Complutense University of Madrid facts for kids
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Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Spanish)
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| Latin: Universitas Complutensis Matritensis | |
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Former name
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Estudio de Escuelas Generales de Alcalá (1293–1499) Universitas Complutensis (1499–1836) Literary University (1836–1851) Universidad Central (1851–1943) Universidad de Madrid (1943–1970) |
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| Motto | Libertas Perfundet Omnia Luce (Latin) |
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Motto in English
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"Freedom will flood all things with light" |
| Type | Public research non-profit coeducational higher education institution |
| Established | 20 May 1293 |
| Founder | Cardinal Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros |
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Academic affiliations
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Compostela Group of Universities Europaeum IAU Una Europa UNICA Utrecht Network |
| Budget | €607,559,030 |
| Rector | Joaquín Goyache Goñi |
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Administrative staff
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11,162 |
| Undergraduates | 74,771 |
| Postgraduates | 11,388 |
| Location |
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Spain
40°26′57″N 3°43′41″W |
| Campus | Urban 2 campuses in Madrid --Moncloa Campus --Somosaguas Campus |
| Colours | Red |
The Complutense University of Madrid (Spanish: Universidad Complutense de Madrid; UCM) is a large public research university in Madrid, Spain. It was first started in Alcalá in 1293. Later, in 1836, it moved to Madrid. This makes it one of the oldest universities still running in the world!
The university has a huge campus that covers the entire University City district of Madrid. It also has extra buildings in Somosaguas, a nearby area. The university is named after an old Roman town called Complutum, which is now an archaeological site near Alcalá de Henares.
More than 86,000 students attend Complutense University. This makes it one of the largest universities in Europe. In 1857, it became the first and only university in Spain allowed to give out doctorate degrees. These are the highest degrees you can get. In 1909, it was also one of the first universities in the world to give a doctorate degree to a woman.
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History of Complutense University
The Complutense University began on May 20, 1293. King Sancho IV of Castile gave permission to the Archbishop of Toledo, Gonzalo Pérez Gudiel, to start a school. It was called El Estudio de Escuelas Generales in Alcalá de Henares. At that time, these schools were known as studium generale.
One of the school's former students, Cardinal Cisneros, bought a lot of land. He ordered many buildings to be built. This became the first ever university campus built from scratch! It was called the Civitas Dei, or "city of God." In 1499, Cardinal Cisneros got special permission from Pope Alexander VI. This allowed Complutense to become a full university. This permission meant that degrees from the university were recognized all over Europe. The school was also renamed Universitas Complutensis. This name came from Complutum, the Latin name for Alcalá de Henares.
By the school year 1509–1510, Complutense University had five main schools. These included Arts and Philosophy, Theology, Law, Languages, and Medicine. During the 1500s and 1600s, Complutense University became a top place for learning worldwide. Many important people in science, art, and politics studied or taught here. Special colleges were even made for students from other countries, like Flemish or Irish students.
In 1785, Complutense was one of the first universities to give a doctorate degree to a female student. Her name was María Isidra de Guzmán y de la Cerda. To compare, the University of Oxford didn't accept female students until 1920. The University of Cambridge didn't give a PhD to a woman until 1926.
In 1836, Queen Regent Maria Christina ordered the university to move to Madrid. It was then called the Literary University. In 1851, it became the Central University (Universidad Central).
The Central University gave Albert Einstein an honorary Doctor of Science degree in 1923. This was the first honorary science degree he accepted from a European university. In 1933, Einstein agreed to lead a research institute at the university. It was going to be called the Instituto Albert Einstein. However, because of political problems in Europe, Einstein later went to the Institute for Advanced Study in the United States.
The university grew a lot in the 1800s. Its buildings in central Madrid became too small. In 1927, King Alfonso XIII gave land near the Palace of La Moncloa to the university. This huge area is now called the "Ciudad Universitaria" or University City of Madrid.
A group chosen by King Alfonso XIII decided the new university needed modern buildings. They sent a team to visit top universities in Europe and North America. They wanted to combine the best ideas to design a perfect academic setting. The original buildings, like the Schools of Medicine and Pharmacy, show the simple, useful style of the 1920s.
In the 1970s, the University of Madrid was renamed. Its colleges were split between the Complutense University of Madrid and the Technical University of Madrid. When Alcalá de Henares opened a new university in the old campus buildings, it was named Universidad de Alcalá de Henares. This was to make sure people knew it was different from Complutense University.
Complutense University Today
The Complutense University has been very important in Spain's history. Many of its graduates have become government leaders. This includes former Prime Ministers and other important officials. The university has also welcomed many famous thinkers from around the world, like Albert Einstein. In the 1930s, many European thinkers came to Spain to escape fascism.
Today, Complutense University is the largest university in Spain. In 2004–2005, it had over 91,000 students and 9,500 staff members. More than 6,000 of these staff members are teachers. The university gets money from the government, grants, and student fees. Its yearly budget is over €500,000,000.
