Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos
Higher EducationPeru5001-10000 Employees
Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos is a public higher education institution based in Lima, Peru. It is the country’s leading educational establishment and the oldest university in Peru and the Americas, with origins dating to around 1549 and formal founding in 1551, later elevated to pontifical status in 1571. Historically, the university has occupied several landmark sites in Lima, including the Casona de San Marcos, the San Fernando medical campus, and since 1960 the Ciudad Universitaria, which now hosts most faculties, the central library, and the rectorate. It administers 59 professional schools organized into 20 faculties across six academic areas, reflecting a broad spectrum of disciplines. As a large public institution, it serves a wide student body and engages in teaching and research across its campuses in Lima. In March 2026, the university participated in a presidential candidates forum organized by the Union of Guilds along with the National University of San Marcos, demonstrating its involvement in national public discourse.