The origins of the University of Granada can be traced back to the 14th century Arabic University of Madraza. With a history of over 700 years, the university is regarded as one of the country's major intellectual centers. The University of Granada has an enrollment of over 80,000 students, 5,000 of which are international students. Founded in 1992, the Center for Modern Languages (CLM) provides courses in Spanish language and culture to foreign students, and also offers foreign language courses for local Spanish students.

Because of the university's prestige, the student population has grown and has resulted in the creation of a second building for the CLM. Both buildings house classes for Spanish students and foreign students, providing an opportunity for Spanish and foreign students to meet and learn from each other outside of the classroom. In order to ensure an interactive learning environment, the university places a maximum of fifteen students in each language class.