University of Antioquia
The University of Antioquia (Universidad de Antioquia), also called UdeA, is primarily a public research-based university, located in the city of Medellín, Colombia. Founded in 1803 after a Royal Decree was issued by King Charles IV of Spain, under the name Franciscan College (Colegio de Franciscanos), they have maintained their accreditation from the Ministry of Education for more than 2 centuries. Along with the University of the Andes, each institution hold the second longest term behind the National University of Colombia.
Also recorded as UdeA · Antioquia University
University of Antioquia

AlcaMede · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Name
- University of Antioquia
- Founded
- 1803
- Headquarters
- Medellín
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
The University of Antioquia (Universidad de Antioquia), also called UdeA, is primarily a public research-based university, located in the city of Medellín, Colombia. Founded in 1803 after a Royal Decree was issued by King Charles IV of Spain, under the name Franciscan College (Colegio de Franciscanos), they have maintained their accreditation from the Ministry of Education for more than 2 centuries. Along with the University of the Andes, each institution hold the second longest term behind the National University of Colombia.
Admitted source layer · organised and presented by VALÉORINE
Note VALÉORINE
No house-authored Note is published until its assertions and sources pass the VALÉORINE evidence contract. The documentary article remains available in full while that enrichment is being consolidated.
Documentary enrichment in progress · no unsupported statement published
Reference Check
Propose documentary evidence for University of Antioquia. A contribution is never written directly as fact: identity, source, rights and evidence gates still decide.
Sign in to contribute
Documentary evidence
Evidence Panel
not yet certified
- Identity
- resolved
- Independent source families
- 0
- Admitted assertions
- 0
- Open conflicts
- 0
Authority files
wikidata · Q1258413 · wikipedia · University of Antioquia
In this article
Overview
Overview
UdeA and the Tecnológico de Antioquia have the largest number of seats in the department of Antioquia. The university is a member of the Association of Colombian Universities (ASCUN), the Iberoamerican Association of Postgraduate Universities (AUIP), and the network Universia.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — University of Antioquia • Native Name — Universidad de Antioquia • Motto — Alma Máter de la Raza • Motto Eng — The Alma Mater of the Race • Type — Public • Rector — John Jairo Arboleda Céspedes • Academic Staff — 1,386 FTE • Administrative Staff — 1,589 • Students — 30,844 • Undergrad — 29,175 • Postgrad — 1,669 • City — Medellín, Antioquia • Country — Colombia • Campus — Urban • Former Names — Franciscan College • Colours — whitegreen White and green • Other Names — UdeA • Academic Affiliations — ASCUN, AUIP, Universia • Website — www.udea.edu.co
Founding
Founding
• Illustration — Royal Decree of February 9, 1801 The University of Antioquia was preceded by the Franciscan College (Colegio de Franciscanos), which was founded in 1803 after King Charles IV of Spain issued the Royal Decree of February 9, 1801, allowing the establishment of a college-convent in Villa de la Candelaria, Medellín. The first classes were held in March 1803, programs for Latin and philosophy were available for higher education. On June 20, 1803, the council of Medellín bought land for the main building and construction started in August. The structure is known as the San Ignacio building (Edificio San Ignacio) In 1822, once independence from Spain was consolidated, the Vice President of the Republic of Colombia Francisco de Paula Santander promoted the establishment of a new educational plan for the institution and, five years later, president Simón Bolívar allowed instruction in law. During a great part of the 19th century, the country faced political and armed struggles and the university was closed and occupied by belligerents impeding the institution's development.
20th century
20th century
Once the Thousand Days' War was over, the country experienced stability and the university grew. In the first thirty years the university reorganized its curriculum, redesigned some of the buildings, acquired bibliographic material and employed renowned professors. University City (Ciudad Universitaria) was built in the 1960s with debt and international aid. This allowed the increase in the numbers of both students and professors and the creation of new faculties and academic programs. In the late 20th century, as part of its regionalization program, the university opened campuses and facilities in several regions of the department of Antioquia and established the University Research Headquarters.
Today
Today
UdeA started in the mid-1990s a regionalization program to offer higher education in other municipalities within the department of Antioquia, reaching 11 regional campuses outside of Medellín. In 2004 the university established the University Research Headquarters (Sede de Investigación Universitaria (SIU)) an advanced project to promote a qualitative and quantitative transformation of its research system.
Campus
Campus
• Illustration — Model of the Antioquia University • Illustration — Central Square
Medellin
Medellin
The university spreads across Medellín, while University City is the main campus. The other Medellín campuses are the Citadel Robledo and the Health Area. The San Ignacio Building is located in the downtown area. Eleven regional campuses are located outside the city.
