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Official emblem of Universidad Complutense de Madrid

Universidad Complutense de Madrid

Madrid, Spain • Founded 1293 • QS 2027 #199

Updated May 2026 · Source: ucm.es

Overview

English Name: Complutense University of Madrid
Local Name: Complutense University of Madrid
Acronyms: UCM
Founded: 1293
Institution Type: University
Control Type: Public
Entity Type: Non-profit
Rankings:
QS World University Rankings 2027 #199 Times Higher Education 2026 #501-600 ARWU (Shanghai) 2026 #201-300 CWTS Leiden 2025 #934 SCImago 2026 #152
Motto: Libertas Perfundet Omnia Luce
Colours: Red
Mascot: Swan
Official emblem of Universidad Complutense de Madrid

Established in 1293, the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Complutense University of Madrid) is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the urban setting of the large metropolis of Madrid (population range of over 5,000,000 inhabitants), Community of Madrid.

This institution also has a branch campus in Pozuelo de Alarcón. Officially recognized by the Ministerio de Universidades, España (Ministry of Universities of Spain), Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM) is a very large-sized coeducational Spanish higher education institution.

Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and doctorate degrees in several areas of study. This 730-year-old Spanish higher-education institution has a selective admission policy based on entrance examinations.

The acceptance rate range is 70-79% making this Spanish higher education organization a moderately selective institution.

International applicants are eligible to apply for enrollment. UCM also provides several academic and non-academic facilities and services to students including a library, housing, sports facilities, financial aids and/or scholarships, study abroad and exchange programs, as well as administrative services.

Location & Contact

Where to find Universidad Complutense de Madrid, plus its phone, email, website, and social media links.

Address: Avenida de Séneca, 2
Postal Code: 28040
Other Sites: Also 7 Teaching Hospitals
Phone: +34 913944099
Fax: +34 913943400
Social Media:

Academic Details

A snapshot of Universidad Complutense de Madrid's academic profile — enrolment, staffing, and recognition.

Academic Year: October to June (October-February; February-June)
Recognition: Ministerio de Universidades, España
Accrediting Agency: Ministry of Universities
Admission Requirements: Secondary school certificate (bachiller) or foreign equivalent recognized by the Ministry of Education and Science and entrance examination (selectividad)
Student Enrollment: over-50,000
Academic Staff Range: 4,500-4,999
Campus Setting: Urban
Memberships & Networks
Ibero-American Postgraduate University Association (AUIP) European University Association (EUA) Europaeum International Student Exchange Program (ISEP) Trans-Atlantic Science Student Exchange Program (TASSEP) UNICA Utrecht Network ONE EUROPE

Academic Structures

Universidad Complutense de Madrid's academic structure — schools, colleges, and divisions — is listed below.

Unit 26 items
  • Faculty of Biological Science
  • Faculty of Chemical Science
  • Faculty of Commerce and Tourism
  • Faculty of Computer Science and Engineering
  • Faculty of Dentistry
  • Faculty of Economics and Business Administration
  • Faculty of Education
  • Faculty of Fine Arts
  • Faculty of Geography and History
  • Faculty of Geological Science
  • Faculty of Language Studies
  • Faculty of Law
  • Faculty of Library Science
  • Faculty of Mathematical Science
  • Faculty of Media & Communication Science
  • Faculty of Medicine
  • Faculty of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Podiatry
  • Faculty of Optics and Optometry
  • Faculty of Pharmacy
  • Faculty of Philosophy
  • Faculty of Physical Science
  • Faculty of Political and Social Science
  • Faculty of Psychology
  • Faculty of Social Work
  • Faculty of Statistical Studies
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Faculties & Divisions

All faculties operate under Ministerio de Universidades, España.

