In the beginning, it was for general studies, where the Trivium and the Quadrivium were taught in accordance with the legal teachings, but Pope Paul III elevated the university a short while after its creation, creating diverse departments such as philosophy, theology, the arts, and grammar.
The University was established in one of the largest capitals of the kingdom, and in one of the few to gain the Royal and Pontifical titles (along with those of Salamanca and Alcalá).