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Studying abroad is one of the best ways to gain your degree while collecting new life experiences. For me, Colombia has the best of both worlds; you can venture into a country rich in nature and enjoy bustling city life while gaining your degree.
I’ve lived in Colombia all my life and I love that you can throw yourself out of your comfort zone and gain amazing experiences. It’s magical, wild and full of people committed to fulfilling their dreams. It’s a place that combines kindness and humility with landscapes that feel like they’re from another world.
Here’s why Colombia should be on your radar as a study destination.
Colombia has achieved the perfect balance between tradition and modernity. It’s full of bright colour and beautiful art everywhere you turn. You can go from painted buildings to beautiful coastal areas, from narrow streets busy with activity to modern skyscrapers, from big cities to astounding green spaces. The choice is yours.
The largest and most famous colonial cities are Bogotá and Cartagena, along with some hidden treasures like Eastern Antioquia. They have beautiful old neighborhoods that bring me back to the past with their Spanish architecture, intricate churches, statues and plazas.
Medellín, where I live, has gone through an urban and social transformation, becoming a model for other cities around the world. Being located in the Andes Mountains, you’ll see mountains everywhere. Medellín is full of luscious parks and natural outdoor spaces to enjoy, walk, breathe fresh air and take beautiful photos.
Beyond the violent past of Colombia, we also have an incredible architectural and cultural past linked with the fourth industrial revolution.
Although tuition fees are steadily increasing, Colombia is still an affordable place to study. State universities can charge between 200,000 and 6m pesos (~€40-1,200) per semester, although some universities are free for domestic students. Private universities charge between 3m and 30m pesos (~€600-6,000) per semester, so it’s a lot more expensive.
Colombia’s cost of living is very affordable. In a week, I spend around 220,000 pesos (~€44) on food from the nearby supermarket. At the weekend, I like to read with a good coffee and a delicious snack in my favourite coffee shop, which costs around 30,000 pesos (~€6). A night out with friends in the city of Medellin often costs me between 100,000 and 300,000 pesos (~€20-60) depending on where I go and whether I eat out, too.
Renting an apartment will occur varying costs depending on the city and neighbourhood you choose, but you can expect to pay around €1,000pm for a deluxe place in Medellín, Colombia’s second-largest city, while in smaller cities like Manizales or Pereira, you can expect to pay around €300 to €500pm.
One of the best parts of studying in Colombia is that there is always a lifestyle to fit your budget.
Alongside its famous landscapes, gastronomy and culture, Colombia also has an excellent reputation for education, reflected in the global recognition and accreditation of programmes at both the private and public universities across the country.
Of the 428 institutions ranked, we have nine more universities in the top 100. Impressive! This means that students have a lot of choice when picking a reputable university in Colombia, between the shining lights of Bogotá or Medellín, the mountains of Manizales, the blue sea of Cartagena or the flow and fun of Barranquilla.
I decided to study a dual degree in history and political science at Universidad Nacional de Colombia. I’m very satisfied with my decision because I found everything I wanted to experience as a university student in the city of Medellin – new experiences, high academic quality, scholarships, diverse cultures and good places to have fun after class.
Colombia is full of adventure
Photo by Nathalie Jaramillo for Unsplash
From hiking in the heat of the Tatatacoa Desert to the cooler nights of Sierra Nevada and Santa Marta, the Amazon jungle and a beautiful Caribbean coast, the whole of Colombia can feel like an adventure.
Colombia has a hugely diverse geography with flora and fauna in abundance. In fact, 14 percent of the country is made up of national parks like Utria, Los Estoraques or El Tuparro. Let’s not forget about the water with beautiful flowing rivers and seas like the Seven Coloured Sea in San Andrés and the River Caño Cristales in Meta.
We also have many inner-city experiences, like salt mining tours in Nemocón and street art tours in Medellin. There are museums and art galleries to explore, as well as cobbled old towns and amazing coffee shops.
