National University of San Marcos facts for kids
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Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos
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| Latin: Academia S. Marci Vrbis Regvm in Perv | |
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Former name
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Royal and Pontifical University of the City of the Kings of Lima, University of Lima |
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| Motto | Universidad del Perú, Decana de América |
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Motto in English
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University of Peru, Dean of the Americas |
| Type | Public university |
| Established | May 12, 1551 (474 years ago) |
| Founder | Charles I of Spain (founder) Tomás de San Martín (promoter) |
| Affiliation | National Association of Public Universities of Peru, Association of National Universities of Peru, International Association of Universities, Iberoamerican Association of Postgraduate Universities, Organización Universitaria Interamericana, Red IDi, Association of Universities of Latin America and the Caribbean, Universia, Fudan-Latin America University Consortium, Red Peruana de Universidades Nacionales para la Internacionalización |
| Endowment | PEN S/. 469,029,428 (FY 2013) |
| Rector | Jeri Ramón Ruffner |
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Academic staff
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3315 (2017) |
| Students | 37 468 (2020) |
| Undergraduates | 30 866 |
| Postgraduates | 6 602 |
| Location |
Lima
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12°03′30″S 77°05′00″W / 12.05833°S 77.08333°W |
| Campus | Urban, 170 acres (69 ha) |
| Colors | Gold White Metallic blue Magenta |
| Mascot | Lion |
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The National University of San Marcos (Spanish: Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, UNMSM) is a public research university in Lima, the capital of Peru. It is the very first university officially started in the Americas. It is also the oldest continuously operating university in the Americas. Because of this, it is known as the "University of Peru, Dean of the Americas."
The university began around 1548 with general studies in the Santo Domingo Convent. It was officially founded by Fray Thomas de San Martín on May 12, 1551. This was approved by Emperor Charles I of Spain. In 1571, Pope Pius V gave it the title of "pontifical." This made it the "Royal and Pontifical University of the City of the Kings of Lima." It was the first university in America officially founded by the Spanish Crown. It was also called the "University of Lima" during the time when Peru was ruled by Spain.
Over its history, the university had four main colleges. These included colleges for law, letters, medicine, and surgery. During the fight for Peru's independence, the university played a big role. Many leaders of the independence movement studied there. After Peru became independent, it kept the name "University of Lima" until 1946. That's when its current name, National and Major University, became official.
In its 471 years, the University of San Marcos has been in several places. Key locations include the "Casona de San Marcos". This historic building is over 400 years old. It is part of the Historic Center of Lima, which is a World Heritage Site recognized by UNESCO. Today, it hosts cultural events and graduation ceremonies. The "San Fernando" Faculty of Medicine building opened in 1901. It was the country's first medical school. The main campus since 1960 is the "University City". Most faculties, the main library, the university stadium, and the rector's office are there. All these places are in Cercado de Lima.
The University of San Marcos offers 66 study programs. These are grouped into 20 faculties and 5 academic areas. It has the most university subjects in Peru. All faculties offer both undergraduate (first degree) and postgraduate (advanced degree) programs. It also has cultural centers, museums, libraries, and clinics. Its "Domingo Angulo" historical archive keeps important documents from the 16th to 19th centuries. In 2019, its "Colonial Fund and Foundational Documents" were added to the UNESCO Memory of the World Register. This shows their global historical importance.
Contents
- University History
- University Management
- What Students Study
- University Campuses
- University Sports
- Notable Alumni and Academics
University History
The National University of San Marcos started higher education in Peru and the Americas. It began around 1548 with early classes in the Santo Domingo Convent in Lima. The goal was to train clergy in the new Spanish territory. Later, Fray Thomas de San Martín and Captain Juan Jerónimo de Aliaga went to Spain. They got the official order to found the university from Emperor Carlos I and Queen Juana I. This order was given on May 12, 1551, in Valladolid. This officially created the Royal University of the City of Kings, also called the Royal University of Lima.
The official document said the university's mission was to "teach the people of these lands about the Christian faith and loyalty to the King." The university officially started on January 2, 1553. It was in the Chapter House of the Santo Domingo Convent. Its first leader (rector) was Fray Juan Bautista de la Roca.
At first, the university focused only on religious studies. But lay (non-religious) teachers wanted more openness. They asked for a free election of the rector. Viceroy Francisco Álvarez de Toledo supported this. On May 11, 1571, Pedro Fernández de Valenzuela became the first lay rector. This changed the university's direction. The university's official status was confirmed by a special order from Pope Pius V on July 25, 1571. This order also gave the university its pontifical (papal) degree. So, it was renamed the Royal and Pontifical University of the City of the Kings of Lima.
After this change, the university moved to a new location near San Marcelo. On September 6, 1574, the university chose its official name by drawing lots. They picked from the names of the four evangelists. The name chosen was Royal and Pontifical University of San Marcos (Saint Mark). So, Mark the Evangelist became the university's patron saint. In 1575, the university moved again. It went to the old Plaza del Estanque, now where the Congress of Peru is. It stayed there during the time Peru was ruled by Spain.
The officially named University of San Marcos, also known as the "University of Lima," began with Theology and Arts. Later, Law and Medicine were added. It adopted the same academic rules as Spain. It started by teaching Philosophy as a base for all other higher studies. On July 7, 1579, the "Chair of the General Language of the Indians" was created. This was for studying Quechua, a main Andean language. Juan de Balboa was its first professor. On November 27, 1579, professors asked King Philip II for special legal power for the rector. This power, similar to today's university independence, gave the rector civil and criminal authority over university members. From 1571 to 1581, only lay rectors were chosen. But in 1581, Viceroy Francisco Álvarez de Toledo allowed both religious and lay people to be elected. They took turns leading the university until 1820.
The support for a more open university and the rector's special powers helped new ideas grow. This allowed people to question the colonial system. Between 1792 and 1811, anatomy and medicine studies grew at the Royal Hospital of San Andrés. The university and its colleges were watched by the Viceroy. This was because professors and students were suspected of planning Peru's independence. The university's special freedoms likely allowed new ideas to enter. In 1813, the "San Fernando" Faculty of Medicine was named after King Ferdinand VII of Spain. It was based on the College of Medicine. The university had four colleges under its care. These included colleges for law, letters, medicine, and surgery.
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During the time of independence, the university helped train many leaders of Peru's independence movement. After Peru became independent in 1821, the university, which belonged to the king, became part of the new Republic of Peru. The First Constituent Congress of Peru was led by Toribio Rodríguez de Mendoza, a former rector of San Marcos. Out of 64 members, 54 were San Marcos alumni. The Congress met in the Chapel of the University of San Marcos. Today, the Congress of the Republic of Peru still meets in that same place.
In 1822, the university gave its collection of 50,000 books to start the new National Library of Peru. In 1840, the colleges of San Carlos and San Fernando became part of the University of San Marcos. During Ramón Castilla's government, San Marcos was given the power to approve new universities. It also controlled the ones that were just created. In the 19th century, the university's buildings were often used for meetings of the Chamber of Deputies and Congress. This led to the buildings being neglected. By the end of the 19th century, the university gave its buildings completely to the Congress of Peru.
As Lima grew in the 19th century, the university moved to a new campus. This was next to the old Jesuit monastery, which is now the "Casona of San Marcos". San Marcos was already seen as a key center for science and culture. Its professors and students helped create many universities in Latin America. In 1878, a new rule was made. It said San Marcos was a "major" university, while others like those in Arequipa and Cusco were "minor."
During the War of the Pacific, Chilean troops took art and cultural items from the university. At the end of the 19th century, the "San Fernando" Faculty of Medicine moved to its current location on Avenida Grau. After the war, a 1901 law stated that San Marcos was in charge of Peruvian university education. Other universities like those in Trujillo, Cusco, and Arequipa, and later the Catholic University of Lima, were also part of this system.
In the early 20th century, students at San Marcos pushed for university reform. This movement aimed to allow more middle and working-class students to access education. These ideas started a long tradition of student activism at the university. They also changed Peruvian politics. In 1909, San Marcos students protested against Peruvian dictatorships. In 1916, the Federation of Students of Peru (FEP) was formed, mainly by San Marcos students. The FEP demanded changes like updated courses, removal of unqualified teachers, and less government interference. During President Augusto Leguía's government, the university system was reorganized, and universities gained more independence. In 1928, U.S. President Herbert Hoover visited Peru. He called Lima a "center of civilization" and San Marcos the "dean of knowledge."
From the time Peru was ruled by Spain until 1946, the university was often called "University of Lima." In 1946, its name officially became Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos. This name is still used today. In the 1950s and 1960s, more middle-class students joined. This led the government to focus on creating scientific and research areas. In 1951, for its 400th anniversary, the university got new land to build the new University City. The University Stadium opened that same year. Rectors from other Latin American universities gathered for the anniversary. They gave San Marcos the title "Dean of America." Because of this, the university is still called the University of Peru and the Dean of the Americas.
In 1958, an important event happened during a visit by then-Vice President Richard Nixon. Nixon had planned to give a speech at the University of San Marcos. However, students protested U.S. policy in the region, shouting "Nixon, Go Home!" The speech was moved to the Catholic University of Lima, where Nixon also faced protests.
In the mid-1960s, many faculties moved to the University City campus. Today, 17 of the 20 faculties are there. This new campus is on land that used to have ancient ruins from the Maranga Culture. These ruins, like Huaca San Marcos, were restored and protected. In 1969, the system of academic departments was introduced. On September 22, 1984, the university's current rules were set.
Today, the university has nearly 40,000 students and over 4,000 teachers. It offers 65 undergraduate programs, 77 master's degrees, and 27 doctorates. This makes it the university with the most study options in Peru. It has 20 faculties grouped into 6 main blocks. Its departments publish many specialized journals. It also runs 3 important museums in Lima and several research institutes. According to UNESCO, San Marcos is the only university in Peru that covers all major areas of knowledge. These include pure sciences, human sciences, social sciences, health sciences, business sciences, and engineering.
Even with money limits in the Peruvian university system, San Marcos is seen as the most important and respected higher education institution in Peru. This is because of its "tradition, prestige, quality, and admission selectivity." It is also known for having the highest scientific output in Peru.
It has been ranked as the best in Peru by several university rankings. These include the National Assembly of Rectors of Peru (2006), University Ranking by Academic Performance (2010-2012), QS World University Rankings (2011/2012, 2012/2013), and Webometrics (2011-I, 2012-I, 2021). It also ranks high in scientific production based on Scopus (2020, 2022) and SCImago (2009-2011).
The university has a 10-year license from SUNEDU (National Superintendence of Higher University Education). It also has international accreditations that prove its high academic and administrative quality.
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Many important Peruvians and Latin Americans have studied at San Marcos. They all praise the university's high teaching quality. They also highlight the active role the university and its students played in Peru's history. The University of San Marcos is often seen as a reflection of Peru itself. This is because it has shown and been part of the country's challenges. However, the variety and skill of its students are widely recognized.
In 2010, Mario Vargas Llosa became the first Peruvian to win the Nobel Prize. He is one of San Marcos's most famous students. The university gave him an honorary doctorate in 2001. To celebrate his Nobel Prize, on March 30, 2011, San Marcos gave Vargas Llosa its highest award. This was the San Marcos Medal of Honor. The university also created a special study program named after him. It also opened a museum room about his life and time at the university. The ceremony was held at the "Casona de San Marcos." Many San Marcos scholars, who were also his friends and teachers, attended.
In 2018, the Meritorious Society Founders of Independence recognized San Marcos as a "Meritorious" institution. This was for its important role in building and defending Peru. The university's flag was placed in the Hall of Heroes. In 2019, the university awarded a doctorate for a thesis written and defended entirely in Quechua. This was a historic moment for research in Native American languages in the region.
Simón Bolívar, a famous liberator, spoke about the university's importance when he received an honorary degree:
«Gentlemen, when I entered this place of knowledge, I felt great respect and a little fear. Seeing myself among the wise people of the famous University of San Marcos, I feel humble. You are great thinkers, and you have rightly reached high ranks in the world of science. I have little knowledge and no special merit, but your kindness has given me an honor that usually takes years of hard study. Gentlemen: I will always remember this wonderful day. I will never forget that I belong to the wise Academy of San Marcos. I will try to be like your worthy members. Any time I have after my current duties, I will use it to try to reach your level of knowledge, or at least to imitate you.»
Albert Einstein also spoke about San Marcos as the oldest Pan American university. He said this when he received an honorary degree in 1951, for the university's 400th anniversary:
«It is a great pleasure for me to thank my colleagues at the University of San Marcos for the honor they have given me. Your action shows that the oldest American higher education institution has kept the university's spirit of being beyond national borders. Now more than ever, we need to value this spirit. Universities are based on the idea that research should be universal. They aim to find truths without hidden goals, intentions, or biases. They aim for a universal spirit, free from national or political limits. In short, the goal is a universal mind and spirit. It's no secret that we've been better at developing the mind than developing personality. It seems even the search for knowledge is threatened by a lack of truly universal spirits. If universities stay true to their main purpose, they can greatly help solve the problems we face today."
Mario Vargas Llosa, Nobel Prize winner, spoke about San Marcos when he received his award from the university:
«My years at San Marcos were very important for my mind, my writing, and my civic education. I have never regretted joining the University of San Marcos and spending six years here. [...] San Marcos has always been a place of dissatisfaction and rebellion. People here dreamed of a different future for our country. We must remember that Peru's greatest thinkers, in both science and humanities, came from this university. [...] San Marcos is an old institution, as Arguedas said, age is a value. This university, the oldest in America, is one of Peru's values. It has always been a center for amazing science, intellectual work, research, and creation. It is also an institution that has constantly fought for freedom, for a better world than we have now. A world with more equality, more opportunities, more tolerance, a world without violence or repression. A world that somehow matches the best things our country has given throughout history.»
The First and Oldest University in America
The National University of San Marcos, founded on May 12, 1551, is the oldest university in the Americas. It has been open continuously since its founding. It is the only American university from the 16th century that has never closed. This continuous operation is important. Many universities founded during the colonial era closed during independence wars or other conflicts. Because of its age and continuous operation, in 1951, for its 400th anniversary, rectors from major Latin American universities gathered. They decided to give it the title "Dean of the Americas."
When talking about the first university in America, two universities are often mentioned:
- The National University of San Marcos: It was the first university founded by official royal order in America, on May 12, 1551. This means the Spanish Crown officially and formally created it. It followed all the royal and church rules of the time. The General Archive of the Indies has no official documents from before 1551 that recognize any university or higher education institution before San Marcos.
