History, Affiliations and Rankings
University of Salamanca is Spain's oldest university, having been founded in 1218 by King Alfonso IX. When it launched its Spanish language department in 1929, it became the first Spanish university to provide language lessons to foreign students. The university is affiliated with the European Union Association (EUA), and the Coimbra Group. According to the QS World Rankings 2021, the university is ranked between 601 - 650 and 801 - 1000 as per Times Higher Education 2021.
Infrastructure, Campuses and Courses
A campus wing is located in the historic district of Salamanca. The building's heart is a stunning Renaissance court with superb arcades. The iconic and difficult to notice āfrog on a skullā may be located on its faƧade, which, according to local mythology, bestows scholastic achievement on its beholders. Plateresque carvings depicting Catholic Kings, Charles V's imperial coat of arms, and a picture of the Pope with two Cardinals adorn the building's faƧade. The university offers over 250 academic undergraduate and postgraduate courses in the fields include Architecture, Business & Economy, Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Psychology, Health Studies, and Veterinary.
Accomplishments and Alumni
Today, the University of Salamanca is a major centre for humanities research, with a special focus on language studies, as well as law and economics. The university and affiliated research centres, such as the Centro de InvestigaciĆ³n del CĆ”ncer (Cancer Research Center), do scientific research. It is one of only two Hispanophone colleges in the world with a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations to train UN language professionals. In 1989, the University of Salamanca co-founded the Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE) with the University of Cambridge. The university turned eight centuries-old in 2018. The university is home to notable people such as Francisco J. Ayala (Spanish-American Biologist), Adolfo Suarez (Former Prime Minister of Spain), Sister Souljah (American Author), Juan de Galavis (Professor of Theology), Miguel de Unamuno (Writer).
Student Diversity and Visiting Companies
Salamanca attracts undergraduate and graduate students from all around Spain and the world, and it is Spain's top-ranked institution in terms of international students. It is also noted for its non-native Spanish classes, which draw over 2,000 international students each year. The university has a yearly enrollment of 30,000 students.
