Faculty of Canon Law

Our centenary faculty (1904), the oldest in Spain, is from the beginning a work entrusted by the Holy See to the Society of Jesus. For more than a century it has trained distinguished canonists, bishops and others from Spain, South America and Africa, who have rendered an important service to the Church.

It has a qualified and motivated teaching staff of 8 lecturers, of whom 4 are tenured, all 8 hold doctorates, 2 have been positively evaluated by independent university quality agencies (ANECA or ACAP) and 1 has three six-year research periods. In addition to providing a qualified service to other faculties and schools, it has the collaboration of lecturers from the Faculty of Theology, for theological subjects, and from the Faculty of Law. Among the lecturers are men and women, religious from various congregations, diocesan priests and lay people.

Teaching is not only linked to research, but also to legal practice: judges of the Rota and metropolitan courts, defenders of the bond, advisors to the Spanish Conference of Religious. Our faculty is very active in research and publications.

In the last four years it has published 7 books, 24 chapters in books, 41 articles in indexed journals, 22 articles in non-indexed journals and has presented 49 papers and communications at scientific congresses and conferences. He has also collaborated in various training and dissemination activities in other academic and pastoral centres in Spain.

Our student body is clearly international: candidates for the priesthood, priests, religious and lay people of nationalities from all five continents. It is certainly a very positive experience for formation to meet companions from so many congregations and continents.

As members of the university, the students have access to all its services: psycho-pedagogical orientation, pastoral, cultural and solidarity activities, sports, etc.

As members of the university, students have access to all its services: psychopedagogical guidance, pastoral, cultural and solidarity activities, sports, etc.

The university has a library with a large general collection: more than half a million volumes; more than 11,000 journals, including more than 2,500 living ones. In particular, the ancient Canon Law collection can be considered one of the best in Spain. The library staff is highly qualified and its electronic resources are state-of-the-art. Moreover, the entire campus and all the classrooms are equipped with the most modern and advanced technology: Wifi, electronic devices, etc.

As part of the implementation of the European Higher Education Area, during the 2010-2011 academic year we reformed the Canon Law curriculum, adapting it to Bologna, with a first cycle of 120 ECTS and a second cycle of 180 ECTS. A new reform, which seeks to facilitate more practical learning for students, was carried out in the 18-19 academic year in the light of Veritatis Gaudium, and approved by the Dicastery for Catholic Education in Rome at the end of that year.

We work on competences (learning outcomes) and teaching guides. We have taken a step forward in the implementation of a more active methodology, which also considers practical and attitudinal competences. The tutorial attention, the regular departmental meetings, as well as the evaluation meetings are a valuable instrument for a close monitoring of each student and of the implementation of the Bologna process.

Our Faculty is, in short, a highly qualified place to find an excellent training for priests, seminarians, religious men and women, and lay men and women who are going to dedicate themselves, through Canon Law, to evangelising work in any of its various forms.