- The University of Santo Tomás de Aquino: This university claims to be older based on a special order from Paul III dated October 28, 1538. However, it did not get official royal approval from King Charles I of Spain until February 23, 1558. On August 2, 1758, King Ferdinand VI of Spain issued a royal decree. It stopped the University of Santo Tomás from calling itself the first in America. This was because that historical claim was not true compared to San Marcos in Lima, the University of Mexico, and others. Centuries later, the University of Santo Tomás de Aquino closed in the early 19th century due to wars in the Dominican Republic.
It is important to note that both San Marcos and Santo Tomás de Aquino (and the Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico) started offering general studies and degrees before they became official universities. Historians need to decide on starting points for American universities. These points are usually the official documents that allowed each university to be founded. The legal importance of each document is still debated. Future historical and legal research will continue to explore how universities and higher education began in America.
University Symbols
Since its founding in 1551, the University of San Marcos has had several official symbols:
- Emblem: From 1551 to 1574, the first official shield showed the Virgin of the Rosary, who was the patron saint of the Dominican friars. On the right, it showed the Pacific Ocean, and below, a lime fruit (referring to Lima). King Carlos I of Spain approved this shield in 1551. By late 1570, after a special order from Pius V, the shield changed. The Virgin of the Rosary was replaced by the new patron, Saint Mark, and his symbol, the Lion. The colors of that old shield are not known because documents from that century were only in black and white. In 1929, the colors became widely used: blue for the ocean, black or brown for the saint, light blue for the background, and silver for the columns. This updated shield with Saint Mark has been the university's symbol for almost 400 years and is still used today. The original description of the shield from the University of San Marcos Constitution of 1578 says:
«First, it is ordered that this university have a large and small seal. These seals will be used for graduation certificates and official letters. They will be kept by the rector in a small box with two keys. The rector will have one key, and the secretary will have the other. Nothing can be sealed without both keys. [...] And have said seals have the arms and insignia of this university sculpted in such a way that they can be printed on what is to be sealed, which is a coat of arms placed in a partition divided from top to bottom and that on the bottom it does a cornet in the manner of the royal arms in which the garanada is, in which there is a file on the right side in the middle of the shield there will be a San Marcos writing and the lion together with him who is patron of this university, chosen by luck among many other saints and doctors of the church, and in the other half of the left hand, there will be the sea below and from it the two columns with the plux ultra that are the emblem of the new world and on top of them the three crowns and the star of the wise men, which are the arms of this city, and on top of the entire shield, this is a laureate head, with a garland, from which two cornucopias come out of the mouth on each side the tunic, the size of the top of the shield and around it is a letter saying: Academia Sancti Marci Urbis Regum in Peru; in gothic letters.»
| Adelante San Marcos glorioso adelante tú siempre estarás, porque nadie ha podido vencerte y jamás nadie te vencerá. (bis) |
| Es tu nombre un timbre de orgullo Tradición de nobleza y de honor, Siempre grande, siempre limpia tu bandera muy alto estará. |
| Sanmarquinos unidos por siempre en tan grande y profunda misión, levantemos muy alto la frente Convencidos de nuestro valor. |
- Flag: Old writings mention an official banner for the University of San Marcos. It was described as having the university's main shield on a white background. This led to banners and flags following this design from the 17th to 19th centuries. In the 20th century, there was a desire to make one official flag. Although a white flag with the shield was already common, it became official on June 14, 2010. The white background represents all the colors of light, showing the variety of academic colors for each faculty.
- Anthem: The university anthem is sung at special ceremonies and anniversaries. The University Choir usually performs it. Manuel Tarazona Camacho wrote the words, and Luis Craff Zevallos composed the music.
The National University of San Marcos also has other important symbolic documents. These include the Royal Certificate from King Carlos I of Spain, which allowed the university to be founded in 1551. Also, the Quipu found in the Huaca San Marcos. Both are kept by the university as important historical items.
University Management
How the University is Run
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The University of San Marcos was first run by religious leaders. During the Age of Enlightenment, it became a non-religious institution, which it still is today.
Today, the university is governed by these main groups:
- University Assembly: This is the highest decision-making group. It includes the rector, two vice-rectors, faculty deans, the graduate school director, teacher representatives, and student representatives (who make up one-third of the group). Graduates also have representatives. The president of the student federation can speak but not vote. Top administrative staff can also attend as advisors, but they don't vote. The assembly changes university rules, approves yearly plans, and handles important university matters. It also elects the rector and vice-rectors.
- University Council: This group manages and runs the university day-to-day. It is led by the rector and includes the two vice-rectors, faculty deans, the graduate school director, student representatives (one-third of the group), and a graduate representative. The student federation president can speak but not vote. Top administrative staff can also attend as advisors, but they don't vote. The council creates university plans and policies. It approves university rules, grants degrees, gives out special honors, and approves studies from other universities.
- Rectorate: This is the main leadership office, led by the Rector. The rector is the university's top executive and its public face. The University of San Marcos has had 216 rectors since it was founded. These leaders have guided the university through different periods of Peru's history. The current rector is Mrs. Jeri Ramón Ruffner, who is the first woman to hold this position.
- Vice-Rectorate: This includes two vice-rectors: one for undergraduate studies and one for research and postgraduate studies. The current vice-rectors are Carlos Carranza and José Niño.
The deans lead the faculties, and school directors lead the schools. The graduate units in each faculty are led by their own directors, with a main Director of the Graduate School overseeing them all.
What Students Study
How to Get In
To study at the university, students mainly take an entrance exam. There are also special exams for transfers, foreign students, top high school students, and students with disabilities. The most common exam is the regular one, given twice a year in March and September. The San Marcos entrance exam is considered the toughest in Peru. It is the most selective because it is difficult and many students apply. About 60,000 students apply each year for around 6,000 spots. This means only about 10% of applicants get in.
Since 2016, the exam uses a new method called the DECO® test. This test checks students' critical thinking and reasoning skills, not just their ability to memorize facts. It has 100 questions (30 on skills, including 5 in English, and 70 on knowledge) and lasts three hours. For postgraduate studies (master's and doctorates), students apply through the Postgraduate School. There are limited spots, so an admission exam is given. This exam is prepared and graded by a special group for each study area. This process is also very competitive. In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the university held its first online admission exam on October 2 and 3.
Faculties (Main Departments)
The University of San Marcos has 20 faculties, grouped into 5 academic areas. These offer 65 undergraduate programs, 77 master's degrees, and 27 doctorates. This makes it the university with the most study programs in Peru. The university's Undergraduate Academic Vice-rectorate oversees how these academic areas are organized.
Health Sciences
The Health Sciences area includes these faculties:
- Faculty of Medicine «San Fernando» (FMSF): This is the human medicine faculty. It is the first medical school in Peru. Its history goes back to the first medicine classes at San Marcos in the 16th century. It became official on October 6, 1856, thanks to Cayetano Heredia. It is also called the Faculty of Medicine of Lima. It offers studies in human medicine, obstetrics, nursing, medical technology, and nutrition. About 40% of its graduates study abroad. It has often ranked first in the National Medical Exams in Peru (ENAM).
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry (FFB): This was the first university to train pharmaceutical chemists in Peru. It started with pharmacy teaching in 1808. In 1931, the School of Pharmacy was created. On October 29, 1943, the Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry was officially created. It offers studies in pharmacy and biochemistry, food science, and toxicology.
- Faculty of Dentistry (FO): Dentistry started as a section of the San Marcos Faculty of Medicine in 1868. In 1920, it became independent as the Institute of Dentistry. The next year, it became the official Faculty of Dentistry. It offers studies in dentistry. It also has dental clinics that serve the community.
