The Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) was founded in 1499 in Madrid (Spain) by Cardinal Cisneros, although in 1293 Sancho IV of Castile created the Estudio de Escuelas Generales de Alcalá which is the original institution. It is one of the oldest universities in the world.

The campus was projected as the Ciudad Universitaria (University City) in 1927, in a whole district of Madrid. In 1999, the Community of Madrid declared it a site of public cultural interest. They have over 10.000 researchers and they produced the 10% of the national scientific production by themselves.

Nowadays, they have 21 faculties and they offer 170 degrees and master degrees. They count with 75,601 students. The Complutense University ranks as the top public university in Spain According to the newspaper El Mundo.