University City
University City
Built in the 1960s with an area of 23.75 ha, University City is the main campus of the university. The campus contains eight faculties, three schools, three institutes and the Administrative Building (Edificio Administrativo). It hosts the University Museum (Museo Universitario), the University Theater(Teatro Universitario), the Central Library (Biblioteca Central) and the Sport Unit (Unidad Deportiva). The main campus area is secured at each entrance and offers open access to any visitors by simply registering your name at either front office. Researchers, journalists, or higher education enthusiasts can visit the wide campus and enjoy many of the available historical and artistic relics on site. • Illustration — Institute of Nutrition, Citadel Robledo
Citadel Robledo
Citadel Robledo
With an area of 89 ha, Citadel Robledo hosts the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, the School of Nutrition, Veterinary Clinic and the Institute of Physical Education. The campus library is widely known for its collections in veterinary medicine and zootechnics. It also contains a sport unit with two football pitches, a pool, two basketball/futsal courts and a handball court. • Illustration — Faculty of Medicine, Health Area
Health area
Health area
This area hosts the nursing, dentistry, medicine and public health faculties, near the St Vincent de Paul University Hospital (Hospital Universitario San Vicente de Paúl).
San Ignacio Building
San Ignacio Building
• Illustration — San Ignacio Building The historical campus of the university was declared a national monument in 1982. It hosts seven exhibition halls, ten lecture rooms, one movie theater, two computer labs, one restaurant, one multipurpose room and one auditorium.
Regional campuses
Regional campuses
In the 1990s the university started a regionalization plan to increase access to higher education across the department. The university opened campuses in Amalfi, Andes, Caucasia, Carmen de Viboral, Envigado, Puerto Berrío, Santa Fe de Antioquia, Segovia, Sonsón, Turbo and Yarumal, covering all of the subregions of Antioquia. In 2011, the Ministry of Education gave UdeA the award for the best regionalization experience in higher education. • Subregion — Campus • Valle de Aburrá — Medellín and Envigado • Bajo Cauca — Caucasia • Magdalena Medio — Puerto Berrío • Northeastern Antioquia — Amalfi and Segovia • Northern Antioquia — Yarumal • Western Antioquia — Santa Fe de Antioquia • Eastern Antioquia — Carmen de Viboral and Sonsón • Southwestern Antioquia — Andes • Urabá — Turbo
Governance
Governance
The Superior University Council (Consejo Superior Universitario) is the university's governing body. It is formed by the Governor of Antioquia who is the president of the SUC, the Minister of Education or his delegate, a representative of the President of Colombia, a dean elected as the representative of the Academic Council, a representative of the professors, a representative of the students, an alumnus, a representative of the industry, an ex-rector of the university and the rector (non-voting). The Academic Council (Consejo Académico) is the highest academic body of the university. It is formed by the rector, who is the president of the AC; vice-rectors of Investigation, Teaching, Extension and Administration; deans of each faculty; a representative of the professors and a student representative. The rector is the legal representative and top executive of the university. He is responsible for academic and administrative management. He is not permitted to take another job in the private or public sector. He takes office before the President of the Superior University Council.
Academics
Academics
The university has 25 academic divisions at its flagship campus: • Illustration — The Faculty of Engineering is the largest faculty by enrollment Academic divisions of the University of Antioquia • Faculties *Faculty of Arts *Faculty of Agricultural Sciences *Faculty of Economics *Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences *Faculty of Communications and Philology *Faculty of Law and Political Sciences *Faculty of Education *Faculty of Nursing *Faculty of Engineering *Faculty of Medicine *Faculty of Dentistry *Faculty of Pharmaceutical and Food Sciences *Faculty of Public Health — Schools *School of Languages *Inter-American School of Library Studies *School of Microbiology *School of Nutrition Institutes *Institute of Philosophy *Institute of Physical Education and Sports *Institute of Political Studies *Institute of Regional Studies Corporations *Academic Environmental Corporation *Academic Corporation Basic Biomedical Sciences *Academic Corporation for the Study of Tropical Pathologies The university offers 87 undergraduate degrees, 48 specializations, 41 medical specializations, 53 master's degrees and 22 doctoral degrees in Medellín. In the regional campuses, they offer 126 undergraduate degrees and two master's degrees. The UdeA has also a number of international partnerships, offering student exchange programs and some double degrees with foreign institutions, among them: Politecnico di Torino, Universidade de São Paulo, and Politecnico di Milano.
