The Complutense University of Madrid (Spanish: Universidad Complutense de Madrid, UCM, Latin: Universitas Complutensis) is a university in Madrid, and one of the oldest universities in the world. In the course of over 7 centuries of history, Complutense has made some of the most enduring contributions to Western civilization. Former pupils include renowned philosophers (Jose Ortega y Gasset, Julian Marias, Pedro de Soto, Ignatius of Loyola, Thomas of Villanova, Francisco Suarez, John of the Cross), writers (Lope de Vega, Francisco Quevedo, Federico Garcia Lorca, Antonio de Nebrija, Mateo Aleman, Pedro Calderon de la Barca), scientists (Santiago Ramón y Cajal, Severo Ochoa, Blas Cabrera Felipe, Esteban Terradas, Gregorio Maranon, Benito Arias Montano, Francisco Valles, Andres Manuel del Rio), historians (Juan de Mariana, Marcelino Menendez y Pelayo, Ramon Menendez Pidal, Juan Ginés de Sepúlveda, Ambrosio Morales), military leaders (Don John of Austria, Alexander Farnese, Cardinal Cisneros), foreign leaders (Cardinal Mazarin, Jose Rizal) and international officials (Antonio Perez, Javier Solana, Rodrigo Rato, Josep Borrell, Marcelino Oreja). In recent years, the roster of alumni comprises winners of the Prince of Asturias Awards (18), Miguel de Cervantes Prize (7), Nobel Prize (7), Solvay Conference, European Commissioners, Presidents of the EU Parliament, European Council Secretary General, ECB Executive Board members, NATO Secretary General, UNESCO Director General, IMF Managing Director, Heads of State, Prime Ministers, etc. In the year 1785, Complutense became one of the first Universities in the world to grant a Doctorate degree to a female student. By Royal Decree of 1857, Complutense University was the only institution in Spain authorized to grant Doctorates throughout the Spanish Empire.
It is located on a sprawling campus that occupies the entirety of the Ciudad Universitaria district of Madrid, with annexes in the district of Somosaguas in the neighboring city of Pozuelo de Alarcón.
According to the annual university rankings conducted by El Mundo, the Complutense University ranks as the topmost university in Spain, with its Schools of Philosophy, Spanish Literature, History, Pharmacy, Optometry, Journalism, Psychology, and Sociology holding the top national rankings. The University is also an affiliate of the Spanish Royal Societies of Physics and Mathematics.
Read more about Complutense University Of Madrid: Early History, The Central University of Madrid, The University At Ciudad Universitaria, Second Spanish Republic and Civil War, Forty Years of Political Opposition, The Complutense University Today, Student Life and Extracurriculars, The Complutense Abroad
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