University of Santo Tomás (Manila)

University of Santo Tomás (Manila). “UST,” a private, Roman Catholic research university in Manila, Philippines. Founded in 1611, it has the oldest extant university charter in Asia and is one of the world’s largest Catholic universities in terms of enrollment found on one campus. It is run by the Order of Preachers (Dominicans).

UST was granted the title Royal by King Charles III of Spain in 1785. Pope Leo XIII made UST a pontifical university in 1902. Pope Pius XII bestowed the title of The Catholic University of the Philippines in 1947. The university houses the first and oldest engineering, law, medical, and pharmacy schools in the country.

The university offers programs in over 180 undergraduate and graduate specializations. It has 26 programs recognized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) as Centers of Excellence and Centers of Development, ranking second in the country and first among private educational institutions. It is one of the “Big Four” universities in the Philippines.

The main campus is the largest university in the city of Manila and is home to 22 degree-granting colleges, a parish church, and a teaching hospital. UST alumni and faculty include 30 Catholic saints, 4 presidents of the Philippines, 17 senators, 9 chief justices, 20 national artists, a national scientist, and 5 billionaires.