UIMP is an "Autonomous Organization" within the Ministry of Education which, according to its bylaws, is defined as an "academic center for high culture"[2] It was named in honor of Marcelino Menéndez y Pelayo and is the primary institution in Spain for teaching the Spanish language and culture to foreign students.
UIMP offers Master's degrees in many areas of study, including: "Translation and New Technologies: Translation of Software and Multimedia Products" (in collaboration with Amergin (The University Institute of Research in Irish Studies, University of A Coruña) and Istrad (Instituto Superior de Estudios Lingüísticos and Translation based in Seville). "Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language" (in conjunction with the Cervantes Institute); "Renewable Energy", including fuel cells and hydrogen (in collaboration with the Spanish National Research Council); a graduate degree in "Economics and Finance", under the auspices of CEMFI; and "Contemporary History", with the participation of several other public universities.