History Schools and Programs in Colombia

History Studies in Colombia

History (Historia) is taught in Colombia as a professional undergraduate degree that leads to the title of Historiador or Historiadora, and continues with master's and doctoral programmes. Four universities listed on SpainExchange are linked to this subject: three in Bogotá and one in Medellín.

How the degree is organised

Colombian higher education is governed by Ley 30 de 1992. The law separates undergraduate programmes (pregrado) from postgraduate programmes, which are specialisations (especializaciones), master's degrees (maestrías), doctorates and post-doctorates. A master's degree is not a condition for entering a doctorate, and a doctorate ends with a thesis.

Workload is counted in academic credits. Under Decreto 1330 de 2019 one credit equals 48 hours of student work in an academic period, so Colombian credits are not the same unit as ECTS credits.

The undergraduate degree in History takes 8 semesters at the universities that publish its length. At the Universidad de los Andes (Uniandes) in Bogotá it has 120 credits, is taught on campus and awards the title of Historiador(a). The Universidad de Antioquia also lists Historia at 8 semesters. At postgraduate level, the Uniandes Maestría en Historia takes 3 semesters and 36 credits in a hybrid format (on campus and online), and its Doctorado en Historia takes 9 semesters on campus.

Where history is taught

• Universidad Nacional de Colombia: Historia at the Bogotá campus (SNIES 21) and at the Medellín campus (SNIES 115) was in the list of programmes for the 2027-01 admission.
• Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá: the degree belongs to the Departamento de Historia y Geografía. The department states that its students have done placements at the Ministry of Culture, the Biblioteca Nacional and the Archivo General de la Nación, among others.
• Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá: the Carrera de Historia states that it has 50 years of experience training historians.
• Universidad de Antioquia: Historia is taught on campus in Medellín, Santa Fe de Antioquia and Carepa.

Admission and language

By law, applicants to any undergraduate programme need a secondary-school diploma (título de bachiller) or its foreign equivalent and must have taken the State examination for entry to higher education. Each institution adds its own requirements. The Universidad Nacional de Colombia selects through its own admission test; for the 2027-01 intake it was held on Sunday 20 September. Applicants who are abroad sit the test online at a Colombian consulate, and the registration fee paid from abroad was US$87.50 for the 2026-02 intake. At enrolment, admitted foreign students present their secondary-school diploma and the state exam result of their home country, validated by Colombia's Ministry of National Education. The university also notes that not every programme is offered every semester.

The Universidad de Antioquia accepts as a new applicant any foreigner who has completed the equivalent of Colombian secondary education. Teaching is in Spanish: for exchange stays, the Universidad de Antioquia asks students from non-Spanish-speaking countries for a Spanish certificate at CEFR level B1 or higher.

Costs

Private universities publish their fees per programme. Uniandes gives a semester value of 27,700,000 Colombian pesos (about US$7,090) for 2027 for the History pregrado, a provisional figure until the university sets the final 2027 value. For the master's it charges per credit: 1,890,000 pesos per academic credit in 2026. Fees at the public universities were not available on their admission pages; applicants should ask each university.

Recognition of the qualification

Under Ley 30, only higher-education institutions may award degree titles. Each programme carries a code in the national register (SNIES) and a ministry authorisation (registro calificado), which universities publish on the programme page. Graduates who plan to study or work in another country should ask that country's authority how it recognises Colombian titles.

Careers

According to Uniandes, History graduates can work in the design of public policy, social programmes, cultural management, conflict resolution, the reconstruction of historical processes, journalism, heritage, tourism and archive management. Graduates who aim at research can continue with a master's degree or a doctorate.

Student visa

Colombia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cancillería) issues a visitor visa for students (visa V, Estudiante) that covers higher education, student internships and academic exchange between universities. Holders of passports from visa-exempt countries do not need it when their stay in Colombia does not exceed 180 calendar days. Applicants submit a certificate of admission or enrolment that states the programme and its duration, and a health insurance policy valid in Colombia. The visa is valid for up to two years (Cancillería, checked 8 October 2026).

Frequently asked questions

How long does a History degree take in Colombia?

The Universidad de los Andes and the Universidad de Antioquia both list 8 semesters. At Uniandes the degree has 120 credits.

Which universities teach History in Bogotá?

Among the universities listed on SpainExchange, the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, the Universidad de los Andes and the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana teach History in Bogotá.

Can History be studied at postgraduate level?

Yes. The Universidad de los Andes, for example, offers a Maestría en Historia of 3 semesters and 36 credits and a Doctorado en Historia of 9 semesters.