National University of San Marcos

Key facts

Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 8 November 2026.

About the National University of San Marcos

UNMSM is a public university in Lima. Its homepage says that it has been a centre of knowledge, culture and social change in Peru and Latin America since 1551.^[1] Wikipedia gives 12 May 1551 as the founding date and says that the university started in general studies held in the Dominican convent of Lima in 1548.^[2]

Since 1966 the University City (Ciudad Universitaria) in Lima has been the main campus; it houses 17 of the 20 faculties.^[2] The university’s contact address is Av. Carlos Germán Amezaga 375, Cercado de Lima.^[1]

How is San Marcos ranked?

In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, UNMSM is in the 951–1000 band, according to Infobae and La República. Infobae adds that it leads the Peruvian public sector in the ranking.^[3][8] RPP lists UNMSM at position 984, which falls inside the band but is the only report that gives an exact number.^[9]

The university’s own homepage claims first place among Peruvian public universities in QS, Scimago and Webometrics, first place for employability nationally and first place in national scientific output; these are its own statements, not independent results.^[1] Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.

What can you study at San Marcos?

The homepage lists five areas of knowledge and their faculties.^[1]

• Health Sciences: Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Dentistry and Psychology.
• Engineering: Systems Engineering and Informatics, Industrial Engineering, Geological, Mining, Metallurgical and Geographical Engineering, Electronic and Electrical Engineering, and Chemistry and Chemical Engineering.
• Basic Sciences: Biological, Mathematical and Physical Sciences.
• Economic and Management Sciences: Administrative Sciences, Accounting Sciences and Economics.
• Humanities, Legal and Social Sciences: Letters and Human Sciences, Law and Political Science, Social Sciences and Education.

The same homepage gives two different programme counts: 81 careers in the “Academic offer” section and 78 undergraduate careers in the statistics block. Andina reported 81 careers in February 2026, including three new ones (Transport Engineering and Railway Systems, Geophysics and Artificial Intelligence).^[10] The official programme list did not load any entries when we read it.

How much does San Marcos cost?

UNMSM is a public university. In a statement reported by Diario Correo on 13 March 2025, it denied that it would charge students from private schools and affirmed free education for all incoming students; it said that enrolment for 2025-1 was proceeding without any charge and that changing this would require amendments to the University Law and the university statute.^[4] We did not find a current fee schedule for other administrative procedures or for postgraduate tuition.

These amounts are listed in the instructions for late registration for the 2027-I exam.^[5] Amounts are in Peruvian soles (PEN). For the postgraduate admission process 2026-II, the same page lists payments of S/ 350 to S/ 500 depending on the level (master’s or doctorate) and the applicant’s background; it does not state a postgraduate tuition.^[5] Living costs in Lima are covered in our Peru guide.

How do you apply to San Marcos?

Undergraduate admission is mainly by entrance exam, with several special modalities.^[2]

• General exam: the exam is held by area (Health Sciences, Basic Sciences, Engineering, Economic and Management Sciences, Humanities). For 2026 Andina described a 100-question multiple-choice test of three hours.^[10]
• Special modalities: the admission page lists, among others, top-two graduates of secondary schools in the Lima and Callao regions, applicants with disabilities, the university’s pre-university centre, qualified athletes, native communities, graduates or degree holders from Peruvian or foreign universities, and external transfer. Transfer applicants from universities in Peru or abroad must have passed at least four semesters or 72 credits.^[5]
• Exempt from the exam (supernumerary entry): active members of diplomatic missions, scholarship holders under specific cultural-exchange agreements, and refugees (one supernumerary place, decided by the Academic Vice-Rectorate).^[5]
• Master’s and doctorate: run by the postgraduate directorate (DGEP). Applicants send the file to the postgraduate unit of the faculty; a copy of the DNI, carné de extranjería or passport is accepted as identity document. Degrees obtained abroad must be revalidated or recognised under current rules.^[5]

We give no deadlines here because they change every cycle. The admission page still contains text from the 2024-II cycle in places, so check the current rulebook before you pay anything. The sources we read do not describe visa steps for foreign students.^[5] For exchange, UNMSM’s international office reports more than 250 agreements with universities abroad.^[6]

Which language do you need?

The admission page, rulebook payments and application platform are all in Spanish.^[5] The pages we read do not state a required Spanish level or a list of accepted certificates for undergraduate applicants. For doctoral applications the file must include a certificate of a foreign or native language.^[5]

Because no level is published, ask the admissions office before you book a language test.

More about studying in Peru

• Peru: best universities
• Cost of Studying Abroad
• International Student Scholarships
• University Ranking Methodology

More university profiles in Peru

• Cayetano Heredia University
• Pontifical Catholic University of Peru
• University of Lima