Universidad del Rosario
Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Señora del Rosario
A private Bogota university founded in 1653, entered by interview rather than a single national score.
- Tuition
- COP 11.2M
- From · 2026
- Founded
- 1653
- QS World Ranking
- 901-950
- 2027 edition
- Campus
- Urban
About Rosario
The Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Senora del Rosario, known as Universidad del Rosario, was founded in Bogota in 1653 by Archbishop Fray Cristobal de Torres to teach theology, law and medicine on a basis of philosophy. It is one of the oldest institutions in Latin America. The historic Claustro sits in the centre of the city, and Wikipedia describes the institution today as based on secular ideas.
Its home page lists six sites, 41 undergraduate programmes, 82 specialisations, 50 master's degrees and 10 doctorates. Undergraduate degrees sit in six schools and faculties: Economics and Business, Jurisprudence, Science and Engineering, Creation, Social, Political and International Studies, and Medicine and Health Sciences. Programmes include Data and Market Analytics, Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Earth System Sciences and Musical Theatre.
Rosario admits by application, an ICFES Saber 11 result (or equivalent) and an interview or test set by each school; Musical Theatre applicants audition. Students can pair a degree with a second programme, take minors, or study abroad through more than 100 exchange agreements. It suits students who want a private university in the centre of Bogota and who read Spanish.
Nova et Vetera
“Always old, always new” — university motto
Why students choose Rosario
Economics states on its programme page (urosario.edu.co, viewed 30 September 2026) that it placed first nationally in the Saber Pro 2024 Economic Analysis module; Jurisprudence draws on a law tradition dating to the 1653 founding.
Double degree: students pay only for the first programme while studying two, and receive a 50 percent discount on extra credits after finishing the first.
More than 100 exchange agreements let students spend one or two semesters at universities in Colombia and abroad, with double-degree options.
Scholarships of up to 100 percent are available for strong Saber 11 results or for academic average from the second semester.
Admissions
2027-1 (classes start 26 January 2027)
Selectivity
Rosario publishes no overall acceptance rate. Each school sets its own tests or interviews, and admission is not guaranteed by registering. Medicine has a dedicated seat-activation window.
Typical entry requirements
| Colombian bachillerato and Saber 11 | Bachiller title (or in the final stage) and Saber 11 result |
|---|---|
| Foreign applicants who studied abroad | Bachiller title validated by the Colombian Ministry of Education (or in process); Saber 11 or an ICFES-recognised equivalent exam; passport at registration; student visa needed for admission; a PIU test for non-Spanish-speaking foreigners |
| Cambridge (CAIE) school graduates | Course credit recognition for subjects passed with grade B or higher (A and A*), within two years of the exam |
Deadlines
- 2027-1 registration opens Non-binding Passed12 August 2026
Closing date is 'subject to availability of places'.
- Medicine seat activation Passed21 August to 11 September 2026
Applies to the Medicine programme only; subject to availability.
- Merit scholarship cut-off (Becas Merito URosario, Saber 11) Non-binding Next deadline · In 3 days9 October 2026
Date for admitted applicants to be considered for the scholarship.
- Document upload deadline for enrolled applicants In ~3 months17 January 2027
Induction is planned for 21 January 2027 and classes start on 26 January 2027, both marked 'date to be confirmed'.
- Other programmes: seat activationFrom 24 August 2026 until the process closes
These are the published dates for the 2027-1 (January 2027) intake. Dates for 2027-2 had not been published on the pages fetched.
How to apply
Register on the online admissions form and pay the registration fee, upload documents, take the school's interview or test, wait for the admission decision, and pay the first-semester tuition. Foreign applicants must also provide passport, validated school title, equivalent of Saber 11 and, on admission, a student visa.
What admissions looks for
- A recognised bachillerato and a Saber 11 (or equivalent) result.
- Performance in the interview or admission test set by the chosen school.
- For Musical Theatre, an audition covering singing, dance and acting.
- For foreign applicants, valid immigration status and a validated school title.
Tips for applying to Rosario
- 1 Register early if you want Medicine: its seat-activation window ran from 21 August to 11 September 2026.
- 2 Get your school title validated with Colombia's Ministry of Education early if you studied abroad.
- 3 Check the Becas Merito URosario cut-off of 9 October 2026 if you rely on a Saber 11-based scholarship.
- 4 If your first language is not Spanish, prepare for the PIU test named in the foreign-applicant requirements.
- 5 Ask about the double-programme option before choosing: second degree costs are reduced.
Costs & financial aid
2026 · figures in COP
Rosario offers scholarships of up to 100 percent for strong Saber 11 results or for academic average from the second semester (Becas Merito URosario), a discount for siblings, and a double-programme discount. Financing options are listed on its Financiacion page. Foreign applicants need a student visa.
