UNAM begins new school year with 215,000 students returning to classes

The National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) welcomed approximately 215,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students back to classes on Monday, initiating the 2026-2027/1 academic year. This staggered return will conclude on August 31 with the arrival of new higher education and high school students. Of the total returning students, about 183,000 are pursuing undergraduate degrees through various programs, while over 33,000 are enrolled in postgraduate studies. More than 30,000 university instructors also resumed their duties.

New students entering higher education and high school programs at UNAM's nine preparatory schools and five Colegio de Ciencias y Humanidades campuses will join later in August. This academic year coincides with the 475th anniversary of the royal charter issued in 1551, which laid the historical foundation for the Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico.

Ricardo Alberto Muzquiz y Limón, an academic at the Faculty of Dentistry with over 53 years of teaching experience, views this anniversary as a recognition of the institution and the generations it has shaped. "This is 475 years of the National University. For me, it represents an achievement, because this institution is truly one of the best in Latin America and has graduated important generations in various fields," he stated.

For students like Zoé López Gutiérrez, starting her third semester of Law, the goal is to improve her academic performance and later address legal injustices. Adrián Sebastián Rosas Martínez, pursuing a degree in Hispanic Letters, aims to publish literary works and share life experiences through his writing. Both students, like their professors, see the new academic year as a chance for growth and future preparation.