The University of Santo Tomas in Manila, one of the oldest existing universities in Asia and one of the world's largest Catholic universities by enrollment, was founded.

The University of Santo Tomas, officially the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, The Catholic University of the Philippines or colloquially as Ustê, is a private Catholic research university in Manila, Philippines. Founded on April 28, 1611, by Spanish friar Miguel de Benavides, third Archbishop of Manila, it has the oldest extant university charter in Asia and is one of the world's largest Catholic universities in terms of enrollment found on one campus. It is the main campus of the University of Santo Tomas System that is run by the Order of Preachers.

Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines after Quezon City, with a population of 1,902,590 people in 2024. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on the island of Luzon, it is classified as a highly urbanized city. With 43,611.5 inhabitants per square kilometer (112,953/sq mi), Manila is one of the world's most densely populated cities proper.

Catholic higher education includes universities, colleges, and other institutions of higher education privately run by the Catholic Church, typically by religious institutes. Those tied to the Holy See are specifically called pontifical universities.