Colombia is a country with attractive potential for traveling, and studying here is an amazing way to experience its many paradises and hidden treasures.
It’s an underrated study destination
Disney’s Encanto aside, the image of Colombia abroad has been influenced by the violence that has prevailed for decades at all levels of society. Fortunately, that image is changing as people come to see the magic we have to offer.
Medellín, Cali and Cartagena, as well as the capital Bogotá, are safer places today. Each day, Colombia aspires to become a more peaceful, politically stable, and safe democracy for the people who want to make a life here. We have evolved into a country with a cultural and modern experiences for everyone.
Students in Colombia enjoy a good variety of weather, low prices and a varied cultural agenda. There are several ideal cities for students because accommodation is cheap and there are universities of excellent quality. There is also a camaraderie and friendship between students that means you’ll have a very social time while studying.
Since the Spanish conquest and colonisation of Colombia, the country has grown into a very diverse destination. It’s a country that represents all its people, specialties and traditions.
Dance and music have been an integral aspect of Colombian culture for centuries and represent the various influences from our origins. The music of the Andean region has indigenous and Spanish influence, played mainly with string and wind instruments. In contrast, the music from more coastal regions has a clear African influence, with drum rhythms like salsa, cumbia and vallenato being the popular styles of the country.
If you want to experience the culture of Colombia in all its expression, you must celebrate one of our incredible cultural festivals or parties, like the Barranquilla Carnival, the Flower Fair in Medellín, the Cali fair or the Medellín International Tango Festival (my personal favorite). During these events, the whole city shuts down for a few days and everyone comes together to celebrate with dancing, music and drinking.
One thing is for sure, if you decide to study in Colombia your time in the country will be something that you’ll never forget.
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Six reasons to choose Colombia for your study abroad destination
Maria Fernanda Rodriguez Duque
Updated Mar 16, 2023Save
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Studying abroad is one of the best ways to gain your degree while collecting new life experiences. For me, Colombia has the best of both worlds; you can venture into a country rich in nature and enjoy bustling city life while gaining your degree.
I’ve lived in Colombia all my life and I love that you can throw yourself out of your comfort zone and gain amazing experiences. It’s magical, wild and full of people committed to fulfilling their dreams. It’s a place that combines kindness and humility with landscapes that feel like they’re from another world.
Here’s why Colombia should be on your radar as a study destination.
Colombia is a beautiful place
Photo by Saul Mercado on Unsplash
Colombia has achieved the perfect balance between tradition and modernity. It’s full of bright colour and beautiful art everywhere you turn. You can go from painted buildings to beautiful coastal areas, from narrow streets busy with activity to modern skyscrapers, from big cities to astounding green spaces. The choice is yours.
The largest and most famous colonial cities are Bogotá and Cartagena, along with some hidden treasures like Eastern Antioquia. They have beautiful old neighborhoods that bring me back to the past with their Spanish architecture, intricate churches, statues and plazas.
Medellín, where I live, has gone through an urban and social transformation, becoming a model for other cities around the world. Being located in the Andes Mountains, you’ll see mountains everywhere. Medellín is full of luscious parks and natural outdoor spaces to enjoy, walk, breathe fresh air and take beautiful photos.
Beyond the violent past of Colombia, we also have an incredible architectural and cultural past linked with the fourth industrial revolution.
It’s very affordable
Photo by Fabia Carpio for Unsplash
Although tuition fees are steadily increasing, Colombia is still an affordable place to study. State universities can charge between 200,000 and 6m pesos (~€40-1,200) per semester, although some universities are free for domestic students. Private universities charge between 3m and 30m pesos (~€600-6,000) per semester, so it’s a lot more expensive.
Colombia’s cost of living is very affordable. In a week, I spend around 220,000 pesos (~€44) on food from the nearby supermarket. At the weekend, I like to read with a good coffee and a delicious snack in my favourite coffee shop, which costs around 30,000 pesos (~€6). A night out with friends in the city of Medellin often costs me between 100,000 and 300,000 pesos (~€20-60) depending on where I go and whether I eat out, too.