Undergraduate education
Undergraduate education
The undergraduate admission is done through a knowledge test, which is conducted twice a year. The entrance examination is an instrument that measured some basic skills and knowledge that have been obtained is in high school. It is a general aptitude test and as such does not evaluate the applicant regarding the career you want to enter. The exam consists of two components, Reading Proficiency Test (Spanish) and Logical Reasoning Test (Mathematical Logic) and is equal to the candidates of all programs except for the Faculty of Arts. To be eligible you must pass a minimum cutoff score and also be within the number of seats available for each academic program. For each semester, the test is often extremely competitive, meaning that the selectivity in admission to each of the academic programs is very high, in some cases presenting the proportion of applicants admitted less than 10%.
Postgraduate education
Postgraduate education
In graduate school admission is as complex as in the undergraduate. For general graduate requirements differ depending on the title to obtain and the academic unit in which you want to be done. In general at all levels requires the mastery of a foreign language and there are different requirements such as exams, interviews, proposed work and / or research, undergraduate grades, publications, awards, honors, work experience, research experience, participation in events, presentations, and more.
Research
Research
• Illustration — University Research Headquarters The university has 228 research groups in the categories established by Colciencias (A1, A, B, C and D). In 2006, the university provided an investment of about $145 billion COP for research. The majority of the excellence groups (A1, A and B) are concentrated at University Research Headquarters (Sede de Investigación Universitaria -SIU-) an advanced project created by the university to promote a qualitative and quantitative transformation of its research system.. The SIU supports currently 36 research groups that are classified by Colciencias as categories A and B, working in diverse areas such as biotechnology, chemistry, materials science, genetics, environment, immunology, infectious and tropical diseases. Along with providing facilities for the development of scientific and technological projects, the SIU encourages promotes interdepartmental research and cooperation with the larger research community.
Student life
Student life
• Illustration — Track and football field University athletes compete in the West division of ASCUN-Deportes, along with 24 institutions from Antioquia. The games at the division phase qualify teams for national competition. The university offers training and has varsity teams in aikido, chess, track and field, basketball, cycling, climbing, football, futsal, gymnastics, judo, karate, weightlifting, swimming, rugby union, softball, taekwondo, tennis, table tennis, triathlon, ultimate, volleyball, and underwater rugby. The university supports student groups and organizations involved in academic, art, ecological, social and sports activities. Three cultural groups are administered by the university (academic divisions can run their own groups, however). The three are the Folk Dances Group, the Traditional Student Music Group and the Club of Singers.
Alumni
Alumni
Former students and professors of the university include former presidents Álvaro Uribe Vélez, Mariano Ospina Pérez, Carlos E. Restrepo, Liborio Mejía and Mariano Ospina Rodríguez, as well as politician Carlos Gaviria Díaz and writer Tomás Carrasquilla. Other alumni include writers Fernando González and Gonzalo Arango, and politician Fabio Valencia Cossio.
Institutional history
Dated record
Institutional history
The full dated record · 2 entries
1803
University of Antioquia established.
1803
University of Antioquia is recorded from 1803.
Documents and archives
Primary material
Documents and archives
institutional register
- Internet Archive holdings naming University of Antioquia
Unverified · Internet Archive
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q1258413: University of Antioquia
Unverified · Wikimedia Foundation
reference work
- “University of Antioquia”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
People and holdings
Knowledge graph
People and holdings
Those recorded as working within this institution, and the records it holds or is connected with.
Studied at
1- Víctor GaviriaPerson
Established from a fact already recorded on a verified source.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
institutional register
Internet Archive holdings naming University of AntioquiaInternet Archive
Partially resolvedreference work
Partially resolvedinstitutional register
Wikidata, structured authority record Q1258413: University of AntioquiaWikimedia Foundation
Unverified
Further particulars
Held on the record
Further particulars
Open the remaining particulars
University of Antioquia is connected to 9 other published records in the VALÉORINE Encyclopedia.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Publishers and printers
5,459 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- University of AlcaláOrganisation
- University of AlgarveOrganisation
- University of AlicanteOrganisation
- University of AlmeríaOrganisation
- University of Applied and Environmental SciencesOrganisation
- University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern SwitzerlandOrganisation
- University of ArizonaOrganisation
- University of Arizona PressOrganisation
Best supported in this field
For owners
Own an object connected with University of Antioquia?
A specialist will read what you send and tell you what the house can establish, what it cannot, and whether the object is suited to sale. There is no charge and no obligation. The object stays with you throughout; nothing is shipped to us unless it is arranged in writing beforehand.