National University of Colombia
Universidad Nacional de Colombia
Colombia's national public university since 1867, with nine campuses and its own computer-based admission exam.
- Students
- 54,596
- 48,633 undergraduates
- Founded
- 1867
- QS World Ranking
- #293
- 2027 edition
- Campus
- Urban
About UNAL
The Universidad Nacional de Colombia was created in 1867 by Law 66 of the Colombian Congress as an autonomous public university of the state. Its flagship campus, the Ciudad Universitaria or 'Ciudad Blanca' in central Bogotá, draws students from every region, and the university has grown to nine campuses: Andean campuses in Bogotá, Medellín, Manizales and Palmira and frontier campuses in the Amazon, Caribbean, Orinoquía, Pacific (Tumaco) and La Paz.
UNAL has 54,596 students, 48,633 of them undergraduates, and 3,006 permanent faculty. It offers 94 undergraduate programmes, 83% of them with high-quality accreditation, and 329 graduate programmes, the largest number of master's and doctoral programmes in Colombia. It is also a social mobility engine: 86% of undergraduates come from socioeconomic strata 1 to 3, and special admission programmes bring in students from indigenous, Afro-Colombian and rural communities.
Admission is by the university's own computer-based admission test rather than Saber 11, with places allocated to the programmes you choose in descending order of score. It suits students who want a large public university with national reach and a strong research base, at far lower cost than the private universities.
Why students choose UNAL
Its own admission exam ranks all applicants nationwide, so a strong test score matters more than your school.
94 undergraduate programmes across nine campuses, with the most master's and doctoral programmes of any Colombian university.
Special admission programmes (PAES, PEAMA and PAET) enrolled 9,403 students from regions and communities often left out of higher education.
A campus culture shaped by alumni such as Gabriel García Márquez and architect Rogelio Salmona.
Admissions
Academic period 2027-01 (classes from early 2027)
Selectivity
UNAL does not publish an overall acceptance rate on its admissions pages. Its statistics portal lists 27,205 applicants for the 2026-2 intake, 24,546 of them for undergraduate programmes. Places are assigned in descending order of admission-test score, so popular programmes at the Bogotá and Medellín campuses need high scores.
Typical entry requirements
| Colombian bachillerato (or final-year students) | Score in UNAL's admission test high enough for your chosen programme and campus |
|---|---|
| Special admission (PAES, PEAMA, PAET) | Programmes for indigenous, Afro-Colombian, raizal and palenquero students, outstanding students from specific municipalities, and frontier-campus students; no registration fee for PAES |
| Applicants outside Colombia or foreign nationals | Same admission test; see UNAL's 'Aspirantes extranjeros' and 'Aspirantes fuera de Colombia' sections |
Deadlines
- 2027-01 registration (closed) Non-binding Passed24 August 2026
Payment and online registration ran from 6 July 2026.
- 2027-01 admission test Non-binding Passed20 September 2026 (exam date)
Scores and programme registration 1 to 6 October 2026; specific tests 9 October 2026.
- 2027-01 admission results Non-binding Next deadline · In 3 days9 October 2026
Admitted students send documents 15 to 20 October 2026.
Registration and the admission test for the first semester of 2027 have already taken place; results are published on 9 October 2026. UNAL runs an admission process each semester, so check admisiones.unal.edu.co for the 2027-2 call.
How to apply
Pay the registration fee (175,000 COP, or 87.5 US dollars from abroad), formalise your registration online choosing admission type and campus, complete the socioeconomic survey, check your exam summons, sit the admission test and then register the programme you want according to your score.
What admissions looks for
- A high score on UNAL's admission test, which determines the order in which places are assigned.
- For programmes with specific tests, strong performance in those tests.
- Eligibility for special admission programmes where applicable.
Tips for applying to UNAL
- 1 Take the practice test (simulacro) on the laptop you will use: the exam is computer-based and you must bring your own laptop.
- 2 Your programme choice comes after your score, so check past cut-offs before registering your programme in the 1 to 6 October window.
- 3 The exam summons is not sent by email: check it yourself on the admissions site.