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (FMV): Veterinary medicine teaching in Peru began with the National School of Agronomy. In 1940, a Veterinary Section was created at the Chorrillos Military School. In 1943, it became the Military School of Veterinary Sciences. In 1944, these schools joined to form the National School of Veterinary Sciences. In 1946, it became the current Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. In 1956, the faculty moved to its current location in San Borja. It offers studies in veterinary medicine. It also has a veterinary clinic that serves the community.
- Faculty of Psychology (FPSI): Psychology studies in Peru began in 1955 as a section of the Faculty of Letters. In 1963, the Department of Psychology was created. The Faculty of Psychology was officially created in 1988, being the first in Peru. This was thanks to German psychologist Walter Blumenfeld. It offers studies in psychology, with specializations in clinical, organizational, social-community, and educational psychology. It also has a professional school for organizational psychology and human management. It has psychology labs, a toy library, and clinics for the community.
Basic Sciences
The Basic Sciences area includes these faculties:
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering (FQIQ): This faculty started from the Faculty of Sciences in 1855. Chemistry studies began formally with doctors Antonio Raimondi and José Eboli. In 1935, chemistry became a specialty. In 1946, the Faculty of Chemistry was created. On April 24, 1964, chemical engineering was added, and the faculty got its current name. It offers studies in chemistry, chemical engineering, and agro-industrial engineering.
- Faculty of Biological Sciences (FCB): This faculty began with the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences in 1861. It included natural history. In 1866, it became the independent Faculty of Sciences. It covered mineralogy, geology, botany, and zoology. Antonio Raimondi was its first dean. Since the early 20th century, it has managed the Natural History Museum of Lima. In the mid-20th century, the biologist degree was created. It offers studies in biological sciences, genetics and biotechnology, and microbiology and parasitology.
- Faculty of Physical Sciences (FCF): Classical physics studies began in the Faculty of Mathematical Sciences in the mid-19th century. Modern physics studies officially started in 1966 with the creation of this faculty. It offers studies in physics and mechanical engineering of fluids. It manages the university's Historical Museum of Physical Sciences and the Institute of Physical Research.
- Faculty of Mathematical Sciences (FCM): This faculty started in 1850. In 1862, it was called the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. In 1876, it became the Faculty of Sciences. Famous scientists like Federico Villarreal and Santiago Antúnez de Mayolo studied here. In the late 20th century, the idea for the National University of Engineering came from this faculty. Today, it is called the Faculty of Mathematical Sciences and is in University City. It offers studies in mathematical sciences, statistics, operations research, and computational science.
Engineering
The Engineering area includes these faculties:
- Faculty of Geological, Mining, Metallurgical, and Geographical Engineering (FIGMMG): Geological engineering studies began in 1935. In 1968, geology and geological engineering programs were created. In 1971, Metallurgical Engineering started. Mining Engineering began in 1980, and Geographic Engineering the next day. In 1983, the Faculty of Geology, Mines, Metallurgy, Geographical Sciences, and Fluid Mechanics was created. In 1991, fluid mechanics moved to the Faculty of Physical Sciences. In 2009, Civil Engineering was created, and in 2014, Environmental Engineering. It offers studies in geological engineering, mining engineering, metallurgical engineering, geographic engineering, civil engineering, and environmental engineering.
- Faculty of Industrial Engineering (FII): This faculty started as an industrial engineering program in 1969. It became independent in 1982. On December 7, 1988, the Faculty of Industrial Engineering was officially created. It offers studies in industrial engineering, textile engineering, and occupational health and safety engineering.
- Faculty of Electronic and Electrical Engineering (FIEE): This faculty started from electrical and electronic courses in the Faculty of Physical Sciences. Later, these studies became their own faculty. It offers studies in electronic engineering, electrical engineering, and telecommunications engineering.
- Faculty of Systems Engineering and Informatics (FISI): This faculty's origin is the School of Computing, founded in 1969 with help from the French government. It was the first school for computing, systems, and informatics in Peru. In 1996, Systems Engineering became independent. On October 30, 2000, the Faculty of Systems Engineering and Informatics was created. It manages the University's Computer Science Center. It offers studies in systems engineering and software engineering.
Economics and Management Sciences
The area of Economics and Management Sciences includes these faculties:
- Faculty of Administrative Sciences (FCA): This faculty started from administration studies in the Faculty of Political and Administrative Sciences in 1875. In 1920, it became the Faculty of Political and Economic Sciences. In 1943, it changed to the Faculty of Economic and Commercial Sciences. Around 1960, it had a School of Administrators. In 1984, the current Faculty of Administrative Sciences was created as its own faculty. It offers studies in administration, tourism administration, and international business administration.
- Faculty of Accounting Sciences (FCC): This faculty started with accounting studies in the Faculty of Political and Administrative Sciences in 1875. In 1920, it became the Faculty of Political and Economic Sciences. In 1943, it changed to the Faculty of Economic and Commercial Sciences. Around 1960, it had a School of Accountants. In 1984, the current Faculty of Accounting Sciences was created as its own faculty. It offers studies in accounting, tax management, and business and public auditing.
- Faculty of Economic Sciences (FCE): This faculty started from economics studies in the Faculty of Political and Administrative Sciences in 1875. In 1920, it became the Faculty of Political and Economic Sciences. In 1943, it changed to the Faculty of Economic and Commercial Sciences. Around 1960, it had a School of Economists. In 1984, the current Faculty of Economic Sciences was created as its own faculty. It offers studies in economics, public economics, and international economics.
Humanities, and Legal and Social Sciences
The area of Humanities and Legal and Social Sciences includes these faculties:
- Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences (FLCH): This faculty started with the founding of San Marcos, which had faculties of theology and arts. These later became the Faculty of Letters. In 1854, it was called the Faculty of Philosophy and Humanities. In 1876, it went back to being the Faculty of Letters. In 1965, it got its current name, Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences. It is in the University City. It offers studies in literature, philosophy, linguistics, social communication, art, library and information sciences, dance, and conservation and restoration. The faculty manages research institutes, museums (like the Museum of Art), and the Language Center.
- Faculty of Education (FEDU): This faculty started with a Pedagogy course at San Marcos in 1876, approved by President Manuel Pardo y Lavalle. From 1901, it was a required course in the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters. In 1925, a Pedagogy section was created. On April 24, 1946, the Faculty of Education was officially created. In 1984, its current professional schools were created. It offers studies in education and physical education. It is mainly in the University City. It also has the San Marcos Application College in the Lince district.
- Faculty of Law and Political Science (FDCP): This faculty's history goes back to the founding of San Marcos in 1551. The Colegio Real Felipe was created for law studies. In 1770, the Real Convictorio de San Carlos was founded, combining existing law and philosophy colleges. Many leaders of South American independence studied here. During Augusto B. Leguía's government, the Faculty of Jurisprudence became the Faculty of Law. On June 28, 1935, it was named the Faculty of Law and Political Science, as it is known today. It is in the University City. It offers studies in law and political science. It also has a free legal office for the community.
- Faculty of Social Sciences (FCS): This faculty's history goes back to the first social studies courses, like history (1857), sociology (1896), and archaeology (1920). In 1969, the Department of Historical-Social Sciences was created. On September 24, 1984, the Faculty of Social Sciences was created, combining social studies programs. It is in the University City. It offers studies in history, sociology, anthropology, archaeology, social work, and geography. The faculty manages the university's Museum of Archeology and Anthropology.