- Up to 100 percent, based on Saber 11 results or academic average from second semester
- Merit scholarships
- Second programme costs nothing extra while both run; afterwards 50 percent discount on remaining credits
- Double programme
- Up to 5.51 percent
- Price increase for continuing students in 2026
Academics
Academic calendar: Two academic periods a year; the 2027-1 period starts on 26 January 2027.
Economics
Accredited for eight years (Resolution 1098 of 2023) and first nationally in the Saber Pro 2024 economic analysis module.
Jurisprudence
Built on a law school tradition that runs back to the 1653 founding of the college.
International Relations and Political Science and Government
Both programmes are priced at 19,786,000 COP per semester on the 2026 price list.
Medicine
Highest tuition of the undergraduate list and a separate seat-activation window.
Applied Mathematics and Computer Science; Data and Market Analytics
Two quantitative degrees on the 2026 price list, at 21,020,000 and 14,633,000 COP per semester before stated discounts.
Musical Theatre
Selected by audition in singing, dance and acting instead of an interview.
Research
- The Economics programme runs a Finance Laboratory, an Experimental Economics Laboratory and a DANE room (Sala DANE).
- The School of Economics and Business hosts research groups, young researcher programmes and research seedbeds.
- The university lists 10 doctorates and 50 master's programmes.
Schools & faculties
- Escuela de Economia y Negocios
- Facultad de Jurisprudencia
- Escuela de Ciencias e Ingenieria
- Facultad de Creacion
- Escuela de Estudios Sociales, Politicos e Internacionales
- Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud
Student life
Most schools work from the Claustro, the historic seat in central Bogota, alongside other buildings across the city. The university lists student councils, the Colegiatura (a group of 15 students with a vote in the election of the rector), arts groups in music, dance and theatre, sport and recreation, and health and counselling services. It runs its own English centre, RosEA, and offers exchange in more than 100 partner institutions. Students can also join UR Emprende, its entrepreneurship programme.
- The Colegiatura: 15 students who vote in the rector's election.
- RosEA, the university's own English language centre.
- More than 100 exchange agreements and double-degree options.
- Institutional groups in music, dance and theatre.
Housing. The pages fetched do not describe university housing.
Location
Bogota is Colombia's capital, high in the Andes at the centre of the country. Rosario's Claustro sits in the historic centre, close to government, courts and cultural institutions, which is why Wikipedia calls it the Cradle of the Republic. Other sites are spread across the city, and the university lists six sites in total.
Nearest airport: El Dorado International Airport (BOG)
Notable alumni
- FJ Francisco Jose de CaldasScientist and independence-era patriot; studied jurisprudence at the Colegio del Rosario and graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1793
- CT Camilo Torres TenorioIndependence leader; studied jurisprudence at the Colegio del Rosario (bachelor's in canon law 1790, doctorate 1791)
- AL Alfonso Lopez MichelsenFormer President of Colombia; law degree from Universidad del Rosario
- AP Andres PastranaFormer President of Colombia (1998 to 2002); graduated as a lawyer from Universidad del Rosario in 1977 (per Spanish Wikipedia)
- GV German Vargas LlerasFormer Vice President of Colombia (2014 to 2017); law degree from Universidad del Rosario
Frequently asked questions
How much does Universidad del Rosario cost per year?
For new students in 2026, list tuition per semester ranges from 10,428,000 COP (Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy) to 37,881,000 COP (Medicine). Two semesters a year gives about 20.9 to 75.8 million COP; for example Economics is 20,197,000 COP per semester. A few programmes have a stated discount that brings the net price lower (the lowest is Licenciatura en Ciencias Sociales at 5,582,000 COP per semester). Prices for 2027 had not been published.
Can international students apply to Universidad del Rosario?
Yes. Foreign applicants need a bachelor-level school title validated by the Colombian Ministry of Education (or in process), Saber 11 or an ICFES-recognised equivalent, a passport at registration, and a student visa on admission. Non-Spanish-speaking foreigners must also take a test called PIU.
What is the start date for 2027-1 at Rosario?
Classes for the 2027-1 period start on 26 January 2027, marked as a date to be confirmed. Registration opened on 12 August 2026 and closes subject to availability of places.
Does Rosario require an entrance exam?
It requires the Saber 11 result or an equivalent, and each school sets its own interview or test. Musical Theatre applicants audition in singing, dance and acting.
Does Rosario offer scholarships?
Yes, with awards of up to 100 percent for high Saber 11 scores or for academic average from the second semester. Siblings and students who take a second programme also get discounts.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
- Universidad del Rosario: Home page (URosario en cifras)
- Universidad del Rosario: Aspirantes de Pregrado (requirements and 2027-1 calendar)
- Universidad del Rosario: Derechos pecuniarios
- Acuerdo 323 of 19 November 2025: undergraduate tuition 2026 (PDF)
- Universidad del Rosario: Historia y simbolos
- Universidad del Rosario: Pregrado en Economia
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