University of Magallanes

The University of Magallanes (UMAG) is a public state university located in the capital city of Magallanes, Punta Arenas in the south of Chile.

It was founded in 1981 and was the successor to the Punta Arenas sector of the Universidad Tecnica del Estado, established in 1961. As such, it is a member of Universidades del Consejo de Rectores, or Chilean Traditional Universities to give it its simplified English name.

The main campus is in Punta Arenas, which is also home to the Institute of Patagonia. It also has other campuses in Puerto Natales, Puerto Williams, Porvenir and Coyhaique. University of Magallanes is in of the most pristine Chilean Patagonia regions, and boasts stunning natural landscapes, surrounded as it is by channels, fjords and snow peaks.

UMAG has a well resourced library service consisting of a Central Library on the main campus, which in 2006 received significant modernisation. Academic works, general collection, newspaper archive, reserve and references make up the library system's five sectors. A smaller satellite library is situated in the Puerto Natales Centre, with The Institute of Patagonia being home to the Documentation Centre.

The university's thousands of students studying about 30 different technical and undergraduate degrees in its four primary faculties: Sciences; Engineering; Economic and Juridical Sciences; and Humanities, Social and Health Sciences.

The university's main aim is serve the south of Chile and South America to develop human resources and knowledge by means of research, teaching and extension activities. The University of Magallanes publishes the humanities and social sciences journal Magallania twice a year.