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Study Abroad in Colombia

Hi,

I am a Biology student at the University of Michigan. I am interested in studying abroad in Colombia for a semester or two in the near future, and I am wondering what the best universities in Colombia are, particularly for the biological sciences (with an empahsis on field ecology)? I am particularly interested about the any schools in the Amazon basin, or other locations with close access to rainforest and with school funded research being conducted in the rainforest. Of course, safety is a concern. Advice on which schools would be in the safest areas is also very much appreciated.

Thank you very much your time and responses in adanvce,

George Livingston

By georgel on Aug 9, 2005, 22:30 in Friendly Talkzone.

camilo says on Aug 10, 2005, 06:49:

Universidad de los Andes
Pontifisia Universidad Javeriana

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bjorn says on Aug 10, 2005, 08:05:

Try Universidad National in Leticia http://www.imani.unal.edu.co/

This is a public uni, very low tution and generally high standard
(Private unis is not always the best in Colombia. At least in natural science and medicine the public unis is among the best)
Even if they don't have any exchange program with your uni it's probably not difficult to arrange something. See if you could find a oficina de relaciones internacional or something in the webpage.

Good luck, you will love Colombia

Bjorn
(Biologist from Norway, did a semester in Universidad de Antioquia in Medelin)

Bjorn

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DanielPaisa says on Aug 10, 2005, 08:55:

Universidad de Antioquia This is a public university, but also, the best in those areas here in colombia. Even thou i respect universities like los andes, they don't have anything on biology compared to universidad de antioquia.

This may sound regionalistic to you, so i'm just gonna pass you some information from an anual survey about universities here in colombia. I`t's conducted by an economic magazine called "La Nota Economica", with more than 100 universities and 940 programs. It's a serius study, not something i'm making up. They rate the universities based on several variables, including Academic (Teachers, resurces, academic desertion), and the national and international recognition.

The first rate they show us is "wich universities atract the best teachers" (rated from 1(Best teachers) to 3(not so good))in every subject (engineering, medicine, economics, etc):

For Biology: Universidad de Antioquia 1, Universidad Javeriana 2, Universidad Nacional 3. (you don't see los andes here)

Then they rate each program on each university in the country.

Program: Biology
1st: Universidad de antioquia (5 star)
2nd: Universidad de Los Andes (5 star)
3rd: Universidad Javeriana (4 star)

Universidad de antioquia was also rated first in medicine, odontology, chemistry and many others...

Universidad de antiioquia has also 22 class A investigation groups (i believe los andes has 4), it's the only colombian university with a registered carbon compound, and it's the leading institution in investigations here in colombia.

Another thing: a semester in universidad de antioquia can cost like a maximum of 3 Million pesos, whilo los andes is almost 7 million pesos... and medellin is cheaper than bogota...

anything else you need, just ask, PM me and i can give you more info... i hope my english wasn't that bad!

Daniel, el Paisa

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petitesauterelle says on Aug 10, 2005, 15:25:

Universidad Nacional I also recommend Universidad Nacional in Leticia.

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