University Campuses
Since it was founded, the University of San Marcos has had five main locations. It moved twice in the 16th century, once in the mid-19th century, and the last time in the mid-20th century:
- 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th centuries: The first location was the Convent of Nuestra Señora del Rosario of the Dominican Order. The second was near San Marcelo, where the Convent of the Order of San Agustín used to be. The third, starting in 1575, was in the old Plaza del Estanque, now called Plaza de la Inquisición, where the Congress of Peru is located.
- 19th and 20th centuries: In the second half of the 19th century, it moved to the old Convictorio de San Carlos. This building is now the Cultural Center of the University of San Marcos. Also, in the late 19th century, the "San Fernando" Faculty of Medicine moved to its permanent location on Avenida Grau.
- 20th and 21st centuries: Since the mid-1960s, during Manuel Prado's government, the university began using its main campus. This is the current University City, located between Avenida Universitaria and Avenida Venezuela. The rector's office, the main library, and 17 of the 20 faculties are there today.
University City Campus
Since 1966, the University City of the National University of San Marcos has been the main campus. It is often called "University City of Lima" or simply "University City." It is the central point of Universitary Avenue, which is named after it. Its main entrances are on Universitaria Av., Venezuela Av., Germán Amézaga Av., and Óscar Benavides Av. (formerly Colonial Av.), all in the Lima District.
The University City houses the university's main administrative offices, like the rector's office. It has 17 of the 20 faculties, the main library, the University Stadium, the university gym, the dining hall, and one of the student dorms. The campus also includes the ancient Huaca San Marcos archaeological site, which is protected and studied by students and researchers.
Since 2007, road construction outside the University City has caused problems. The works, planned by former mayor Luis Castañeda, were criticized by students. They would have cut off almost 29,000 square meters of the campus. A new ring road would also destroy green areas and a buffer zone needed for academic activities. In 2008, experts from the National University of Engineering and the College of Engineers of Peru agreed with the students. They said the works were too big, lacked enough technical support, and that other traffic solutions existed.
Currently, the construction is stopped by a court order from the National Institute of Culture (INC). This was because the works damaged part of the cultural heritage at Huaca San Marcos. After former mayor Luis Castañeda's term ended, a new agreement was expected. In January 2011, the new mayor, Susana Villarán, agreed that the ring road was not needed. This supported the university's position, which was backed by engineers. University representatives welcomed this news, hoping for an agreement that benefits everyone and protects Huaca San Marcos and the campus.
Central Library
Since 1768, the university wanted a central library. But it didn't happen until 1871. During the Chilean occupation in the War of the Pacific, the library was looted. In the early 20th century, librarians Pedro Zulen and Jorge Basadre modernized it. They reorganized and cataloged all the books. The current "Pedro Zulen" Central Library is very modern. It is in a 19,800 m² building, making it the largest university library in Peru and one of the largest in Latin America. It has four connected buildings, five levels, and is in the university's Civic Plaza.
The library can serve 2,500 users at once. It has a stage, 400 seats, and high-tech systems. These include video cameras, Internet, video conferencing, multimedia projectors, and sound equipment. All library processes are automated, from buying books to cataloging them. The university plans to digitize all Peruvian information in the library. This includes old newspapers (from the 18th century), books by famous Peruvian authors, and rare works. The "Pedro Zulen" Central Library, with UNESCO's help, is leading efforts to digitize and publish these documents online. It uses international standards like OAI-PMH and XML. This project, called Cybertesis, is the largest online collection in Peru.
Library System
Each faculty at the National University of San Marcos has its own specialized library. These are connected through the university's Library System (SISBIB). The "Pedro Zulen" Central Library holds most of the university's books and guides the SISBIB. Besides the central library and faculty libraries, SISBIB also manages four other specialized libraries. These are the Spain Library of the Arts, the "Raúl Porras Barrenechea Institute" Library, the Museum of Natural History "Javier Prado" Library, and the "Temple-Radicati" Library-Museum.
University Clinic
The San Marcos University Clinic opened in February 1998. It is located on the university campus. This health center provides care to students, retired staff, teachers, administrative staff, and the local community. It handles operations and emergencies like trauma, burns, and serious injuries. It offers pharmacy, radiology, respiratory disease care, diabetes screening, AIDS screening, psychology, dentistry, gynecology, and cosmetic surgery. It also regularly holds vaccination and blood donation campaigns with other organizations.
University Residence (Dorms)
The University of San Marcos has two student dorms for its two main campuses:
- The University City Residence Hall is on the main campus. It houses male and female students from all over Peru and from all study programs. Currently, 101 students live here.
- The Julio C. Tello Residence Hall is near the "San Fernando" School of Medicine. This dorm houses only male students from outside Lima, from all study programs. It currently has 92 students.
University Stadium
The Stadium of the National University of San Marcos, also known as the "Colossus of America," is in the center of the University City. Its main entrances are on Av. Amézaga and Av. Venezuela in Lima, Peru. It opened in 1951 to celebrate the university's 400th anniversary. The San Marcos stadium first held 70,000 people, making it the largest stadium in Peru at the time. It has recently been updated to hold 32,000 people. The renovated stadium was used for the 2019 South American U-17 Championship and the 2019 Pan American Games.
Locally, it was the home stadium for the university soccer team, Club Deportivo Universidad San Marcos, until 2011. Besides sports, the stadium is used for student, teacher, and staff activities. In recent years, it has also hosted large concerts with bands and artists like Metallica, Korn, Gustavo Cerati, Marc Anthony, Bon Jovi, Green Day, The Smashing Pumpkins, Fania All-Stars, Iron Maiden, Shakira, Slayer, Van Halen, Bad Religion, Juanes, Aerosmith, Pearl Jam, Noel Gallagher, and Lady Gaga.
Casona of the National University of San Marcos
The Cultural Center "La Casona" of San Marcos (CCSM) is the university's main historic site. It was first a Jesuit novitiate (a place for new religious members). In 1861, it became the university's main headquarters. It stayed that way until the 1960s, when the university moved to its current campus. After being restored, the "Casona" is now a key place for the university's cultural and artistic events. It is also one of the best-preserved colonial buildings in Lima. It is a major tourist attraction in the Historic Center of Lima. The complex is part of the Historic Center, which UNESCO declared a World Heritage Site in 1988.
The Casona's history dates back to 1605. Antonio Correa Ureña donated money for the Jesuits to build their novitiate. At first, it had only a chapel and two courtyards. After being destroyed by an earthquake in 1746, the Jesuits rebuilt it in the same style. It stayed like this until 1767, when the Jesuit order was expelled from Peru. Then, it became the Real Convictorio de San Carlos. In 1821, after Peru's independence, the Casona became the main building of the University of San Marcos. It reached its peak importance then. The main hall of the Casona was historically important. It was where the first Constituent Congress of Peru met during independence. It also saw events from the War of the Pacific, including the Chilean invasion of Lima and the loss of many of its collections.
After the university moved, the Casona remained very important for both the university and the city. In 1989, San Marcos, the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation (AECI), and the National Institute of Culture signed an agreement. They planned to restore the building and use it for culture, research, and art. Today, the Casona, as the Cultural Center of San Marcos, offers cultural courses and exhibitions. It also houses several university museums and research centers. Inside, the Salón de Grados (formerly the Chapel of Loreto) is notable. This is where official honorary doctorates are awarded.
