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The National University of Distance Education is a distance learning and research university founded in 1972. It is the only university run by the central government of Spain and is the largest university in Spain and the second largest in Europe.

Its headquarters are in Madrid, Spain with campuses across Spain. There are also 14 study centres and three exam points in 13 countries including Bern, Buenos Aires, Caracas, Frankfurt, Lima, London, Mexico City and Paris among others.

The university awards both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees as well as non-degree qualifications such as diplomas and certificates. Some 27 bachelor's degrees are available as well as 76 master's degrees and 19 doctoral programmes.

There are also a number of courses, the University Access Courses, for those older than 25 and 45 respectively. These include language courses, Life Long Learning, University extension courses. There is also UNED Senior for people over the age of 55. The instituion is also looking to create courses that responds to the demand for training groups with additional needs.

It comprises 11 faculties including industrial engineering; sciences; economics and business administration; political science and sociology; law; social education; Spanish language and literature; philosophy; geography and history and psychology.

it is part of a number of student mobility programmes including Erasmus, the Santander Hispanic Mobility Scholarships and the Pilot Mobility programme. The university has 153 agreements with institutions all over the world.

The university is based on the UK's Open University which also provides higher and continuing education opportunities through a distance education system.