Centro de Enseñanza Superior Real Centro Universitario Escorial-María Cristina (Centre) 2 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Business Administration
  • Law
European Economics (Centre) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • European Studies
European Law (Centre) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • European Union Law
Biology (Faculty) 2 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Biology
  • Cell Biology
Chemistry (Faculty) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Chemistry
Computer Science (Faculty) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Computer Science
Dentistry (Faculty) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Dentistry
Economics and Business Administration (Faculty) 4 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Actuarial Science
  • Business Administration
  • Economics
  • Finance
Education (Faculty) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Education
Fine Arts (Faculty) 2 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Fine Arts
  • Heritage Preservation
Geography and History (Faculty) 5 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Archaeology
  • Art History
  • Geography
  • History
  • Musicology
Geology (Faculty) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Geology
Information Sciences (Faculty) 4 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Advertising and Publicity
  • Information Sciences
  • Journalism
  • Public Relations
Law (Faculty) 3 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Labour and Industrial Relations
  • Law
  • Political Sciences
Library Science (Faculty) 2 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Documentation Techniques
  • Library Science
Mathematics (Faculty) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Mathematics
Medicine (Faculty) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Medicine
Nursing, Physiotherapy and Podology (Faculty) 3 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Nursing
  • Orthopaedics
  • Physical Therapy
Optics and Optometry (Faculty) 2 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Optics
  • Optometry
Pharmacy (Faculty) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Pharmacy
Philology (Faculty) 9 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Arabic
  • French
  • German
  • Hebrew
  • Islamic Studies
  • Italian
  • Latin
  • Philology
  • Slavic Languages
Philosophy (Faculty) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Philosophy
Physics (Faculty) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Physics
Political Science and Sociology (Faculty) 2 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Political Sciences
  • Sociology
Psychology (Faculty) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Psychology
Statistics (Faculty) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Statistics
Teacher Training (Faculty) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Teacher Training
Veterinary Science (Faculty) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Veterinary Science
Astronomy and Geodesy (Institute) 3 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Astronomy and Space Science
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Mathematics
Biochemistry (Institute) 2 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Biochemistry
  • Immunology
Geoscience (Institute) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Geology
Mathematics (Institute) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Mathematics
Musicology (Institute) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Musicology
Nutrition and Bromatology (Institute) 3 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Food Science
  • Immunology
  • Nutrition
Public Health (Institute) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Public Health
Religion Studies (Institute) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Religious Studies

Programs Offered

Universidad Complutense de Madrid's programme list, with search and degree-level grouping.

345 programmes on record. Each level below shows a sample. Compare these on the programs page All programs in Spain

Bachelor's Degree 104 programmes

Showing 10 of 104.

Master's Degree 183 programmes

Showing 10 of 183.

Doctorate 58 programmes

Programa de Doctorado en Administración y Dirección de Empresas
Business & Management

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Programa de Doctorado en Análisis de Datos (Data Science)
Natural Sciences & Mathematics

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Programa de Doctorado en Artes y Educación
Arts, Design & Architecture

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Programa de Doctorado en Astrofísica
Natural Sciences & Mathematics

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Programa de Doctorado en Bellas Artes
Arts, Design & Architecture

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Programa de Doctorado en Biología
Natural Sciences & Mathematics

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Programa de Doctorado en Bioquímica, Biología Molecular y Biomedicina
Natural Sciences & Mathematics

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias de la Documentación
Journalism & Media

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias de la Visión
Medicine & Health

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias de las Religiones
Humanities & Cultural Studies

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Showing 10 of 58.

Scholarships in Spain

Scholarships open to students attending universities in Spain are listed below.