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Casona de San Marcos and University Park
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University Park and University Clock
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Panteón de los Próceres
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Salón de Grados
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General Hall
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Statue of Hipólito Unanue
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Law courtyard
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Letters courtyard
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Science courtyard
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Jasmine courtyard
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Boys courtyard
Royal College of the University of San Marcos
The "Royal College" Cultural Center of Contemporary Peruvian Cultures opened in 2006. It is the second cultural center of the University of San Marcos. It is also a historic building in Lima, located near the old "Royal College" of San Marcos from the colonial period, next to the Congress of the Republic of Peru. It includes three university units: the Institute of Applied Linguistics CILA, the "Domingo Angulo" Historical Archive of the University of San Marcos, and the Andean Rural History Seminar. It regularly holds exhibitions and shows in its exhibition hall.
The history of the Royal College dates back to the late 16th century. It was founded in 1592 by Viceroy Francisco Álvarez de Toledo. It was a school that studied canons and laws. It educated the children and descendants of conquerors, Spaniards, and other important people. The college's rector was also the rector of the University of San Marcos. The vice-rector managed the daily operations and lived in the cloister. Both positions lasted two years. After the Bourbon Reforms led to the expulsion of the Jesuits, the campus became the Convictorio de San Carlos. In the late 18th century, it became the headquarters of the Royal Regiment of Lima. Later, during the Republic, it was the Army's General Staff headquarters. Since the late 20th century, the University of San Marcos has used the Royal College as a Cultural Center and Historical Archive.
Higher Education and Research Centers
The University of San Marcos has these higher education and research centers. Two of them also serve as house museums and have special libraries:
- Raúl Porras Barrenechea Institute: Center for Advanced Studies and Peruvian Research (IRPB) was created to honor the famous San Marcos teacher, Raúl Porras Barrenechea. The institute manages the Raúl Porras Barrenechea House-Museum. This museum is a historical and artistic monument. It preserves and displays his art, furniture, paintings, sculptures, photos, and personal items. It also holds the Porras archive and a museum of Peruvian writers. It is in the Miraflores district, next to the Ricardo Palma House-Museum. This location helps it be a major cultural center in Peru. Its main research areas are humanities, arts, and social sciences.
- Temple Radicati Library-Museum Foundation: Center for Advanced Studies and Peruvian Research (FBMTR) was created to honor Ella Dunbar Temple Aguilar de Radicati and Carlo Radicati di Primeglio, who were important people from San Marcos. They donated their property and cultural items to the university, including a valuable collection of 26 quipus (ancient Inca knot records). The foundation manages the Temple Radicati House-Museum and its special library. It promotes studies and research in law, history, anthropology, archaeology, sociology, ecology, and geography. It also holds various cultural events.
- Center for Asian Studies (CEAS) focuses on studying and researching Asian countries like China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, India, and Thailand. It covers their economy, politics, culture, art, society, history, and international relations. It was founded on November 7, 2018, at the Casona de San Marcos. Its main goals are to increase knowledge about Asia, conduct related research, and suggest good policies to use the opportunities from this region for development, investment, trade, and tourism.
University Museums
Besides the two centers that are also house museums, the University of San Marcos has five institutions that are only museums:
- Museum of Natural History of Lima: This museum was founded on February 28, 1918. Until 1934, it was in the Casona de San Marcos. Now, it is in the Jesús María district, outside the university campus. The museum is an important place for information on Peruvian biodiversity. It helps students and scientists with documented studies. Museum researchers study ecology, list the country's biodiversity, and monitor natural communities. The museum's collections include plants, animals, and geological samples. Many have historical value, collected by famous naturalists like Antonio Raimondi and María Koepcke. Today, there are over 1.5 million items, many of which are shown to the public.
- Sacaco Paleontological Museum: This museum is in the Bella Unión District, Arequipa. It is part of the San Marcos university museums, connected to the Faculty of Biological Sciences and the Natural History Museum of Lima. The museum protects the Sacaco Paleontological Zone, which Peru's Ministry of Culture has declared a Cultural Heritage of the Nation. This zone is part of a larger group of fossil sites that might become a World Heritage Site in Peru.
- Museum of Art: Founded in 1970 by art historian Francisco Stastny, this museum is in the right courtyard of the Casona de San Marcos. It has four collections: "Popular Art" (ceramics and fabrics showing old traditions), "Portraits" (of San Marcos teachers from the 16th-18th centuries), "Modern and Contemporary Art" (paintings and sculptures that won university competitions), and an archive of "Peasant Painting." Besides exhibitions, the museum publishes works and offers workshops for students and the public.
- Museum of Archeology and Anthropology: Founded in 1919 by Peruvian archaeologist Julio C. Tello, this museum is in the Casona de San Marcos. It has been supported by famous researchers like Julio César Tello and Ruth Shady. In 1946, many historical objects were moved to the National Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology, and History of Peru. However, this museum still has many cultural objects: stone tools, pottery, textiles, metals, and organic materials. The museum and the university's archaeology department are very involved in archaeological projects. These include studies on Chavín, Paracas, and the Casma valley. They also work on recovering and studying the ancient city of Caral, the first American civilization. The museum also offers courses and workshops, and publishes, exhibits, and holds conferences on recent archaeological and anthropological studies.
- Historical Museum of Physical Sciences: Created on November 11, 1986, this museum displays items from the old physics cabinet in the Casona of San Marcos. It has four areas: optics and modern physics, solid and fluid mechanics, heat and waves, and electricity and magnetism. The museum's goal is to promote physics and show old instruments used for experiments. It is in the Faculty of Physical Sciences building in the University City.
- Museum of the History of Peruvian Medicine: This institution preserves the medical, historical, and written heritage of modern medicine in Peru and the San Marcos Faculty of Medicine. It has old medical instruments, meeting minutes, graduation records, and files from famous doctors like Hipólito Unanue and Daniel Alcides Carrión. It also has watercolors and writings by Antonio Raimondi, paintings of famous alumni, old medical journals, and bachelor's and medical doctor's theses from 1856 to 1978. It also has 16th-century works and film material.
- Museum of Paleontology: This institution preserves and displays the collection of the Faculty of Geological, Mining, Metallurgical, and Geographical Engineering. It includes paleontology, petrology, and mineralogy exhibits.
- Museum of Minerals: This institution preserves and displays the collection of the Faculty of Geological, Mining, Metallurgical and Geographic Engineering. It also includes part of Guido del Castillo's private collection. It opened in September 2019. It has an important collection of fluorescent minerals, the second largest of its kind in Peru.
Archaeological Sites
The National University of San Marcos takes care of several archaeological sites, ancient remains, and historical collections:
- Huaca de San Marcos and other Maranga archaeological complex sites: These ancient sites are on the main university campus. They are part of the Maranga complex, from the Lima culture. This complex stretches across parts of Lima, San Miguel, and Pueblo Libre. Other parts of this complex are preserved in places like Parque de las Legends and the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. The main building is called "Huaca de San Marcos." Archaeologists and researchers from San Marcos study and protect it. They have found pottery, offerings like spondylus shells, and quipus (ancient Inca knot records) there. Because it is so culturally important, Peru's Ministry of Culture declared Huaca San Marcos and other smaller sites on campus as Cultural Heritage of the Nation.
- Pacopampa Archaeological Site: This ancient ceremonial site is in Cajamarca, Peru. In 1966, Pablo Macera organized a trip there. In 1970, Emilio Choy Ma donated money to San Marcos to buy the Pacopampa Ceremonial Center. Since then, the university has protected the site. Many archaeologists have worked there, including Hermilio Rosas and Ruth Shady. In 2009, a Japanese team found the tomb of a woman called the "Lady of Pacopampa," nearly 3,000 years old. On November 21, 2010, Peru's Ministry of Culture declared the San Pedro de Pacopampa Archaeological Site a Cultural Heritage of the Nation.
- Sacaco Paleontological Zone: Millions of years ago, the Sacaco desert was a bay with huge creatures. Due to geological changes, it has preserved fossils of species from the upper Miocene and lower Pliocene periods. These include giant sharks, whales, giant oysters, and megatheriums, which are now on display. Hans Jacob Siber founded the Sacaco Paleontological Museum to protect this zone. Peru's Ministry of Culture recognized it as Cultural Heritage of the Nation. This area is part of the Paleontological Sites of the Pisco and Camaná Basins. These sites are currently on a list of possible nominees for World Heritage Sites in Peru.
Specialized Libraries
The University of San Marcos, in addition to its central Library and the libraries of its faculties located mainly in the University City, has four other important specialized libraries:
- Spain Library of the Arts: Previously known as the "Spanish Library of the Cultural Center of the National University of San Marcos", it is dedicated to collecting, organizing, preserving, and disseminating the bibliographic and audiovisual heritage, facilitating access to specialized cultural information, as well as supporting research in its areas. themes.
- Library «Raúl Porras Barrenechea Institute»: It contains the personal papers of the San Marcos educator Raúl Porras Barrenechea. It includes his research files, letters, notes, and original writings. It also has the Melitón Porras Archive and part of the José Gálvez Archive.
- Museum of Natural History Library: The "Javier Prado" Museum of Natural History has very valuable historical collections in its library. These were collected by important naturalists like Antonio Raimondi and María Koepcke. These collections make the library and museum important places for information on Peru's plants, animals, and geology.
- Temple-Radicati Library: This library is part of the "Temple-Radicati" Library-Museum Foundation, created in 1996. It has encyclopedias, dictionaries, and books on history, geography, sociology, literature, law, art, and archaeology. It also includes a valuable collection of 26 quipus.
Collections and Manuscripts
Through its "Domingo Angulo" Historical Archive, the National University of San Marcos keeps copies of very important historical documents from the 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. These include the Royal Provision and Royal Decree from Emperor Carlos I of Spain (May 12, 1551), and the papal bull Exponi Nobis from Pius V (July 25, 1571). These documents officially established the University of San Marcos as the first university in the American continent. In 2019, the "Colonial Fund and Founding Documents of the National University of San Marcos: 1551-1852" was added to the UNESCO Memory of the World Register. This recognizes its importance for global history.
Various university institutions, such as the Central Library, the Museum of Natural History, the Archeology and Anthropology Museum, and the Raúl Porras Barrenechea Institute, also hold private collections and writings from famous San Marcos people. These include works by authors and researchers like César Vallejo, José María Arguedas, Raúl Porras Barrenechea, Ella Dunbar Temple, Julio César Tello, and Antonio Raimondi. The university keeps these manuscripts and collections in the appropriate departments based on their historical and scientific value.
Other Centers and Cultural Offices
The University of San Marcos has groups and departments that promote cultural activities:
- University Ballet: The San Marcos Ballet (BSM) has been around for over forty years. Its main home for classes and performances is the Cultural Center of San Marcos. In recent years, Vera Stastny has directed the ballet. This has led to collaborations with choreographers like Rogelio López from Costa Rica and Royston Maldoom from Britain.
- University Band: The San Marcos Band and Orchestra Direction is an artistic and cultural group. It started in 1996 when the university wanted its own music band. The group, made up of San Marcos people interested in music, plays at university events and other invitations.
- Language Center: The UNMSM Language Center offers courses in English, French, Portuguese, German, Italian, Quechua, Korean, and Spanish for foreigners. It has a lab with video and individual audio booths. Courses are offered at different times: daily, every other day, or only on weekends. The language center offers courses to university members and the public. It mainly operates at the Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences in the University City, Lima. It also has locations in the Los Olivos District and San Juan de Lurigancho district.
- Film and Television: The San Marcos Film and Television Direction started with "Cine Arte de San Marcos." This group held its first showing in 1967 at the Casona del Parque Universitario. Since then, it has regularly shown films, held talks, exhibitions, and seminars. In April 1998, Cine Arte de San Marcos became part of the San Marcos Cultural Center. It started publishing its film culture magazine, "BUTACA sanmarquina." Since 2006, workshops taught by filmmakers like Giovanna Pollarolo, Josué Méndez, and Armando Robles Godoy have been added. Mario Pozzi-Escot has led the Film and Television program since that same year.
- San Marcos University Choir: The Choir of the University of San Marcos (CUSM) was founded in November 1954 by San Marcos students. Its first director was Rosa Alarco Larrabure, who researched traditional Peruvian music. The CUSM has performed many times in Peru and at national and international festivals. Today, the CUSM includes students from different faculties, workers, teachers, and graduates of the university.
- University Theater of San Marcos: The Theater of the University of San Marcos (TUSM) was founded on September 4, 1946, in Lima. It was started by students from the Faculty of Letters, with Manuel Beltroy as its first director. This was the first university theater program in Peru. Over the years, TUSM has participated in many festivals and international meetings in Latin America, Denmark, and Monaco. Mario Delgado Vásquez currently directs it.
- Tuna of San Marcos: The university tuna (a musical group) was created by students in 1996. In recent years, the Tuna of the University of San Marcos has competed in various contests and meetings. It has won first places against national and foreign universities. La Tuna de San Marcos has held recitals, festivals, and contests to share tuna music. These have been held in university auditoriums, the ICPNA, and the Parque de la Exposición.
- Female Tuna of San Marcos: Also known as la tuniña, this group was founded in 1999 by female students. It is the only university group that has represented San Marcos in Europe (Portugal and Spain), winning awards. It has also performed in Chile, Ecuador, and Bolivia, and almost all over Peru. La Tuniña organizes the Tunas Peru International Biennial every two years. This event brings together the best tunas with support from the university and other organizations.
University Sports
The University of San Marcos has been very important in university sports in Peru. On August 7, 1924, San Marcos students founded the University Sports Federation of Peru (FEDUP). Since 1936, this federation has organized national and regional university sports games and championships. Since 1963, it has also participated in the Universiade (international university games).
Most university sports activities happen in the Gymnasium and the San Marcos University Stadium. Sports offered include: soccer, futsal, volleyball, rugby, shooting, table tennis, basketball, athletics, long-distance running, handball, Olympic swimming, synchronized swimming, water polo, Greco-Roman wrestling, karate, judo, kung fu, wushu, taekwondo, aikido, capoeira, Wing Chun, tai chi, xingyiquan, baguazhang, qigong, powerlifting, weightlifting, aerobics, rhythmic gymnastics, and fencing. The university also has many teams that play in national and regional leagues. The basketball team is especially notable, playing in the Lima Basketball League for both men and women.
In the case of soccer, which is the most popular sport in Peru, it has always had special significance for San Marcos students. Throughout its history, the University of San Marcos has had several professional football teams. These include the University Football Federation (Club Universitario de Deportes), founded in 1924 by students from San Marcos faculties and special schools. This club later became private in 1932 due to issues with university authorities. Another team was the Deportivo Universidad San Marcos, which played in the Second Division until 2011.
