Nursing Schools and Programs in Medellin, Colombia

About Nursing Schools and Programs in Medellin, Colombia

UPB Bucaramanga Campus, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana

Medellín, the capital of the Colombian department of Antioquia, is a place to study nursing in Spanish at university level. Our directory lists one school in Medellín with nursing programmes: the Universidad de Antioquia (UdeA), whose Facultad de Enfermería offers an undergraduate nursing degree and a range of postgraduate programmes. The university states that it holds institutional accreditation from the Colombian Ministry of Education until 2033.

How nursing studies are organised in Colombia

In Colombia, nursing is a university profession. Ley 266 de 1996, the law that regulates it, describes nursing as a liberal profession and a social discipline whose aim is to promote health, prevent disease and take part in treatment and rehabilitation. The first qualification is a pregrado (undergraduate degree) that leads to the professional title of nurse (enfermera or enfermero). Nurses can then go on to a specialisation (especialización), a master's degree (maestría) or a doctorate.

The nursing degree at the Universidad de Antioquia

UdeA's undergraduate nursing programme has these main features:

• Title awarded: Enfermera (o), nurse
• Duration: 10 semesters (version 6 of the curriculum)
• Mode of study: in person, on the Medellín campus
• Quality: accredited for high quality (Acreditación en Alta Calidad) by the Ministerio de Educación Nacional; registration and accreditation were renewed by Resolución 024208 of 23 December 2022
• Programme code in the national higher education register (SNIES): 427

The programme's learning outcomes fall into three areas: nursing care, research and innovation, and a social and humanistic area. Graduates are trained to care for individuals, families and communities in hospitals and in the community, to manage care programmes together with other health professions, and to teach health promotion and disease prevention.

Postgraduate nursing programmes

The Facultad de Enfermería lists seven postgraduate programmes for nurses and for graduates in other health and social science fields:

• Doctorado en Enfermería (doctorate)
• Maestría en Enfermería and Maestría en Salud Colectiva (master's degrees)
• Specialisations in critical care of children, critical care of adults, oncology nursing, and maternal and perinatal nursing

In October 2026 the faculty was accepting applications for the 2027-1 semester.

Admission and visas for international students

UdeA admits new undergraduate students through an entrance exam. Applicants must have finished secondary school or be in their final year, and a valid passport is accepted as identification for Colombian and foreign applicants. The university also asks every applicant to show that they took Colombia's state school-leaving exam (Saber 11), whatever the score, so students educated abroad should check with the admissions office first. For the 2026-1 semester the application fee for programmes in Medellín was 86,000 Colombian pesos.

A full degree requires a student visa from the Cancillería, Colombia's foreign ministry. This visa covers higher education as well as student internships and academic exchanges. Nationals of visa-exempt countries only avoid it for stays of up to 180 days.

Working as a nurse

Under Ley 266 de 1996, nurses work wherever people live, work and study, and in the institutions that look after their health: hospitals, clinics, community health programmes, teaching and research. To be registered as a nurse in Colombia, a person needs a nursing degree from a recognised Colombian university or the official recognition (convalidación) of a foreign nursing degree. A UdeA degree therefore leads directly to professional registration in Colombia; graduates who want to work in another country have to apply for recognition there.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a nursing degree take in Medellín?

At the Universidad de Antioquia the undergraduate nursing degree lasts 10 semesters and is taught in person on the Medellín campus.

Is the nursing degree at the Universidad de Antioquia accredited?

Yes. The programme is accredited for high quality by the Ministerio de Educación Nacional, and the accreditation was renewed in December 2022.

Can I specialise in nursing in Medellín?

Yes. UdeA's Facultad de Enfermería offers specialisations in paediatric and adult critical care, oncology nursing and maternal and perinatal nursing, as well as two master's degrees and a doctorate.

Do I need a visa to study nursing in Medellín?

For a full degree, yes: foreign students need a Colombian student visa. Visa-exempt nationals can stay without one for up to 180 days, which only covers short courses.