Beca General de la Generalitat
Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca · Government funded
Generalitat de Catalunya general scholarship for university study in the 2026-2027 course, together with Beca Equidad and other aid for university students, managed by AGAUR; replaces the national ministry scholarship for students whose family home is in Catalonia.
Beca General del Ministerio
Ministerio de Educación, Formación Profesional y Deportes · Government funded · 1,700 EUR per year · Combined · Covers Living
Sum of components: a tuition grant covering first-time-enrolled credits at the official price ('Beca matrícula'), 1,700 EUR for family income, 2,700 EUR for change of residence during the school year, 50-125 EUR for academic excellence, plus a variable amount distributed from the remaining budget (minimum 60 EUR). Private-university students are covered only...
Becas de Doctorado y Estancias Postdoctorales
Fundación Carolina · Foundation funded · International students · Covers Living
Co-financed doctoral scholarships and short postdoctoral stays in Spain; Fundación Carolina covers 60% of the total cost and the Latin American partner institution the remaining 40%. Most Spanish public universities waive doctoral programme fees and some contribute to monthly living costs.
Programa Escuela Diplomática
Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo · Government funded · International students
Scholarships for citizens of Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, the Philippines and Ukraine to take the Interuniversity Master in Diplomacy and International Relations of the Spanish Diplomatic School.
Programa MASTER MAEC-AECID
Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo · Government funded · International students
Scholarships to complete an in-person master's degree in Spain for public employees and staff of public systems of Latin American countries and the Philippines included in the bilateral strategies of the current Cooperación Española Master Plan.

How to apply to Universidad Complutense de Madrid

Five steps that capture how applications to Universidad Complutense de Madrid flow.

  1. 1
    Identify the right programme

    Begin by reviewing the programmes section above. Universidad Complutense de Madrid offers 345 programmes grouped by qualification level. Decide on a target tier (bachelor's, master's, or doctoral) before narrowing by subject.

  2. 2
    Check entry requirements

    Each programme at Universidad Complutense de Madrid has its own entry requirements — academic minimums, language proficiency, supporting documents, and sometimes interviews or portfolios. Check the programme-specific page or contact admissions to confirm eligibility.

  3. 3
    Prepare your application documents

    Most applications require certified academic records, identification documents, language test certificates (IELTS, TOEFL, or equivalent for English-medium programmes), CV/résumé, and a statement of purpose. Allow extra time for document authentication.

  4. 4
    Submit via the institution

    Apply directly via Universidad Complutense de Madrid's online portal at www.ucm.es. Complete the application form, upload supporting documents, and pay any application fee. Confirmation emails typically arrive within a few business days.

  5. 5
    Get in touch with admissions

    After submitting, confirm receipt with the admissions office and track your application status through the portal. Reach the institution by phone at +34 913944099. Set reminders for any interview requests, additional document submissions, or admission decision deadlines.

Frequently Asked Questions about Universidad Complutense de Madrid

A short Q&A covering Universidad Complutense de Madrid's essentials — founding, location, and structure.

When was Universidad Complutense de Madrid founded?

Universidad Complutense de Madrid was established in 1293 (approximately 733 years ago).

Where is Universidad Complutense de Madrid located?

Universidad Complutense de Madrid is located in Madrid, Spain.

What is Universidad Complutense de Madrid's control type?

Universidad Complutense de Madrid operates as a public institution.

What is the student enrolment at Universidad Complutense de Madrid?

Student enrolment at Universidad Complutense de Madrid is around over-50,000.

How is Universidad Complutense de Madrid ranked?

It ranks QS 2027 #199.

What degrees does Universidad Complutense de Madrid offer?

Universidad Complutense de Madrid delivers doctoral programmes across its academic units.

What is Universidad Complutense de Madrid's academic structure?

Universidad Complutense de Madrid is organised into 26 academic units across its disciplines.

Who recognises Universidad Complutense de Madrid?

Yes, Universidad Complutense de Madrid is recognised by Ministry of Universities.

How do I find Universidad Complutense de Madrid online?

The institution's website is www.ucm.es.

Members of European University Association (EUA)

Universidad Complutense de Madrid and the universities below are both members of European University Association (EUA).

Faculties at nearby universities

Below are universities in the same area as Universidad Complutense de Madrid.

Where Else to Study Natural Sciences & Mathematics

Below: other Spain universities that offer Natural Sciences & Mathematics programmes.

Universities Compared with Universidad Complutense de Madrid

Universities of a similar scale and standing to Universidad Complutense de Madrid are listed below.

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