Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos

About

Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (UNMSM), often called the 'Dean of the Americas' as the oldest continuously operating university in the Americas, offers a rich academic tradition in Lima, Peru. It is highly regarded for its strong programs in Medicine, Law, Humanities, and Social Sciences, alongside robust faculties in Natural Sciences and and Engineering. For international students, the experience is deeply immersive in Peruvian culture and academia, with instruction primarily in Spanish. The university's Oficina General de Cooperación y Relaciones Interinstitucionales (OGCRI) facilitates exchange programs and provides administrative support, though full English-taught degree programs are rare. Proficiency in Spanish is essential for a successful academic journey here, offering a unique opportunity to engage with Latin American intellectual heritage.

Background

The National University of San Marcos (Spanish: Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, UNMSM) is a public research university located in Lima, the capital of Peru. In the Americas, it is the first officially established (privilege by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor) and the oldest continuously operating university. The university started in the general studies that were offered in the convent of the Rosario of the order of Santo Domingo—the current Basilica and Convent of Santo Domingo—on July 1, 1548. Its official foundation was conceived by Fray Thomas de San Martín on May 12, 1551; with the decree of Emperor Charles I of Spain and V of the Holy Roman Empire. In 1571, it acquired the degree of pontifical granted by Pope Pius V, with which it ended up being named the "Royal and Pontifical University of the City of the Kings of Lima". It is also referred to as the "University of Lima" throughout the Viceroyalty. The University of San Marcos has passed through several locations, of which it maintains and stands out: the "Casona de San Marcos", one of the buildings in the Historic Center of Lima that were...

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