Founded in 1948, Uniandes is Colombia’s top-ranked private university, located in the historic La Candelaria neighborhood of Bogotá. Known for its rigorous academics, international outlook, and innovation-driven culture, it offers an exceptional education in fields like medicine, engineering, law, social sciences, humanities, business, and the arts.

1. History & Identity

• Established on November 16, 1948, by Mario Laserna Pinzón and a group of visionaries, Uniandes became Colombia’s first non-denominational, politically independent private university
• Its foundation aimed to close the nation’s knowledge gap and pioneer modern higher education
• Today, it embodies values of pluralism, academic freedoms, and social responsibility .

2. Academic Portfolio & Campus Life

• Offers around 150 programs, including 45 undergraduate degrees, 100+ graduate degrees, and 17 doctoral programs 
• Structured into 11 faculties, including Engineering, Sciences, Medicine, Law, Business, Social Sciences, Arts, and Architecture .
• Main campus, stretching over 18 ha, blends restored historical buildings and modern labs (163 labs, central library, 219 specialized labs) in La Candelaria 
• Facilities include a central cafeteria, sports center (“La Caneca”), clinics, and student services 

3. Research & Impact

• Hosts 218 research groups, and in 2025 introduced Esparteco 2, a stellar spectrograph for astrophysics
• Recognized for strong output in liberal arts, environmental science, AI, and public policy.
• Medical training is supported by the Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá internship center .

4. Rankings & Reputation

• QS: Ranked ~#179 globally (2025), #6 in Latin America, and #2 in Colombia 
• THE: Positioned #1001–1200 globally nationally 
• Recognized subject rankings: QS places Arts & Humanities within top 100 globally; regional leadership in Engineering, Social Sciences, and Medicine .

5. Internationalization & Collaboration

• Boasts 440+ academic partnerships and 475 global agreements with universities across North America, Europe, and Asia eutopia-university.eu.
• Welcomes ~2% international students (~200 per semester) .
• Member of global networks including EUTOPIA, Hemispheric University Consortium, and Council of U7+ universities eutopia-university.eu.

6. Admissions & Scholarships

• Competitive admissions based on grades, test scores, and essays.
• Offers merit-based, need-based, and ICETEX-funded international scholarships, plus program-level awards .
• Need assistance? Visit MyUnigate for personalized application and funding advice.

7. Final Takeaway

Uniandes is Colombia’s leading private university—a research powerhouse with modern infrastructure, rich academic depth, and global engagement. Ideal for ambitious students in engineering, medicine, law, economics, or arts, offering strong scholarship options and international learning paths.

Thinking about applying, funding, or comparing top Colombian universities? MyUnigate is here to guide you—providing expert admissions coaching, scholarship navigation, and study plans tailored to your goals.