University of Santiago de Compostela

University of Santiago de Compostela
Universidade de Santiago de Compostela
Seal of the University of Santiago de Compostela
MottoLatin: Sigillum Regiae Universitatis Compostellanae
TypePublic
Established1495; 529 years ago (1495)
Academic affiliations
Leading member and founder of Compostela Group of Universities[1]
Budget€228 million (2011)[2]
RectorProf. Dr. Antonio López Díaz[3]
Undergraduates23,835
Postgraduates1,716
2,697
Location
Santiago de Compostela
,
Galicia
,
Spain

42°53′19″N 8°32′42″W / 42.88852250°N 8.54497260°W / 42.88852250; -8.54497260
CampusSantiago de Compostela and Lugo (both urban)
Faculty2,149
Websitewww.usc.gal/en Edit this at Wikidata

The University of Santiago de Compostela - USC (Galician: Universidade de Santiago de Compostela - USC, Spanish: Universidad de Santiago de Compostela - USC) is a public university located in the city of Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain. A second campus is located in Lugo, Galicia. It is one of the world's oldest universities in continuous operation.

The university traces its roots back to 1495, when a school was opened in Santiago.[4] In 1504, Pope Julius II approved the foundation of a university in Santiago[5] but "the bull for its creation was not granted by Clement VII until 1526".[6] In 1555 the institute began to separate itself from strictly religious instruction with the help of Cardinal Juan Álvarez de Toledo and started to work towards developing other academic fields, including the emerging science fields.

Today the university's facilities cover more than 130 hectares (320 acres). In terms of human resources, the university has more than 2,000 teachers involved in study and research, over 42,000 students, and more than 1,000 people working in administration and services. Moreover, in 2009, the university received the accreditation of Campus of International Excellence by the Ministry of Education, recognising USC as one of the most prestigious universities in Spain.

The university ranks 5th in Spain's best universities ranking by Complutense University of Madrid and IAIF and 4th amongst public universities.[7]

  1. ^ Compostela Group of Universities webpage. "Compostela Group of Universities".
  2. ^ Fírgoa Universidade Pública - Espazo Comunitario. "USC: La USC tendrá un presupuesto de 228 millones este ejercicio".
  3. ^ "Rector - Rectorship - USC".
  4. ^ "La Universidad de Santiago cumple 500 años". El Mundo (in Spanish). March 22, 1995. Retrieved 2009-09-11.
  5. ^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Santiago de Compostela" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 24 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 191.
  6. ^ Quoted from: Encyclopædia Britannica: A New Survey of Universal Knowledge, 1956. Article "Universities".
  7. ^ El País. "Clasificación de las universidades españolas".