Complutense University of Madrid (UCM)

One of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Madrid and Spain is the Complutense University in Madrid. His activities began in 1499.

Originally, the University was established in Alcalá de Henares under the leadership of Cardinal Francis de Cisneros. Notable personalities who were educated at Complutense University of Madrid were:

• Miguel de Cervantes (famous writer);
• Francisco Quevedo (poet, prose writer);
• Tirso de Molina (playwright);
• Calderon de la Barca (playwright and poet);
• Lope de Vega (playwright, poet, prose writer);
• Ignacio de Loyola (founder of the Order of the Jesuits).

Famous teacher (headed by the department of rhetoric) was a famous poet, teacher, philologist and historian-Antonio de Nebrih.

In the 19th century the university was territorially transferred to the city of Madrid. He was awarded the title of Central University. The active construction of the university complex began in 1927. However, the Civil War brought great destruction not only to architecture, but also to the scientific and bibliographic heritage.

After the adoption of the reform on higher education (1970), the current name of the institution, the Complutense University in Madrid, was given. Today it is a large institution with a strong research and scientific base.

The university provides a separate Virtual Campus Access Portal (PACV) for faculty, offering access to course news, learning environments, tools, and resources. Students have their own section of the virtual campus with information about the IT services available to them.

Through its own European office, UCM supports candidates for Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions postdoctoral grants, providing a step-by-step guide to preparing an application and arranging an in-depth review of the application by experienced advisors.

The PsiCall remote psychological support service offers university students and residents of the Colegios Mayores (student residences) free workshops on emotional regulation, exam anxiety, and time management.

The university runs the Escuela de Doctorado (EDUCM), a structure that organizes doctoral programs and events for graduate students, including the annual PhDay Complutense conference.

In a competition for health-related research programs funded by the Comunidad de Madrid (PRICIT), a total of 60 applications from 77 UCM research groups took part. The university ranked 1st (tied with Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and CSIC) by number of grants won and, as coordinator, secured 4,327,000 euros across four approved coordinated programs.

In the QS World University Rankings 2027, UCM ranked 199th in the world, confirming its position as the second-ranked university in Spain and the top-ranked university in the Madrid region — among the 48 Spanish universities included in the ranking (10 more than the previous year), UCM trailed only Universidad de Barcelona. On the Employability indicator, the university placed among the top 5% of universities worldwide, ranking 85th globally and 1st in Spain with a score of 93.7 out of 100. On academic reputation, UCM ranked among the top 6.6% of universities worldwide (99th), and on the international research network indicator it climbed 6 positions to 126th (top 8.4%). Its faculty-to-student ratio indicator rose by 52 positions.

Over the past 10 years, the university has received 41 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA-PF/IF) grants. UCM's research output portal records 12,559 projects. Six UCM professors from the Department of Musicology were among the 19 authors of the book "The Cambridge History of Music in Spain," presented at the Prado Museum. One of the book's editors, Álvaro Torrente, heads the university's Complutense Institute of Musical Sciences (ICCMU).

• the university has more than 80,000 students and more than 10,500 researchers,
• the university has signed a total of 2,936 cooperation agreements for student, faculty, research, and administrative staff exchanges with 785 institutions worldwide.

Complutense University of Madrid is among the top 5% of higher education institutions worldwide. Teaching takes place at the highest level, and employers in many countries value its graduates.

• the university takes part in the European Union's Erasmus+ program for 2021–2027 in the fields of education, training, youth, and sport,
• UCM has signed cooperation agreements with numerous foreign universities across Europe, the Americas, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Oceania, giving students and faculty the opportunity to take part in exchange programs.

UCM has 38 research institutes, most of them based in other cities and countries, including Paris and California. The university's library holds a large collection of books across many disciplines. Sports facilities and interest clubs give students plenty to do outside the classroom. International students are offered accommodation in student housing, with the cost determined by current rates. The Complutense University is a member of associations such as the European University Association and the Utrecht Network. The university also offers Spanish-language courses, and a one-year preparatory course is available to all prospective students.

The Complutense Library provides around 10,000 reading spaces across 26 faculty libraries and the Biblioteca Histórica (Historical Library).

The university operates several research support units (CAI/ICTS): CAI Ciencias de la Tierra y Arqueometría, CAI Técnicas Biológicas, CAI Técnicas de Análisis del Comportamiento, CAI Técnicas Físicas, CAI Técnicas Químicas, ICTS Bioimagen Complutense, ICTS Microscopía, Plataforma Animalario, Plataforma de Contenidos Audiovisuales y Digitales para la Docencia e Investigación, and Plataforma Talleres de Apoyo a la Investigación. The university has acquired new ICP-QQQ-MS equipment for its Mass Spectrometry Unit (Unidad de Espectrometría de Masas), launched a new MALDI-IMS service for tissue biochemistry imaging, and acquired Zetium equipment for X-ray fluorescence analysis at its X-ray Diffraction Unit (Unidad de Difracción de Rayos X).

Admission to the university requires passing entrance examinations, following which students are enrolled. The university has around 84,000 students and 5700 faculty members, and comprises 21 faculties and 5 colleges, as well as vocational schools.

Features of education

The academic year consists of two semesters.

To be admitted as a visiting student (an exchange student without an official degree), applicants must be enrolled at a foreign university or hold a degree from a Spanish or foreign university. Master's programs require a bachelor's degree or its equivalent, except for master's programs leading to a regulated profession.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision