It opened in 1986, and obtained the right to be legally named a university in 1997.

As of 2019, the UM reached the TOP 500 in the general rankings according to the international organization.

[1] The UM has seven schools: Centers: The UM International Office is responsible for developing a coherent corporate strategy to promote Universidad de Montevideo's international relations, global profile, and international competitiveness.

It complements the academic mission of the University by providing the services and programs necessary to facilitate international education.

[2] The UM holds academic agreements with more than 140 institutions worldwide that enable student mobility and research projects.