Art degrees in Colombia
Music, film, photography, dance, animation, cultural management and fine arts: they are art degrees you can study in Colombia.
If you draw, record videos with your phone, make song playlists or rehearse with your band, there are undergraduate programs that build on what you already do.
How art is studied in Colombia
They are mostly university undergraduate programs, at public and private institutions in Bogotá and MedellÃn, and also in Cali, Barranquilla, Cartagena, Bucaramanga or Pereira.
In almost all of them you spend a lot of time rehearsing, composing, filming or staging a work, and what you present is usually your own work rather than a written exam. In addition to the general admission requirements, many institutions ask for an audition, an interview or a portfolio of your work.
There are also degrees that work alongside the stage or the camera: producing, designing the scene, organizing cultural events or teaching. Two similar programs can have different names, so read the curriculum.
Art degrees in Colombia
Among those studied in Colombia are Fine Arts, Music and Audiovisual Communication.
Fine Arts covers visual techniques such as drawing, painting or sculpture; Music and Dance prepare you for the stage; Audiovisual Communication and Cinematography, for storytelling with image and sound; Photography, for working with still images. Several overlap with the design degrees in Colombia and with those in communication.
Where to study art in Colombia
Universidad de Bogotá Jorge Tadeo Lozano (UTadeo)Bogotá · PrivateFine ArtsCinematographyAnimationPhotographyCultural Management
Corporación Academia Superior de Artes (CORPOASA)MedellÃn · PrivatePhotographyAnimationAudiovisual CommunicationCultural Management
Fundación Universitaria Bellas ARTESMedellÃn · PrivateMusicFine ArtsPhotography
Institución Universitaria Bellas Artes y Ciencias de BolÃvar (UNIBAC)Cartagena · PublicFine ArtsMusicAudiovisual Communication
Universidad Antonio Nariño (UAN)Bogotá · PrivateFine ArtsMusicDance
Corporación Escuela de ARTES y LetrasBogotá, D.C. · PrivateCinematographyFine Arts
Corporación Unificada Nacional de Educación Superior (CUN)Bogotá · PrivateAudiovisual CommunicationMusic
Corporación Universitaria Cenda (CENDA)Bogotá · PrivateDanceFine ArtsHow to choose between them
Notice what you do when no one asks you to: if you film and edit, if you draw in your notebooks, if you sing or play with friends, if you get everyone organized for a show at your school.
Then ask yourself whether you prefer to create the work yourself, help make it possible for others, or teach it. If you enjoy organizing, you might like Cultural Management more than being on stage.
If you are torn between Music and Cinematography, compare the subjects for each in its profile and see in which city each is offered: not all of them are available in every city. For another clue, take the career test.
To read before choosing
Frequently asked questions
How long do art undergraduate programs last in Colombia?
They are all similar in length. Photography tends to be somewhat shorter, and Music, somewhat longer.
Do I need to know how to draw or play an instrument to get in?
It depends on the degree and the institution: some require a test, an audition or a portfolio with your work. Check the requirements of each program.
How do I know if an art program has qualified registration?
Look it up in the SNIES of the Ministry of National Education, which lists approved higher education programs.
What is required to get into an art degree in Colombia?
Many institutions consider the results of the Saber 11, administered by the ICFES, and for art they usually add a discipline-specific test. Confirm this on each program's page.
Can you study art remotely?
Some programs offer distance or blended learning, but practical work means many require in-person attendance. Check the format at each institution.