1. ¿What do i need to make an exchange in Colombia?

Requirements:

 

- You need a B1 spanish level.

- An academic plan with the classes that you would like to take at the UPB .

- The academic history of the classes that you already took in your home university with the translated notes (in spanish or english).

- A letter from the international office from your home university where they introduce you as an exchange student.

- An introduction letter from the dean of your faculty.

- A brief curriculum vitae (CV).

- A motivation letter (max. one page).

- If you're accepted in the UPB, you should have a health insurance, national or international, that covers your entire time in Colombia.

For people with no colombian nationality, a student VISA is mandatory.

 

 

2. ¿Do i need a Visa?

 

Yes, you need a studen visa. The UPB will bring you help and information to complete all required formalities.

 

3. ¿What level of spanish is required?

 

You need to have a B1 spanish level.

 

4. ¿Does the HAWK offer spanish lessons?

 

The HAWK works in cooperation with the Volkshochschule. For more information go to 

 

5. ¿Whow's the accomodation for students?

 

The UPB provides different contacts and information for accomodation and apartments.

 

6. ¿Which vaccines do i need to go to Colombia?

 

In the moment of entering the country you wont need any certificate for vaccines; however, if you want to go to destinations other than Medellín such as Amazonas, you might need one. For more informations enter www.colombia.travel

 

7. ¿Is it safe to travel around Colombia?

 

¡Ofcourse it is! Our country has worked hard to eliminate security problems that had been there for several years. The current peace process and tourism figures increase every year, attest to a remarkable improvement. Learn more about it here.

 

8. ¿Does Colombia have seasons?

 

No. Our weather varies according of the altitude of every one of our cities. Medellín has a very regular climate where the average temperature is 23° being 28° the hottest and 17° the coldest.

If you wanna go around the country, you'll find temperatures higher than 30° and even below 0°.

 

9. ¿How's the transportation within Medellín?

 

Medellín has a very complete mass transportation system featuring Metro, "Metroplus", cable cars, Trams and connected bus routes.

 

Bicycle: "Encicla" is a system of public bicycles in Medellín.

 

Taxis (which are very cheap in our country).

 

If you want to travel within Colombia you can go with road or air transport. Visit the websites of different airlines: Avianca, Lan, Viva Colombia, or try the bus terminals all around our country.

 

10. ¿What are the costs of living in Medellín?

 

Currency: 1 Euro equals $2,604.46 colombian pesos... (a cocacola 300ml costs aroud $1.600).

 

Living costs: 

- You can find rooms in family houses for $300.000 a month.

- A room in an apartment for students is around $500.000 and $700.000 pesos.

- The monthly rent in a 2 bedroom apartment in a good area: 1,500,000 pesos

 

 

City Bus: $1.800- $1.900

Metro ticket: $2.000

Integrated routes* : 2.500

 

*(includes the metro ticket and one bus ride).

 

If you live far away from the university, you might need to take up to 4 buses a day, so you would need around $240.000 for transportation a month.

 

If you live near the UPB you could easily come and go with the bicycle. (The neighbourhood "Laureles" is one of the few parts of Medellín that doesn't have mountains).

 

Food and others: 

- Full meal on a diner: 5,000 pesos

- Full meal at a restaurant midrange: 16,000 pesos

- Full mean on a high-end restaurant: 28,000 pesos

- Beer in a cheap bar: 2,000 pesos

- Beer in an expensive bar: 9,000 pesos

- Rum bottle at a liquor store: 12,000 pesos

- Bottle of rum in an economic bar: 40,000 pesos

- Bottle of rum in an expensive bar: 100,000 pesos

- Entrance to a club: 15,000 pesos

- Fruits, vegetables and food for one week: 50,000 pesos (although it is much cheaper in the market places)

- Cinema ticket: 15,000 pesos

- 500g of meat: 8,000 pesos (although it is cheaper in the market places)

- A loaf of bread: 3,000 pesos.

- A cup of coffee between 500 and 3,000 pesos.

 

11. ¿Can i get a job?

 

We don't recommend getting a job because the university takes pretty much all of your time.

 

12. ¿When i leave to go to Colombia, do i have to pay both matriculations?

 

No, you dont need to pay both matriculations at once.

 

13. ¿Do i have accompaniment at the moment of arrival?

 

Yes, a person from the UPB will welcome you and guide you through the city.

 

14. ¿What are the Semester Dates in the UPB?

 

The semester begins between the third and the last week of january and ends the last week of may. The next semester starts again the second week of july and ends the 2 week of november.

 

15. ¿How is the study method?

 

Consists in an investigation methodology with a humanist emphasis.

- Each semester has 7 courses, one of them -humanities.

The last semester is for internships.

- whole duration of a bachelor studie: 10 Semesters

- Method: The classes are mostly face to face. If you miss the 20% of the classes, the course will be cancelled and the note will be 0.0

- Admissions periodicity: Every semester.

- Grades: The grades go from 0.00 to 5.00. Being 5.00 the best hand 0.00 the worst.

You approve with 3.00

Several notes are held during the semester where none can be worth more than 40% of the final note.