Universities in Bogota, Colombia

Bogotá, Colombia's capital, has the country's largest concentration of universities. International students come for a full degree, an exchange semester or a postgraduate programme, usually taught in Spanish, and for the chance to improve their Spanish while they study. The city has old Catholic universities, secular private universities and large professional institutions, with campuses spread across the city.

The universities in Bogotá

Colombian universities award professional degrees (carreras profesionales) and postgraduate qualifications such as especializaciones, maestrías and doctorates; some also offer shorter technical and technological programmes. Some examples from our list:

• Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, on Carrera 7: its history has two periods, a colonial one from 1623 to 1767, when the Jesuits were expelled from Spain's territories, and a contemporary one that began in 1930; it offers exchanges, double degrees and other mobility programmes
• Universidad de los Andes (Uniandes): founded on 16 November 1948 by a group of young people led by Mario Laserna Pinzón, it describes itself as Colombia's first private, secular higher education institution independent of political parties; it was recognised as a university by Decree 1297 of 1964 and has a separate admission process for international undergraduate and postgraduate applicants, plus information on life in Bogotá and university housing
• Universidad de La Salle: 116 academic programmes, from technical and technological programmes to professional degrees and postgraduate studies, on three campuses in Colombia
• Universidad Central: offers professional degrees, especializaciones, master's degrees and continuing education, and has a Language Center; the university states that it holds high-quality accreditation
• Universidad de América: faculties of architecture, economics and administration, and engineering, including a degree in petroleum and subsurface resources engineering, with teaching at its EcoCampus

Our list also includes the Universidad Nacional de Colombia.

Visa for students

Colombia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cancillería) issues a student visa for higher education, student internships and academic exchanges under agreements between universities. Holders of passports from visa-exempt countries do not need it if they stay no more than 180 calendar days. The requirements include a certificate of admission or enrolment showing the programme and its duration, health insurance with full coverage in Colombia, and proof of financial means through bank statements. The visa allows postgraduate university students to work up to 20 hours a week, and an absence from Colombia of more than 90 days ends it, except for online or distance study.

Costs and getting around

Tuition fees are set by each private university and programme and published every year; the Javeriana, for example, publishes its tuition and other fees for 2026. Ask the admissions office for the current figure for your programme. Bogotá's TransMilenio network, which includes the TransMiZonal buses and the TransMiCable, charges a flat fare of COP 3,550 at all times (fare page updated April 2026).

Practical tips

• Check whether your stay will be longer than 180 days: that decides whether a visa-exempt student needs a student visa
• Arrange health insurance that covers you in Colombia before you apply for the visa
• For an exchange, start with your home university: universities such as the Javeriana and Uniandes work through agreements
• Most programmes are taught in Spanish; ask about language requirements and Spanish courses before you apply

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa to study at a university in Bogotá?

You need a student visa unless your passport is from a visa-exempt country and your stay is no longer than 180 calendar days. The application requires proof of admission or enrolment, health insurance and proof of financial means.

Can international students work while studying in Bogotá?

According to the Cancillería, the student visa allows postgraduate university students to work up to 20 hours a week. Check the visa conditions for your own level of study.

How much is public transport in Bogotá?

A TransMilenio, TransMiZonal or TransMiCable trip costs COP 3,550 at all times, according to TransMilenio's fare page updated in April 2026.

Can I spend one exchange semester at a university in Bogotá?

Yes. Academic exchanges under agreements between universities are covered by the student visa, and universities such as the Javeriana offer exchanges and other mobility programmes; start with your home university's international office.