Psychology Schools and Programs in Colombia

Psychology Studies in Colombia

Psychology (Psicología) is a regulated profession in Colombia: Ley 1090 de 2006 governs its practice and its code of ethics. It is studied as a professional undergraduate degree that leads to the title of Psicólogo or Psicóloga. Six universities listed on SpainExchange are linked to this subject: three in Bogotá and one each in Medellín, Palmira and San Juan de Pasto.

How the degree is organised

Colombian higher education is governed by Ley 30 de 1992. The law separates undergraduate programmes (pregrado) from postgraduate programmes, which are specialisations (especializaciones), master's degrees (maestrías), doctorates and post-doctorates. A master's degree is not a condition for entering a doctorate, and a doctorate ends with a thesis.

Workload is counted in academic credits. Under Decreto 1330 de 2019 one credit equals 48 hours of student work in an academic period, so Colombian credits are not the same unit as ECTS credits.

The length of the undergraduate degree differs between universities, from 8 to 10 semesters:

• Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá: 8 semesters and 144 credits, on campus, daytime
• Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá: 9 semesters and 136 credits, on campus
• Universidad de Antioquia: 10 semesters, in Medellín and on seven regional campuses
• Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Palmira campus: 10 semesters and 161 credits
• Institución Universitaria CESMAG, San Juan de Pasto: 10 semesters, on campus, daytime

The Universidad Nacional de Colombia had Psicología at its Bogotá campus (SNIES 14) in the list of programmes for the 2027-01 admission. Study plans combine theory with supervised practice: the Javeriana programme covers six fields (clinical, educational, social, organisational, legal and neuropsychology), and the CESMAG plan ends with three practice courses in the last semesters. At postgraduate level, the Universidad de los Andes offers, for example, a Maestría en Psicología Clínica y de la Salud of 4 semesters.

Admission and language

By law, applicants to any undergraduate programme need a secondary-school diploma (título de bachiller) or its foreign equivalent and must have taken the State examination for entry to higher education. Each institution adds its own requirements. The Universidad Nacional de Colombia selects through its own admission test; for the 2027-01 intake it was held on Sunday 20 September. Applicants who are abroad sit the test online at a Colombian consulate, and the registration fee paid from abroad was US$87.50 for the 2026-02 intake. At enrolment, admitted foreign students present their secondary-school diploma and the state exam result of their home country, validated by Colombia's Ministry of National Education. The university also notes that not every programme is offered every semester.

The Universidad de Antioquia accepts as a new applicant any foreigner who has completed the equivalent of Colombian secondary education. Teaching is in Spanish: for exchange stays, the Universidad de Antioquia asks students from non-Spanish-speaking countries for a Spanish certificate at CEFR level B1 or higher.

Costs

Private institutions publish their fees per programme. The Universidad de los Andes gives a semester value of 27,700,000 Colombian pesos (about US$7,090) for 2027, provisional until the final value is set. The Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana lists a first-semester fee of 5,718,378 pesos in Palmira for 2026, calculated for 16 credits, and CESMAG lists 4,556,000 pesos for the first semester in 2026. Fees at the public universities were not available on their admission pages.

Recognition and professional card

To practise as a psychologist in Colombia, Ley 1090 requires the degree and the professional card (tarjeta profesional) issued by the Colegio Colombiano de Psicólogos. Holders of a foreign degree can obtain the card if the degree comes from a country with which Colombia has a treaty on the reciprocity of degrees; otherwise they must first apply for the recognition (convalidación) of the degree with the competent authorities.

Careers

The Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana names the fields in which its graduates work: clinical and health, organisational, educational, social and legal psychology. Graduates work in public or private organisations or in their own practice.

Student visa

Colombia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cancillería) issues a visitor visa for students (visa V, Estudiante) that covers higher education, student internships and academic exchange between universities. Holders of passports from visa-exempt countries do not need it when their stay in Colombia does not exceed 180 calendar days. Applicants submit a certificate of admission or enrolment that states the programme and its duration, and a health insurance policy valid in Colombia. The visa is valid for up to two years (Cancillería, checked 8 October 2026).

Frequently asked questions

How long does a Psychology degree take in Colombia?

Between 8 and 10 semesters. The Pontificia Universidad Javeriana lists 8 semesters, the Universidad de los Andes 9, and the Universidad de Antioquia, the Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana in Palmira and CESMAG 10.

What is needed to work as a psychologist in Colombia?

The degree and the professional card issued by the Colegio Colombiano de Psicólogos, according to Ley 1090 de 2006.

Is a foreign Psychology degree valid in Colombia?

It can be. Ley 1090 accepts degrees from countries with a reciprocity treaty with Colombia; for other countries the degree must be recognised (convalidación) by the competent authorities before the professional card is issued.