- 4 If you belong to an eligible community or municipality, look at PAES, PEAMA or PAET, which have their own quotas.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in COP
UNAL is a public university and most of its undergraduates come from lower-income households (86% from strata 1 to 3). The registration fee for the admission process is 175,000 COP, waived for PAES candidates. Tuition amounts are not published on the admissions pages consulted.
- 175,000 COP (87.5 US dollars from abroad)
- Admission registration fee
- 86%
- Undergraduates from strata 1 to 3
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters
Law
Studied at UNAL by Gabriel García Márquez and political leader Jorge Eliécer Gaitán.
Architecture
Alumni include Rogelio Salmona, who designed the university's Human Sciences Postgraduate Centre; the campus has the Leopoldo Rother Museum of Architecture.
Medicine
Alumnus Salomón Hakim began medical school here before pioneering work in neurosurgery.
Philosophy
Former Bogotá mayor and UNAL rector Antanas Mockus earned his master's in philosophy here.
Research
- 1,002 research groups, 60% of them categorised by Minciencias, Colombia's science ministry.
- 329 graduate programmes, including 56 doctorates and 152 master's degrees.
- Bogotá campus museums include the Leopoldo Rother Museum of Architecture, the Natural History Museum and the Jorge Eliécer Gaitán House Museum.
Schools & faculties
- Bogotá campus
- Medellín campus
- Manizales campus
- Palmira campus
- Amazonia campus
- Caribe campus
- Orinoquía campus
- Tumaco (Pacific) campus
- De La Paz campus
Student life
The Ciudad Universitaria in Bogotá is a large, open campus in Teusaquillo, north-west of the historic centre, known as the 'White City'. Its central Plaza Che, facing the León de Greiff Auditorium, is the heart of student life. The campus has museums, an astronomical observatory and green spaces, and a student support system monitors how new students adapt. Students come from every region of Colombia, and most live in rented rooms or with family.
- Plaza Che and the León de Greiff Auditorium at the heart of the Bogotá campus.
- Museums on campus, including the Leopoldo Rother Museum of Architecture and the Natural History Museum.
- 9,403 students enrolled through special admission programmes.
- Nine campuses across Colombia, from Medellín to the Amazon.
Housing. UNAL does not guarantee housing; most students live with family or rent rooms near campus.
Location
Bogotá is Colombia's capital, a large high-altitude city with a cool climate year-round. The Ciudad Universitaria is in the Teusaquillo locality, north-west of the historic centre. Besides Bogotá, UNAL has campuses in Medellín, Manizales, Palmira and five frontier regions, so students can study in very different parts of Colombia. El Dorado International Airport serves the capital.
Nearest airport: El Dorado International Airport, Bogotá (BOG)
Notable alumni
- GG Gabriel García MárquezNobel Prize-winning novelist; studied law at UNAL
- JE Jorge Eliécer GaitánLiberal Party leader whose 1948 assassination sparked the Bogotazo
- RS Rogelio SalmonaArchitect known for his red-brick buildings; studied architecture at UNAL
- AM Antanas MockusMathematician, philosopher, UNAL rector and Mayor of Bogotá; master's in philosophy
- SH Salomón HakimNeurosurgeon and inventor; studied medicine at UNAL
- CL Carlos Lleras RestrepoPresident of Colombia 1966 to 1970; law graduate (1930)
Frequently asked questions
How do you get into the Universidad Nacional de Colombia?
By taking UNAL's own computer-based admission test. After seeing your score you register a programme, and places are assigned in descending order of score.
When is the next UNAL admission exam?
The 2027-01 exam was on 20 September 2026, with results on 9 October 2026. UNAL admits students each semester, so the next process is the 2027-2 call; check the admissions site for its dates.
How much does it cost to apply to UNAL?
The registration fee for 2027-01 was 175,000 COP (87.5 US dollars if paying from abroad); PAES candidates do not pay it.
Does UNAL use the Saber 11 (ICFES) score for admission?
Not for ranking: places are assigned by UNAL's own admission test, plus specific tests for some programmes. You must still be a high-school graduate who has taken Saber 11 to enrol.
How many students apply to UNAL?
UNAL's statistics portal lists 27,205 applicants for the 2026-2 intake, 24,546 of them for undergraduate programmes.
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.
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