波哥大

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

More about Bogotá

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