The Universidad Complutense de Madrid is the one founded by Cardinal Cisneros in 1499 in Alcalá de Henares, which in 1821, became the Central University of Madrid, suppressing the one established in Alcalá a year later. The Central University was established by Order of 3 October 1822.

The Complutense University has two campuses in Madrid: Moncloa and Somosaguas. Some other university premises are also located in the centre of Madrid. In 1927, the Ciudad Universitaria was conceived as an integrated campus where education, science and culture would merge harmoniously with each other. The Campus Moncloa project endeavours to take the lead in responding to the challenges of the 21st century, namely knowledge and sustainable development.