«In the early 1920s, the authorities of the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos were very interested in encouraging sports among students. Young people also really wanted to play sports, but one sport was more popular than all others: soccer. The teachers at that time didn't like that young students spent so much time playing sports. They thought it would hurt their school performance. However, history was made, and the young people from different faculties organized themselves to create what they called the University Federation —today Club Universitario de Deportes".
Origin of the Club Universitario de Deportes
José Rubio Galindo, a student, and Luis Málaga Arenas, a medical student, spent their free time planning to create a "great institution." They were joined by Plácido Galindo, Eduardo Astengo, Rafael Quirós, Mario de las Casas, Alberto Denegri, Luis de Souza Ferreira (who scored Peru's first goal in a FIFA World Cup), Andrés Rotta, Carlos Galindo, Francisco Sabroso, Jorge Góngora, Pablo Pacheco, Carlos Lassus, and Carlos Cillóniz.
So, on August 7, 1924, at 7:00 p.m. (UTC-5), university students met at the Federation of Students of Peru headquarters in Lima. They formed the University Football Federation. This was an association of teams from the faculties of the University of San Marcos and the special schools of Engineering, Agronomy, and Central Normal.
In the founding act of the club, they decided on a shield: a maroon "U" inside a circle of the same color, on a white background. Luis Málaga Arenas, a student from Arequipa, designed it. He was a delegate of the "San Fernando" Faculty of Medicine and a big supporter of forming the Federation. The first shields were large and looked handmade. They were worn on the left side of the chest or in the center of the uniform. Today, the official shield has a more modern "U" and a cream background. It is always worn on the left side of sportswear.
The National Sports Committee, Peru's top sports group at the time, recognized the University Federation as a League. So, it joined the Peruvian Football League, the Amateur Association, the Callao League, Circolo Sportivo Italiano, and Lima Cricket and Football Club to form the Football Federation. After playing in university tournaments and friendly matches from 1924 to 1927, the Peruvian Football Federation invited the University Federation to play in the First Division Tournament in 1928.
Its first official game was on May 27 against José Olaya de Chorrillos Club, which it won 7:1. The University Federation finished second in the championship, behind Alianza Lima. They played three games for the title. In 1929, only twelve teams played because Alianza Lima was suspended. In this tournament, the University Federation won its first national title. It had seven wins, three draws, and one loss, totaling seventeen points, one more than Circolo Sportivo Italiano. Carlos Cillóniz, a player for the University Federation, scored eight goals, becoming the top scorer.
In 1930, the first FIFA World Cup was held in Montevideo, Uruguay. The Peruvian team included eight players from the University Federation: Eduardo Astengo, Carlos Cillóniz, Luis de Souza Ferreira, Alberto Denegri, Arturo Fernández, Plácido Galindo, Jorge Góngora, and Pablo Pacheco. After the World Cup, the club went on its first official tour. It traveled by steamboat to play against Association White Star, winning 1:0. Then it toured Huacho and played in the Gubbins Cup. That same year, it was in group 2 of the national tournament. It won two games and drew one, moving to the final league where it finished third.
The next year, problems arose with the National University of San Marcos authorities. Rector José Antonio Encinas banned the use of the name "University Football Federation." This led to the club changing its name to Club Universitario de Deportes and becoming completely separate from the university. The club, which now has the most national titles in Peruvian football, still has an important historical connection to the University of San Marcos.
Club Deportivo San Marcos
In 2001, the University of San Marcos created the Club Deportivo Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos. It started as a club in the summer of 2001. In later years, it moved up in local and regional leagues until it reached the Second Division of Peru, where it played until 2011. Club San Marcos played its home games at the San Marcos stadium on the university campus. The team was called "The Lions" because the lion is the symbol of Mark the Evangelist. Its best performance was in 2006, when it finished second in the Second Division.
Later, the university creates Deportivo San Marcos. The club participates from 2013 to date in the first division of Cercado de Lima. It is one of the main cheerleading teams in the tournament and was runner-up three times. He qualified several times for the Interleague tournament in Lima. Then the San Marcos Cultural Sports Association, which participated in the Pueblo Libre district league in 2013 and qualified for the Lima Interleagues of the same period. Finally, the university has its own football team that participates in the University Football League organized by FEDUP, from 2008 to the present.
Notable Alumni and Academics
People who have been part of the National University of San Marcos—students, professors, researchers, deans, rectors, and even those given honorary degrees—are called sanmarquinos. This word has been commonly used by Peruvians throughout history to refer to important figures from this university. It even refers to pets and animals adopted by the university community.
Alumni, Faculty, and Researchers
In its more than 470 years, the National University of San Marcos has seen many students, professors, and leaders who became famous locally, nationally, and globally. The university has greatly influenced the development of science, medicine, engineering, law, politics, social studies, humanities, arts, and sports throughout the history of Peru. Students and professors have stood out during key times for Peru, such as during the colonial period (16th-18th centuries), the independence movement (18th-19th centuries), and the current republican era (19th-21st centuries).
Some famous sanmarquinos include:
- Scientists and Engineers: Pedro Peralta y Barnuevo, Santiago Antúnez de Mayolo (nominated for the 1943 Nobel Prize in Physics), Federico Villarreal, Alfred Rosenblatt, Eduardo de Habich, Carlos Bustamante Monteverde, and Harald Helfgott.
- Doctors: Hipólito Unanue, Cayetano Heredia, Daniel Alcides Carrión, and Alberto Barton.
- Writers and Artists: Mario Vargas Llosa (2010 Nobel Prize in Literature, the only Peruvian Nobel winner so far), César Vallejo, Alfredo Bryce Echenique, José María Arguedas (nominated for the 1971 Nobel Prize in Literature), Ricardo Palma, Abraham Valdelomar, Javier Heraud, Blanca Varela, Ventura García Calderón (nominated for the 1934 Nobel Prize in Literature), and Alberto Hidalgo (nominated for the 1966 Nobel Prize in Literature).
- Social Researchers: Julio César Tello, María Rostworowski, Ruth Shady, José de la Riva Agüero y Osma, Javier Prado y Ugarteche, Raúl Porras Barrenechea, and Jorge Basadre.
- Lawyers and Politicians: Francisco García-Calderón Landa (nominated for the 1934 Nobel Prize in Literature), Mariano H. Cornejo Zenteno (nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize from 1931 to 1939), José Bernardo de Tagle, Bernardo O'Higgins, Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre, Víctor Andrés Belaúnde, Miguelina Acosta Cárdenas, and Beatriz Merino.
- Economists: Javier Silva Ruete and Daniel Schydlowsky Rosenberg.
- Twenty-one Presidents of the Republic of Peru.
- And many others.
<gallery class="center" mode="nolines" caption="Notable National University of San Marcos alumni and faculties include:"> File:Santiago Antúnez de Mayolo-Monumento.jpg|Santiago Antúnez de Mayolo: Engineer and scientist. Nominated for the 1943 Nobel Prize in Physics. File:José María Arguedas en Chaclacayo, Lima, Perú (cropped).jpg|José María Arguedas: Novelist and anthropologist. Nominated for the 1971 Nobel Prize in Literature. File:FVillarreal.jpg|Federico Villarreal: Scientist and mathematician. Creator of the Villarreal polynomial and 180th Rector of the National University of San Marcos. File:Porras1.jpg|Raúl Porras Barrenechea: Diplomat, historian, and politician. Former President of the Senate of the Republic of Peru. File:Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre.jpg|Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre: Politician, philosopher, and author. Founder of the APRA and President of the Constituent Assembly (1979).
