The University of San Carlos de Guatemala was founded by Royal Decree of Charles II , dated January 31, 1676 .
The University of San Carlos has also told from the first decades of its existence, the country representatives who proudly recalls. Dr. Felipe Flores excelled with onginal inventions and theory, which anticipated a lot of success in Europe further. Dr. Gallardo Esparragoza and can be considered an extraordinary example of scientific surgery, and in the field of law, the figure of Dr. Jose Maria Alvarez, author of the renowned Royal Law Institutions Castilla y de Indias, first published in 1818. Los glimpses of membership can be observed since 1810, when it was founded in Guatemala Bar Association, whose purpose was the protection pnncipal and purification of the guild. This institution disappeared in the last quarter of the nineteenth century, only to resurface in 1947.
Since September 1945, the University of San Carlos de Guatemala operates as an autonomous entity with the authorities elected by an electoral body, as the legal principle established in its Organic Law, and has been ruled by the following principles, among others, are the product of the University Reform in 1944: Freedom of choosing university authorities and teachers, or to be elected to these bodies without interference from the State. Allocation of funds that are managed by the University Council with complete autonomy. Freedom of administrative and executive for the University to work in accordance with the provisions of the Higher University Council. Provision of an estate consisting of property registered in the name of the University. Selection of teachers for merit in competitive examination. Student participation in the election of university authorities. Participation of lecturers and professors professionals in government elections.