It is a public and national institution of higher education. Founded in 1842, it is the first university in the country and one of the most prestigious and traditional in Latin America. The scope of the University encompasses Higher Education and research, as well as creation and extension in science and technology, humanities and arts. It is divided into 16 faculties, 3 interdisciplinary institutes and a clinical hospital. It has more than 43,700 undergraduate and graduate students, 3,825 full and part-time professors, 21 Chilean presidents among its alumni, 2 Nobel laureates and 20% of the national basic and applied research.