Universidad Francisco de Paula Santander (UFPS) is a public university in Cúcuta, with its main campus in the Colsag neighborhood. If you’re visiting for an appointment or to use the library, confirm current details with the university before setting out.
- Campus address: Avenida Gran Colombia No. 12E-96, barrio Colsag, San José de Cúcuta.
- From Hotel Tonchalá: about a 19-minute walk or 7-minute drive.
- Library: Biblioteca Eduardo Cote Lamus, at the main campus address.
- Library hours: Monday to Friday, 7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.; Saturday, 7:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
About the Cúcuta campus
UFPS began as a private foundation in 1962 and later became a public departmental university. Its main campus is in Cúcuta’s Colsag neighborhood.
The university’s history begins on 5 July 1962, when it was founded with a School of Economics. The departmental government granted the foundation legal status on 19 September that year, and Schools of Topography and Drawing were incorporated. Early operations took place at calle 13 with avenidas 5 and 6, on a property provided by the founder.
In 1968, the departmental assembly authorized steps to purchase land in the Quinta Oriental urbanization, where the university is now located. UFPS became an official departmental university on 1 June 1970, as a decentralized public establishment with legal personality.
An official university document gives the main campus approximately 120,869 m² of land and 45,160.65 m² of built area, including Campos Elíseos. It also identifies an associated Campos Elíseos site in the municipality of Los Patios, separate from the main Cúcuta campus.
How do you get to the UFPS campus?
The main UFPS campus is at Avenida Gran Colombia No. 12E-96, barrio Colsag, San José de Cúcuta, Colombia. Use that address when planning a taxi or car trip, and confirm your route before leaving.
For a wider look at local transport, the guide to getting around Cúcuta covers the city’s travel context. The university also publishes a national telephone line, (607) 574 8805, and an international line, +57 607 574 8805.
What services can you use at UFPS?
Biblioteca Eduardo Cote Lamus is the university library, and its published address matches the main campus address. The library provides floor plans for levels 1, 2 and 3, with options to download, print or explore the library in 3D.
The library publishes hours of 7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. Monday to Friday and 7:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Saturday. Hours and contact details can change, so check the official site before you go.
For library enquiries, it publishes telephone extensions 133, 136, 252 and 295, as well as biblioteca@ufps.edu.co. Confirm the best contact route before relying on these details.
Planning an appointment or campus visit
If you’re visiting a university office, contact UFPS first to confirm where to go and any entry requirements. The university’s national and international telephone lines are published as (607) 574 8805 and +57 607 574 8805.
The university’s guide to Cúcuta city centre can help put the campus visit in context with the surrounding city.
For a library visit, check its current opening hours and use the address at Avenida Gran Colombia No. 12E-96, barrio Colsag.
UFPS is about a 19-minute walk or 7-minute drive from a four-star hotel in Cúcuta.
FAQs
Where is Universidad Francisco de Paula Santander?
The main Cúcuta campus is at Avenida Gran Colombia No. 12E-96, barrio Colsag, San José de Cúcuta, Colombia.
What are the UFPS library hours?
Biblioteca Eduardo Cote Lamus publishes hours of 7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. Monday to Friday and 7:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Saturday. Check the official site before travelling in case details have changed.
Does UFPS have a campus outside Cúcuta?
A university document identifies an associated Campos Elíseos site in Los Patios, in addition to the main Cúcuta campus.
How can you contact UFPS?
The university publishes national and international telephone lines. The library also publishes its email address, biblioteca@ufps.edu.co.