Bogotá

Bogotá

Sabrina Collier

Updated July 15, 2021 Updated July 15

QS Best Student Cities ranking: 82nd

Colombia’s capital and largest city, Bogotá has transformed its image in recent years from a city known largely for its high crime rate, to a cosmopolitan and vibrant metropolis.

Located 2,630 meters above sea level (8,612 feet), the city borders the Eastern Cordillera of the Andes mountain range, offering attractive surroundings. Bogotá also boasts a great restaurant scene, world-class museums, and a rich nightlife including salsa clubs, trendy cocktail bars and English-style pubs. Many students will also find the city’s cost of living far lower than in other popular study destinations.

If you study in Bogotá, you could also enjoy major cultural events such as the Iberoamerican Theater Festival of Bogotá, one of the largest performing arts festivals in the world, or for rock fans, the free Rock al Parque, which attracts around 400,000 people every year.

The city has retained many of its colonial-era landmarks, which is particularly notable in the historic neighborhood of La Candelaria, with its government palaces, beautifully preserved colonial architecture and popular museums.

Nicknamed “The South American Athens” due to its extensive education system and libraries, Bogotá was named World Book Capital in 2007 by UNESCO, the first Latin American city to be granted the title. There are a number of public and private universities in the city, including Universidad de Los Andes Colombia, widely considered one of the most prestigious in Latin America.

Internationally ranked universities in Bogotá

Universidad Nacional de ColombiaUniversidad de Los Andes ColombiaUniversidad Externado de ColombiaPontificia Universidad JaverianaUniversidad de la SabanaUniversidad del Rosario

More about Bogotá

Number of universities ranked by QS

6

Top ranked institution

Universidad Nacional de Colombia (Joint 253rd in the world)

Population

10,700,000

Average international fees (at ranked unis)

US$4,500

Desirability rank

123rd

Employer Activity rank

31st

Affordability rank

53rd

Student View rank

87th

To find out how each of the above categories is calculated, view the methodology.

This article was originally published in February 2017 . It was last updated in January 2020

Written by

The former Assistant Editor of TopUniversities.com, Sabrina wrote and edited articles to guide students from around the world on a wide range of topics. She has a bachelor's degree in English Literature and Creative Writing from Aberystwyth University and grew up in Staffordshire, UK. 

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