Universidad de La Habana

TheUniversity of Havana, also known as Universidad de La Habana, is a public higher education institution that provides undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate programs across a wide range of academic disciplines. It carries out teaching, scientific research and extension activities that support the educational and developmental needs of Cuba. The university serves both domestic students from throughout the country and a smaller number of international learners who come to study in Havana. Its academic offerings are organized into faculties such as law, medicine, humanities, sciences and engineering, reflecting a comprehensive scope of knowledge production.

Founded in 1728, the University of Havana holds the distinction of being the oldest university in Cuba and is situated in the capital city of Havana. Over its long history it has expanded to include multiple faculties, research centers and affiliated campuses, giving it a notable presence within the nation’s higher education landscape. The institution plays a central role in shaping Cuban intellectual and professional life, contributing to the training of generations of professionals, scholars and public servants. Its size and reach make it a key reference point for academic standards and cultural discourse in the country.

The university operates under the authority of Cuba’s Ministry of Higher Education, functioning as a state‑owned entity with a mandate to provide accessible education and advance national research priorities. It is recognized for its historical involvement in cultural and political movements, and its faculties have earned reputations for excellence in fields such as medicine, law and the social sciences. In January 2023, the activist group Anonymous Cuba claimed responsibility for defacing several of the university’s departmental web pages, using the action to protest government repression and to draw attention to societal concerns under the hashtag #SOSCUBA. This incident highlighted the university’s visibility as a symbolic platform within Cuban public life.