National University of San Marcos

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National University of San Marcos

Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos

Latin: Academia S. Marci Vrbis Regvm in Perv Universidad del Per, Motto Decana de Amrica University of Peru, Motto in English Dean of the Americas Established May 12, 1551 Type Public Rector Pedro Cotillo Zegarra 2559 (full time) Academic staff 674 (part time) Undergraduates 29,710 Postgraduates 3,549 Lima, Peru Location Coordinates: 120330S 770500W Urban Campus 170 acres (69 ha) (Main campus) Magenta Colors White Steel blue Mascot Lion Website www.unmsm.edu.pe

The National University of San Marcos (Spanish: Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, UNMSM) is the most important and respected higher-education institution in Peru.[1] Its main campus, the University City, is located in Lima. It was chartered on May 12, 1551 by a royal decree signed by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, which makes it the oldest officially established university in the Americas and, as such, one of the oldest universities in the world.[2] Academically, the University of San Marcos ranks alternatively as first[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] or second in Peru.[11][12][13][14][15] San Marcos has 60 academic-professional schools,[16] organized into 20 faculties, and these, in turn, into 6 academic areas. All the faculties offer undergraduate and graduate degrees. The student body consists of over 30,000 undergraduate and 4,000 graduate students from all the country as well as some international students. The university has also a number of public institutions under its government such as the San Marcos Cultural Center and the Museum of Natural History of Lima. San Marcos' prestige in Latin America mainly arises from its renowned faculty and alumni. It is the only university in Peru with a Nobel Prize laureate among its alumni: Mario Vargas Llosa (Literature). San Marcos is also recognized for the quality of its curricular contents, its very competitive admission process, as well as for being a leading center of scientific research.[17] Several Peruvian and Latin American influential thinkers, researchers, scientists, politicians and writers have studied there, which underscores San Marcos' leading role as an educational institution in the history of Peru and the world.