University of Santo Tomas

University of Santo Tomas

Unibersidad ng Santo Tomas (Filipino)
Seal
Latin: Pontificia et Regalis Sancti Thomæ Aquinatis Universitas Manilana Universitas Catholica Philippinarum
Former names	See list
Motto	Veritas in Caritate
Motto in English	Truth in Charity
Type	Private coeducational non-profit research university
Established	April 28, 1611; 413 years ago (April 28, 1611)
Founder	Miguel de Benavides
Religious affiliation	Roman Catholic (Dominican)
Academic affiliations	AIMS EU-SHARE AUPF ASAIHL ASEACCU IAU ICUSTA IFCU AUAP UMAP Cumulus ACCA SEAMEO- INNOTECH
Chancellor	Gerard Timoner III
Vice-Chancellor	Filemón de la Cruz Jr.
Rector	Richard Ang
Secretary-General	Louie Coronel
Academic staff	2,164 (2019)
Students	33,407 undergraduate and graduate (Second term of 2023-2024)
Location	España Boulevard, Sampaloc, Manila , Metro Manila , Philippines 14°36′35″N 120°59′23″E / 14.60972°N 120.98972°E / 14.60972; 120.98972
Campus	Urban 21.5 hectares (215,000 m2)
Newspaper	The Varsitarian
Patron saints	Thomas Aquinas, Catherine of Alexandria
Colors	Gold, black, and white[1]
Nickname	Growling Tigers
Sporting affiliations	UAAP
Mascot	Bengal Tiger
Website	ust.edu.ph
Location in Manila Show map of Manila Location in Metro Manila Show map of Metro Manila Location in Luzon Show map of Luzon Location in the Philippines Show map of Philippines

The University of Santo Tomas (UST; Filipino: Unibersidad ng Santo Tomas), officially the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, Manila or colloquially as USTè (pronounced [usˈtɛʔ]), is a private, Catholic research university in Manila, Philippines. Founded on April 28, 1611, by Spanish friar Miguel de Benavides, third Archbishop of Manila, 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 the main campus of the University of Santo Tomas System that is run by the Order of Preachers.

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 awarded institutional accreditation by the CHED through the Federation of Accrediting Agencies of the Philippines (FAAP). The university has the highest number of Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities' Commission on Accreditation (PACUCOA)-accredited programs in the country, with 59.

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. The National Museum of the Philippines declared four of the university's structures and the UST Baybayin Documents as National Cultural Treasures.

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.

The athletic teams are the Growling Tigers, who are members of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines and have won the overall championships more than any other university.