The university offers almost 80 different main subjects and many degrees. It has over 30 libraries with more than 2 million books. It also has a huge collection of historical documents and films.
Because it has been in Madrid for so long, the university gets a lot of support. The School of Medicine works with several hospitals in Madrid. Some of these hospitals are run with the Ministry of Health. The university also has a strong connection with the Spanish government. The presidential residence, La Moncloa, and the Spanish Constitutional Court are both located on campus.
The School of Communications has good relationships with the media. Many of its professors used to be reporters or editors. This school is also known for showing new Spanish films before they are released. The main actors or directors often come to talk to students after the screening.
The Faculty of Fine Arts started in 1978. It offers degrees in Fine Arts, Design, and Art Restoration.
Each year, the Madrid Círculo de Bellas Artes invites Complutense students to special talks. These talks feature famous philosophers, sociologists, and psychologists. Many famous people have also given lectures at the university. These include singer-songwriter Joan Manuel Serrat and writer Umberto Eco. The director Alejandro Amenábar wrote his first film, Tesis, while he was a student here. The scenes in the film that take place on campus were shot at the School of Communications.
Student Life and Activities
The Complutense University publishes a newspaper called the Gaceta Complutense. It also has its own radio station, Radio Complutense (107.5 FM), which broadcasts for 12 hours a day. Both are run from the School of Communications.
While the university has some dorms, most students live in apartments or other independent housing. This is because university housing is not required and can be expensive.
The University of Madrid has over 100 student groups. These groups focus on politics, social issues, and sports. Students can take classes in aerobics, yoga, swimming, tennis, and more. For team sports, there are male and female basketball, football, volleyball, and rugby teams. There are also teams for chess, badminton, golf, judo, karate, table-tennis, and archery.
The university holds internal sports games several times a year. Different schools compete against each other. Complutense also takes part in regional and national university competitions. All students, professors, and staff can use the Complutense University Center for Sport and Fitness Medicine.
Complutense Around the World
The Complutense University of Madrid has agreements with many universities worldwide. These allow students and professors to study abroad. It also runs four full-time institutions outside of Spain.
- The Real Colegio Complutense at Harvard University (Cambridge, Massachusetts): This college was created to help Harvard University and Complutense University work together. It allows some Complutense professors to do research at Harvard. These professors are called RCC Fellows and have similar benefits to Harvard's non-tenured faculty. The college also helps a small number of students attend doctoral school at Harvard with scholarships.
- Collège des Hautes Études Européennes Miguel Servet (Paris, France): This center is located at the La Sorbonne. It offers special degrees and programs focused on law and economy within the European Union. It also has a double-major program in French and Spanish law.
- Cátedra Complutense en la Universidad de Karlova (Prague, Czech Republic): This is a full campus that offers bachelor's and doctorate degrees. It works with Charles University in Prague.
- Cátedra Dubcek (Bratislava, Slovakia): This is another full campus that offers bachelor's and doctorate degrees. It works with Comenius University in Bratislava.
University Rankings
| University rankings | |
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| Global – Overall | |
| ARWU World | 301–400 (2023) |
| QS World | =171 (2024) |
| THE World | 501–600 (2024) |
| USNWR Global | =337 (2023) |
The Complutense University is ranked among the best universities in the world.
- In the Shanghai Ranking, it is among the top 300 worldwide and top 3 in Spain.
- In the QS World University Ranking, it is #226 worldwide, #85 in Europe, and #4 in Spain.
- In the Scimago institution rankings, it is #175 worldwide and #3 in Spain. It is also in the top 3% overall for its impact.
Famous People Who Taught Here
- Antonio Brú (born 1962), a theoretical physicist.
- José María de Azcárate (1919–2001), an art historian who studied medieval and Renaissance art.
- María Ángeles Durán (born 1942), a sociologist and economist.
- Juan Luis Arsuaga (born 1954), a professor in the Paleontology Department.
- Fernando Savater (born 1947), a professor of Ethics.
- María Vallet-Regí (born 1946), a professor of inorganic chemistry who leads a group studying smart biomaterials.
- José Cobo Cano (born 1965), the archbishop of Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Madrid.
Famous Alumni
Many famous people have graduated from Complutense University. In recent years, this includes:
- 7 Nobel Prize winners
- 18 Prince of Asturias Awardees
- 7 Miguel de Cervantes Prize recipients (a top Spanish literary award)
- Several prime ministers of Spain
- Members of the Spanish royalty
- Leaders of other countries
Over its long history, the university has produced important people in science, arts, and politics. Alumni include:
- Philosophers like José Ortega y Gasset and Ignatius of Loyola.
- Writers like Federico García Lorca and Pedro Calderón de la Barca.
- Scientists like Santiago Ramón y Cajal (a Nobel Prize winner) and Severo Ochoa (another Nobel Prize winner).
- Historical figures like Cardinal Mazarin and José Rizal.
See also
In Spanish: Universidad Complutense de Madrid para niños
- University of Alcalá
- Complutensian Polyglot Bible
