The University of Alcalá (UAH) is one of Europe’s oldest. Its origins can be traced as far back as the Studium Generale, or programme of university studies, that was instituted on 20 May 1293 under the protection of King Sancho IV de Castilla. In 1499, Cardinal Cisneros founded the Colegio Mayor de San Ildefonso or University, thus converting Alcalá into the first university town of the modern era, which earned it in 1998 the accolade of UNESCO World Heritage Site, a distinction shared with only four other universities worldwide.
The UAH is a modern, medium-sized institution, recognised as a trend-setter in Europe and America. Traditional humanities and social science degrees sit side by side with cutting-edge programmes in scientific fields such as Health Sciences and Engineering, one reason for its high international profile and for its dynamic role in regional activity.
Some of its main strengths are friendliness, quality international outlook and social commitment. Its goal is to be a leading university globally, socially committed, inclusive and open to the world. Moreover, it seeks to contribute to the advancement of knowledge and the education of men and women through quality teaching, research excellence and the fostering of ethical, socially responsible attitudes.
As a benchmark centre for the teaching of Spanish, the UAH welcomes over 1,000 students from 50 countries who get to know our language and culture through Alcalingua, our Centre for Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language, which is authorised by the Cervantes Institute to award the Diploma in Spanish as a Foreign Language (DELE).
