Federico Santa María Technical University

The Federico Santa María Technical University (, UTFSM, or simply Santa Maria University) is a Chilean university member of the Rector's Council, founded in 1931 in Valparaíso, Chile.

The university has campuses in Valparaiso, Viña del Mar, Santiago (Vitacura and San Joaquín), Concepcion, as well as in Guayaquil, Ecuador. The Federico Santa María Technical University is the alma mater of several prominent businessmen, engineers and Chilean scientists. Its students and alumni are known as "Sansanos".

The UTFSM was the first Chilean university to confer a doctorate in engineering in 1962 and the first higher-education institution in Latin America to confer this degree. The UTFSM university radio is the oldest campus radio in Latin America.

The university admission is very competitive and, it is known for its rigorous study requirements, demanding study program. For the years 2011–2016, the UTFSM has an undergraduate retention rate of 82% by the first year of studies, and a 66% by the second year. Less than 1% of its students are international, and most of the available courses are imparted in Spanish.

The graduation date is held on 20 December every year, since it commemorates the anniversary of the death of the founder, Federico Santa Maria Carrera, on 20 December 1925. Provided by Wikipedia