The University of Santiago de Compostela is situated in the region of Galicia, on the north tip of Spain. The university prides itself on the regional culture that surrounds it and this is evident in the two campuses that are situated in Compostela and Lugo. It is an undoubtedly historical university as a result of the pilgrimage that takes place and its religious importance. It was originally founded in 1495 when Lope Gómez de Marzoa created the School of Grammar there. However, it was fully confirmed as a university in 1501 when Pope Julius II issued a papal bull to prove its authenticity.

At that time, the main objective of the university was religious instruction and this took priority over any other kind of teaching. In 1555 it separated itself from religious instruction with the help of Juan Álvarez de Toledo and started to work towards developing other academic fields. From this point on the university dedicated itself to scientific progress and the discovery of new technologies. In addition to this, the university does not just concentrate on the field of science but also the arts and humanities which feature so highly in its culture and history.

Today, the university is still prominent among other universities in Spain. The university is made up of around 40,000 students, 2,000 lecturers and teaching faculty, and an extra 1,000 staff who are involved in the general administration of the university. The university is also fully involved with the European mobility project that allows university students from abroad to study in Santiago de Compostela in return for their own students studying in foreign institutions.