Renting an apartment will occur varying costs depending on the city and neighbourhood you choose, but you can expect to pay around €1,000pm for a deluxe place in Medellín, Colombia’s second-largest city, while in smaller cities like Manizales or Pereira, you can expect to pay around €300 to €500pm.
One of the best parts of studying in Colombia is that there is always a lifestyle to fit your budget.
You’ll receive high-quality education
Photo by Hannah Busing for Unplash
Alongside its famous landscapes, gastronomy and culture, Colombia also has an excellent reputation for education, reflected in the global recognition and accreditation of programmes at both the private and public universities across the country.
Two of the top 10 universities in Latin America are located in Colombia, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, and Universidad de los Andes. It doesn’t end there, though.
Of the 428 institutions ranked, we have nine more universities in the top 100. Impressive! This means that students have a lot of choice when picking a reputable university in Colombia, between the shining lights of Bogotá or Medellín, the mountains of Manizales, the blue sea of Cartagena or the flow and fun of Barranquilla.
I decided to study a dual degree in history and political science at Universidad Nacional de Colombia. I’m very satisfied with my decision because I found everything I wanted to experience as a university student in the city of Medellin – new experiences, high academic quality, scholarships, diverse cultures and good places to have fun after class.
Colombia is full of adventure
Photo by Nathalie Jaramillo for Unsplash
From hiking in the heat of the Tatatacoa Desert to the cooler nights of Sierra Nevada and Santa Marta, the Amazon jungle and a beautiful Caribbean coast, the whole of Colombia can feel like an adventure.
Colombia has a hugely diverse geography with flora and fauna in abundance. In fact, 14 percent of the country is made up of national parks like Utria, Los Estoraques or El Tuparro. Let’s not forget about the water with beautiful flowing rivers and seas like the Seven Coloured Sea in San Andrés and the River Caño Cristales in Meta.
We also have many inner-city experiences, like salt mining tours in Nemocón and street art tours in Medellin. There are museums and art galleries to explore, as well as cobbled old towns and amazing coffee shops.
Colombia is a country with attractive potential for traveling, and studying here is an amazing way to experience its many paradises and hidden treasures.
It’s an underrated study destination
Disney’s Encanto aside, the image of Colombia abroad has been influenced by the violence that has prevailed for decades at all levels of society. Fortunately, that image is changing as people come to see the magic we have to offer.
Medellín, Cali and Cartagena, as well as the capital Bogotá, are safer places today. Each day, Colombia aspires to become a more peaceful, politically stable, and safe democracy for the people who want to make a life here. We have evolved into a country with a cultural and modern experiences for everyone.
Students in Colombia enjoy a good variety of weather, low prices and a varied cultural agenda. There are several ideal cities for students because accommodation is cheap and there are universities of excellent quality. There is also a camaraderie and friendship between students that means you’ll have a very social time while studying.
Testimonials
Colombia provides a truly multicultural experience
Photo by Andrea F for Unsplash
Since the Spanish conquest and colonisation of Colombia, the country has grown into a very diverse destination. It’s a country that represents all its people, specialties and traditions.
Dance and music have been an integral aspect of Colombian culture for centuries and represent the various influences from our origins. The music of the Andean region has indigenous and Spanish influence, played mainly with string and wind instruments. In contrast, the music from more coastal regions has a clear African influence, with drum rhythms like salsa, cumbia and vallenato being the popular styles of the country.
If you want to experience the culture of Colombia in all its expression, you must celebrate one of our incredible cultural festivals or parties, like the Barranquilla Carnival, the Flower Fair in Medellín, the Cali fair or the Medellín International Tango Festival (my personal favorite). During these events, the whole city shuts down for a few days and everyone comes together to celebrate with dancing, music and drinking.
One thing is for sure, if you decide to study in Colombia your time in the country will be something that you’ll never forget.
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