Universidad de Alcalá de Henares

About

The Universidad de Alcalá de Henares, a UNESCO World Heritage site, offers a unique blend of historical prestige and modern academic excellence. It is particularly renowned for its strong programs in Humanities, Law, Architecture, and Health Sciences, deeply rooted in its rich cultural heritage. For international students, the university provides a vibrant immersion into Spanish culture, with a dedicated International Relations Office offering support and facilitating numerous exchange programs like Erasmus+. While primarily Spanish-taught, some master's and specialized courses are available in English, and its historic Paraninfo hosts the annual Cervantes Prize, making it a truly distinctive institution.

Background

The University of Alcalá (Spanish: Universidad de Alcalá) is a public university located in Alcalá de Henares, a city 35 km (22 miles) northeast of Madrid in Spain and also the third-largest city of the region. It was founded in 1977 as a spin-off from the Complutense University of Madrid (which was founded in Alcalá in 1293 before being moved to Madrid). The University of Alcalá is especially renowned in the Spanish-speaking world for its annual presentation of the highly prestigious Cervantes Prize. The university currently enrolls 28,336 students, 17,252 of whom are studying for undergraduate degrees, who are taught by a teaching staff of 2,608 professors, lecturers and researchers belonging to 24 departments. The administrative tasks are carried out by the university's Administration and Services, comprising approximately 800 people. One of the university's campuses, located in the city center, is housed partly in historic buildings which were once used by the Complutense University of Madrid, which was located in Alcalá from its medieval origins until it was moved to Madrid in 1836.

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