Electrical Engineering Schools and Programs in Colombia

Electrical Engineering Studies in Colombia

Electrical engineering (ingeniería eléctrica) in Colombia is a university degree taught in Spanish that deals with the generation, transmission, distribution and efficient use of electrical energy. It is a regulated profession: engineers must be entered in a national professional register before they can practise. Our directory lists four universities in Colombia with electrical engineering studies, three in Bogotá and one in Medellín.

How the degree is organised

The first qualification is a pregrado, an undergraduate professional degree measured in Colombian academic credits, not ECTS. Its length differs between universities:

• Universidad de los Andes (Bogotá): 8 semesters, 134 credits, full-time and in person; title Ingeniero(a) Eléctrico
• Universidad de La Salle (Bogotá): 10 semesters, daytime, at the Candelaria campus; title Ingeniero(a) Electricista
• Universidad de Antioquia (Medellín): the programme was created in 1968; according to its page, the curriculum approved in 2016 (version 5) has 179 credits
• Universidad Nacional de Colombia: Ingeniería Eléctrica at the Bogotá, Manizales and Medellín campuses

The programmes rest on mathematics and physics and then move to electrical systems. The Universidad de Antioquia describes its aim as training engineers for the design, implementation and efficient operation of electrical systems, and says its 2016 curriculum added environmental, social, financial and regulatory criteria. The Universidad de los Andes presents its graduates as engineers for the energy transition, who integrate technologies and design sustainable solutions for a secure and efficient supply.

After the pregrado, Colombian law (Ley 30 de 1992) provides for specialisations (especializaciones), master's degrees (maestrías) and doctorates. The department at the Universidad de los Andes, for example, lists master's programmes in Ingeniería Eléctrica and in Innovación de Sistemas Energéticos, and a doctorate.

Quality and accreditation

Every programme needs a registro calificado from the Ministerio de Educación Nacional and has a code in the national register SNIES. The Universidad de los Andes cites the voluntary high-quality accreditation (Acreditación de Alta Calidad) under a resolution of 7 March 2018 valid for 10 years, and states that its Electrical Engineering programme is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. The Universidad de La Salle also lists ABET among the accreditations of its programme.

Admission and language

Ley 30 de 1992 requires every undergraduate applicant to hold a secondary school leaving qualification (título de bachiller) or its foreign equivalent and to have sat the state exam for entry to higher education (Saber 11). The two public universities select through their own entrance exam. At the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, foreign applicants follow the regular admission process and can sit the test online at a Colombian consulate; the application fee paid from abroad was US$87.5 for the 2026-02 intake. The Universidad de Antioquia accepts a valid passport as identification for its exam and asks all applicants to show that they sat the Saber 11 tests, whatever the result. The Universidad de los Andes admits in several rounds: for the semester starting in January 2027, applications opened on 21 July 2026 and close finally on 7 December 2026. Classes are in Spanish.

Students who need a visa apply for the visitor visa (type V) for students. According to the Colombian foreign ministry (checked in October 2026), holders of visa-exempt passports do not need it for stays of up to 180 calendar days. The application requires a certificate of admission or enrolment and health insurance for the whole stay.

Costs

In October 2026 the Universidad de La Salle showed a cost of COP 8,560,000 on its electrical engineering page. The Universidad de los Andes publishes its price per semester separately from the programme page, and the public universities' pages consulted give no single tuition figure. Confirm current fees with each university.

Professional registration and careers

Under Ley 842 de 2003, practising engineering legally in Colombia requires registration in the professional register kept by the Consejo Profesional Nacional de Ingeniería (COPNIA). Graduates of foreign universities must attach the resolution recognising their degree (convalidación) issued by the Ministerio de Educación Nacional. COPNIA states that the fee for the procedure is COP 596,000 in 2026, that it takes at most 20 working days once all requirements are met, and that the card is issued in digital format only. Engineers who live abroad and come to work temporarily need a temporary permit from COPNIA, valid for one year and renewable.

Electrical engineers work in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity, in industry, consultancy and regulation, and in teaching and research. The Universidad de La Salle mentions more than 10 agreements for placements with companies in the electricity sector, and the Universidad de Antioquia notes that its graduates work as managers, professors and researchers.

Frequently asked questions

How long does an electrical engineering degree take in Colombia?

It depends on the university: 8 semesters at the Universidad de los Andes and 10 semesters at the Universidad de La Salle.

Do I need to register to work as an engineer in Colombia?

Yes. Ley 842 de 2003 requires registration with COPNIA, the national engineering council. With a foreign degree you first need its recognition by the Ministerio de Educación Nacional.

Are any programmes internationally accredited?

The Universidad de los Andes states that its programme is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, and the Universidad de La Salle lists ABET among its accreditations.

Is the degree taught in English?

The undergraduate programmes listed here are taught in Spanish.