The Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC) is one of the oldest universities in the world still operating. Founded in 1495 as a grammar school for poor children by the notary Lope Gómez de Marzoa, it was transformed into a true university by Archbishop Alonso de Fonseca in the sixteenth century. Today it has about 30,000 students and gives Santiago its character as a young city, alongside that of a holy city.
Historic buildings
- The Colegio de Fonseca, with its Renaissance courtyard, is the university's historic heart, housing the general library and exhibitions.
- The Colegio de San Xerome, on Plaza del Obradoiro, seat of the rectorate.
- The Faculty of Geography and History, in an eighteenth-century neoclassical building on Praza da Universidade.
Campuses
Faculties are divided between the old town (History, Philology, part of Law), the South Campus, near Alameda park, with many science and social science faculties, and the North Campus. The university also has a campus in Lugo, specialising in agricultural sciences, veterinary medicine and engineering. It is particularly known for medicine, sciences, philology and law.
Erasmus and language courses
Santiago is a popular Erasmus destination for its university atmosphere, moderate cost of living and closeness of faculties to the centre. Foreign students can take courses in Spanish and Galician, co-official in Galicia and used in some classes (see Spain's languages and Erasmus in Spain). A room in a shared flat costs roughly 250-400 euros a month.
Traditions and student life
Santiago is the home of the tunas, student groups who play guitars and mandolins and sing serenades in the black capes and coloured ribbons of traditional academic dress. Evening life happens in the old-town bars, such as Rúa do Franco and Rúa da Raíña, and in the Ensanche around Praza Roxa. Students celebrate the start of the year, and faculties have their own patron saint festivals. The city is perfect for exploring Galicia: the coast, the Rías Baixas, A Coruña and Lugo.