Top 10 Oldest Universities In The World

Institutions of higher learning have existed for centuries, and in some cases millennia, but not all have withstood the test of time. Many of the world's oldest universities have dissolved, divided into independent institutions, or grown so modernized that they are no longer recognizable.

The historic legacies of the ancient institutions still exist today and are noteworthy for demonstrating their capacity to adapt to current situations and stay relevant in a globalized society despite strong competition.

Here we look at some of the world's oldest institutions, all ranked by QS. The majority are in Europe, owing to the region's outstanding number of long-standing and famous institutions, but there is also an African representative to consider.

This is not a list of the ten oldest universities in chronological order but highlights ten of the oldest universities with a high international rating.

1. Bologna University:

Italia is the location.

It was founded in 1088.

The institution of Bologna, known as the 'Nourishing Mother of the Studies' due to its Latin motto, was founded in 1088 and is the world's oldest institution, having never been closed. Until recently, the institution only taught doctoral courses but now offers a wide range of programs at all levels.

It is located in Bologna, Italy, and has an enrollment of around 87,760 students, including 6,400 international students. Among the prominent alums are three popes, several corporations, and numerous Italian politicians. 

2. Oxford University:

The United Kingdom is the location.

Established between 1096 and 1167

28 British Prime Ministers, 20 Canterbury Archbishops, twelve saints, twenty-seven Nobel Prize laureates, fifty Nobel Prize winners, and one Sir Stephen Hawking are among the alums of Oxford University.

While the actual date of the university's establishment is unknown, evidence of teaching dates back to 1096, and others suggest it was founded much earlier.

The University of Oxford, now rated fifth in the world, is really one of the highest-ranked and oldest institutions, with a student population of about 24,300 and the world's biggest university press.

3. Salamanca University:

Spain is the location.

It was founded in 1134.

Salamanca University was founded in 1134 and granted a Royal Charter in 1218, making it Spain's second oldest university behind the now-defunct University of Palencia.

It was the institution where Christopher Columbus made his case for royal funding for his Indies journey in the late 15th century, located west of Madrid.

The University of Salamanca has around 26,746 students spread over its nine campuses. 

4.Paris  University:

France is the location.

Established between 1160 and 1250

The University of Paris, often known as 'la Sorbonne,' was founded between 1160 and 1250 in the French capital and is regarded as one of Europe's earliest institutions. However, it was closed between 1793 and 1896 due to the French Revolution.

The University of Paris is now dispersed around the city, having been separated into 13 independent institutions in 1970, all of which preserve the old university's outstanding reputation. Sorbonne University (a new combination of Paris-Sorbonne University and Pierre and Marie Curie University, rated Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (joint 287th in the world, ranking 83rd) and is the highest-ranked of these 13.

5. Cambridge University:

Location: United Kingdom

It was founded in 1209.

The University of Cambridge was founded in 1209 by a group of professors who had left the University of Oxford owing to political problems, and it is today rated seventh in the world.

Oxford and Cambridge have many similar traditions and a healthy feeling of competition, culminating in the renowned yearly Boat Race event. Cambridge has around 23,247 students, 5,340 from outside the EU.

6.Padua University:

Italia is the location.

In 1222, it was founded.

In 1222, the University of Padua, also known as Università di Padova or UNIPD, was established. (though some evidence suggests it was created earlier) and is one of some medieval institutions still operating in Italy.

The Università di Padova is well-known for pioneering early astronomy, law, medicine, and philosophy studies. View the University of Padua's position in the QS World University Rankings®.

It presently has over 62,500 students in Padua, the location for William Shakespeare's classic play The Taming of the Shrew. The Università di Padova founded the Botanical Garden of Padova in 1545, making it one of the world's oldest academic gardens. It also owns and operates nine museums.

7. Federico II University of Naples:

Italia is the location.

It was founded in 1224 (1258).

The University of Naples: Federico II was Frederick II, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, established in 1224. and is located in Naples, Italy's third-largest city and one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited towns.

Federico II, the University of Naples, is rated. Equal 392nd in the world (up 32 places in 2021), offering a diverse variety of programs to a student body of over 80,000. The philosopher and theologian Thomas Aquinas is one of its most famous historical graduates.

8. Siena University:

Italia is the location.

It was founded in 1240.

The University of Siena, located in the tiny city of Siena in the Tuscany area, is another of the world's oldest institutions with a good global reputation, now rated 651-700 (down from 601-700 in 2020).

With over 20,000 students, the University of Siena campus accounts for about half of the city's population. The city center, which is also historically significant, has been designated a UNESCO World Legacy Site and attracts over 163,000 tourists each year for food, art, museums, and medieval legacy.

9.Coimbra University is number:

Portugal is the location.

It was founded around 1290.

Although founded, The University of Coimbra (431st in the international rankings) was in the Portuguese capital in 1290. transferred many times by demanding rulers before eventually settling in Coimbra, the country's third-largest metropolitan center and site of extensive Roman-era history.

The institution of Coimbra, with a student population of little more than 24,000, has undergone several dramatic transformations, and it was the sole functional institution in Portugal for decades in the 18th century.

The University of Coimbra was inscribed in 2013 and wants the UNESCO World Heritage List to include it. Historical buildings, open courtyard, cultural traditions, and breathtaking city vistas.

10.Al-Azhar University:

Egypt is the location.

It was founded around 970 AD.

Despite not acquiring university status until 1961, Al-Azhar University deserves to be included on this list because it was founded in 970 AD in Cairo, Egypt. Al-Azhar University, formerly a madrasa that taught students from basic to tertiary level, was recognized as a center of Islamic study but has recently created a modern curriculum of secular topics, assuring its existence.

The institution has endured tremendous political upheaval throughout its history, most notably in the 12th century when a new dynasty acquired control and burned over 100,000 books. In the QS Arab Region University Rankings, Al-Azhar University is currently positioned 51-60. The institution provides business, economics, science, medicine, engineering, and agriculture programs in addition to traditional subjects.