throughout the year that are generally open to the public. For travellers passing through, the area around campus is the liveliest part of the city for an evening drink or inexpensive meal.