2026-07-072026-07-07http://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/163555This is a review of the Riemann-Hilbert approach to the large $N$ asymptotics in random matrix models and its applications. We discuss the following topics: random matrix models and orthogonal polynomials, the Riemann-Hilbert approach to the large $N$ asymptotics of orthogonal polynomials and its applications to the problem of universality in random matrix models, the double scaling limits, the large $N$ asymptotics of the partition function, and random matrix models with external source.84 pages, 23 figures, to appear in the CRM volume on "Random Matrices", Springer, 2008Mathematical Physics82B23text