Description
Located in the heart of Bogotá, Universidad de los Andes (Uniandes) was the first private university in Colombia that was independent of political or religious movements or parties. Uniandes aims for academic excellence while providing rigorous critical and ethical character development, in order to enhance in all students an awareness of their social and citizenship responsibilities.
Quick Facts
Partner Program Type – Exchange
Minimum GPA – 2.85
Prerequisites
Spanish
One of the following must be completed by the time of departure (If you are unsure which one applies to you, see here):
- Second Language Learner: Completion of Spanish 6
- Native Spanish Speaker or Heritage Spanish Speaker with some formal training: Show proof of having completed (or a plan to complete prior to the program start) at least the intermediate level courses (second year) or equivalent. This could be high school courses, a UC placement, AP, IB, or SATII exam score, or language evaluation equivalent to the completion of the intermediate level (second year) or above; or high-intermediate, advanced, or upper-division Spanish courses on your transcript.
- Heritage Spanish Speaker with no formal training: Show proof of a plan to complete a minimum of one university-level Spanish course for Native/Heritage speakers prior to the program start to strengthen your knowledge in the four basic language skills necessary for the courses you will take in the program.
Contact Global Learning at globallearning@ucsc.edu to inquire about how to provide proof of meeting the Spanish prerequisite.
Eligibility – Good academic and disciplinary standing, Min Age: 18, Open to All Majors, Junior or Senior class standing by the time of departure
Term Options
Fall Semester – early August to mid-December
Spring Semester – late January to early June
- students must miss both winter and spring quarters at UCSC to participate in this session
Academic Year – Early August to early June
Partner Program deadline dates
Cost
Location
City & University
Bogotá is the capital of and largest city in Colombia. Thanks to a fusion of the past and present, Bogotá is an ideal location with history, entertainment, delicious cuisine, culture, business, and much more.
Accommodations
Students can apply for a room in the campus residence hall. It is not guaranteed, but it is not competitive. Learn more about Uniandes Housing.
You are responsible for applying for, securing and paying for accommodations directly to the housing provider.
Student Support
The Office of International Affairs at Uniandes welcomes incoming exchange students. The team supports international students and offers resources and opportunities for you to integrate successfully into the culture and society.
Country Information Resources
- U.S. Department of State Country Information Page
- CDC Travelers’ Health
- OSAC Country Security Report
Students with Disabilities
If you need support services abroad, notify your UCSC Disability Resource Center (DRC) Coordinator.
Disability accommodations are available. However, due to the geography of the campus, students with mobility concerns may find difficulty getting around. Uniandes is located at the bottom of a mountain and most of the buildings are on the mountain. Support services similar to those available at UCSC might not be available
Identities Abroad and Away
UC Santa Cruz Global Learning is committed to inclusion and equity in our various program options as well as striving to make everyone’s experiences abroad enriching, positive, and safe.
Learn more on our Identities Abroad and Away webpage.
Academics
Host University Courses
As a Uniandes exchange student, you will enroll full-time in courses alongside other local and international students for a semester or full academic year.
Course Search
Visit the Catálogo General. Explore undergraduate programs.
Satisfying Requirements
It may be possible to satisfy major, minor, GE, and/or electives on this program.
Learn more about:
- How to request major or minor credit
- How to request GE credit
Course Load Requirements
You are required to enroll in a full-time course load while abroad as defined by your host institution:
- 12 semester credits is a full-time course load at Uniandes.
- The maximum is 20 semester credits per semester
As a UCSC student, you must also continue to meet UCSC Satisfactory Academic Progress, which requires students to enroll in a minimum of 12 UCSC quarter credits per quarter. At Unides, you are required to ensure you meet this requirement by enrolling in the equivalent of at least 12 UCSC quarter credits in fall semester and at least 24 UCSC quarter credits in spring semester after conversion (see below).
Credit Conversion
UniAndes uses semester credits. These will be converted to UCSC quarter credits when added to your UC transcript.
- 1 semester credit = 2 UCSC quarter credits
- 2 semester credits = 3 UCSC quarter credits
- 3 semester credits = 5 UCSC quarter credits
- 4 semester credits = 6 UCSC quarter credits
Academic Restrictions
Some courses abroad may have enrollment limitations and/or restrictions, such as prerequisites. Review course information provided by the university partner to understand any course limitations and/or restrictions prior to official course enrollment abroad.
If you are unsure about your eligibility to enroll, please contact UCSC Global Learning at globallearning@ucsc.edu before applying to this program.
Academic Differences
Please note that the academic system, such as assignments, exams, course structure, grading system, etc., at your host institution may be different from what you are used to at UCSC. We highly recommend researching the academic system at your host university in advance to best prepare for your experience abroad.
Academic Calendar
We recommend comparing the host university academic calendar to the UCSC academic calendar to see how the academic calendars, holidays, and breaks differ.