Biology Schools and Programs in Colombia

Biology Studies in Colombia

Biology in Colombia is a university degree at professional level (pregrado) that leads to the title of Biólogo or Bióloga. Depending on the university it takes 8 to 10 semesters, with field work and laboratory practice alongside the theory. Teaching is in Spanish.

Our directory lists 5 universities in Colombia that teach Biology: three in Bogotá, one in Medellín and one in Sincelejo.

How the Biology degree is organised

Colombian universities measure programmes in semesters and academic credits, and each programme is registered with the Ministry of National Education under a SNIES code. The universities in our directory show the range:

• Universidad de los Andes (Bogotá): 8 semesters, full time and face to face, with 130 credits in the current study plan. The programme has a specialisation stage with courses in ecology and conservation, evolution and diversity, function, and genetics and molecular biology
• Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (Bogotá): an estimated 10 semesters and 171 academic credits, face to face with daytime classes. The university offers field trips to Colombian ecosystems and the use of its biological collections of fauna, flora and microorganisms
• Universidad de Antioquia (Medellín): 10 semesters and 157 academic credits. The programme is listed for Medellín and for El Carmen de Viboral, Andes, Caucasia and Carepa.
• Universidad de Sucre (Sincelejo): 5 years and 166 academic credits, daytime, with admission every semester and 45 places per cohort
• Universidad Nacional de Colombia: Biology is on the list of undergraduate programmes of the Bogotá campus and of the La Paz campus

The programmes of the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, the Universidad de Antioquia and the Universidad de Sucre state that they hold the high-quality accreditation (Acreditación de Alta Calidad) granted by the Ministry of National Education.

After the degree, biologists can continue with a master's degree or a doctorate. The Department of Biological Sciences of the Universidad de los Andes, for example, lists a master's degree in Biological Sciences, a master's degree in Computational Biology and a doctorate in Sciences (Biology). The Universidad de Sucre offers a master's degree in Biology.

Admission

Each university runs its own admission process, and the methods differ:

• The Universidad Nacional de Colombia selects by its own admission test. For the first semester of 2027 the test was held on Sunday 20 September 2026. Foreign applicants follow the regular admission process; those who apply from abroad pay the registration fee online (US$87.50 for the 2026-02 intake).
• The Universidad de Antioquia holds its own admission exam. For the 2026-2 intake, registration ran from 19 February to 18 March 2026 and the exam was on 25 May 2026.
• The Universidad de Sucre requires the state exams (Pruebas de Estado) or their equivalent if they were taken abroad, with the minimum score set for the programme.

Applicants who finished secondary school outside Colombia need extra documents. The Pontificia Universidad Javeriana asks for the school-leaving diploma with an apostille or authenticated by the Colombian consul, the recognition (convalidación) of that diploma by the Ministry of National Education (except for diplomas obtained in Spain), the results of the Saber 11 exam or of a foreign exam recognised by ICFES, and medical insurance.

Costs

Costs differ widely between universities. At the Universidad de Sucre, a public university, the cost per semester is between 1.5 and 4 times the legal monthly minimum wage, depending on the socio-economic stratum. The private universities publish the tuition fee per semester on their programme pages. The Universidad de los Andes states that its internal grants and the external grants it gives access to cover between 30% and 98% of tuition.

Student visa

According to the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cancillería), the student visa covers higher education as well as student internships and academic exchanges. Holders of passports from visa-exempt countries do not need this visa if their stay in Colombia does not exceed 180 calendar days, which is not enough for a full degree. The requirements include a certificate of admission or enrolment that states the programme and its length, and a health insurance policy valid in Colombia for the whole stay. The visa is issued for up to two years. It allows only postgraduate university students to work, for up to 20 hours a week. The full list is on the Cancillería site.

Professional registration and careers

Biology is a regulated profession in Colombia. According to the Consejo Profesional de Biología (CPBIOL), Law 22 of 1984 and Decree 2531 of 1986 make the professional registration (matrícula profesional) compulsory to practise as a biologist or to use the title. The council issues the registration and states that the procedure takes an estimated 10 working days.

Graduates work in basic and applied research, environmental impact studies, wildlife monitoring, the conservation of species and ecosystems, teaching and consultancy. The Universidad de los Andes reports that 43% of its Biology graduates work in research and education, 39% as consultants or entrepreneurs, and 18% in public and private institutions in areas such as health, agriculture and conservation.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to study Biology in Colombia?

Between 8 and 10 semesters. The programme lasts 8 semesters at the Universidad de los Andes and 10 semesters, or 5 years, at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, the Universidad de Antioquia and the Universidad de Sucre.

Is there an entrance exam for Biology?

It depends on the university. The Universidad Nacional de Colombia and the Universidad de Antioquia use their own admission tests. The Universidad de Sucre selects on the results of the state exams.

Do I need a licence to work as a biologist in Colombia?

Yes. The Consejo Profesional de Biología states that the professional registration it issues is required to practise the profession, under Law 22 of 1984.