What is the significance of these universities being among the oldest in the world?

These universities have a long and rich history of academic excellence and have contributed significantly to the advancement of knowledge and learning in various fields over centuries. They have served as centers of intellectual growth and innovation, shaping the course of higher education globally.

How have these universities evolved over time?

Over the centuries, these universities have evolved from small educational institutions to large, prestigious universities offering a wide range of academic disciplines and programs.

What were the primary subjects of study at these universities when they were founded?

Initially, these universities focused primarily on religious studies, philosophy, law, and medicine.

2022-02-25 |

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10 Oldest Universities in The World

Which is the oldest university in the world?

By Grad-Dreams

General

10 Oldest Universities in The World

Universities have been established in this world a very long time ago. The top 10 universities were established before the 13th century ended. The majority of these universities are the most popular and prestigious in current times.

University of Al Quaraouiyine (859 AD):

The university is located in Fez, Morocco. It is the oldest existing, still operating, and the first degree-awarding university in this world, as stated by UNESCO and the Guinness Book of World Records. It was incorporated into Morocco’s modern state university system in 1963. The main courses at the university include Islamic legal and Religious sciences. Teaching takes place so that the students sit in a semi-circle around a sheik who takes the classes. Both men and women can attend the university.

Al-Azhar University (970 AD):

Being Egypt’s oldest degree-granting university, it is located in Cairo, Egypt. It is very well known as “Sunni Islam’s most prestigious university. The university has a mission of propagating Islam and Islamic culture. It is the second most important library in Egypt. Degrees of medicine and engineering were introduced during the 1960s. The way of teaching remained informal during the initial times of the university being opened.

University of Bologna (1088):

It was established in 1088, in Bologna, Italy. The University of Bologna, or UNIBO, is the oldest in the Western world. UNIBO is very popular for teaching subjects like civil law and canon, and played a significant role in the development of medieval Roman Law. 11 schools together make up the University of Bologna. Until recent history, the only degree granted at the university was the doctorate, but now bachelor's and master's degrees are offered at all the 11 schools that come under the university.

University of Oxford (1096):

It is the oldest and the most prestigious university in the UK. It is a private university and consists of 38 constituent colleges. The foundation date of the university is not known, but teaching can be traced back to 1096. The number of students at Oxford increased when they came back from Paris because they were not allowed to study at the University of Paris. It was granted the royal charter in 1248. The two oldest universities of England, Oxford and Cambridge, and referred to as Oxibridge, and are very well recognized all over the world. Women started being admitted to Oxford in the year 1920.

University of Salamanca (1134):

Established in 1143, the University of Salamanca is a public university that is very popular for Humanities courses. Other popular courses are language studies and law and economics. It has various research centers:

- Cancer Research Center
- Institute of Neuroscience of Castile and Leon
- the Ultrashort Ultraintense Pulse Lasers Centre.

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It was granted its royal charter in 1218. Some colleges were destroyed by Napoleon's troops, and some buildings are now used as faculty buildings.

University of Paris (1160):

The University of Paris was established in 1160 and was very popularly known for excellent performance in the field of Humanities. In 1970, it had been divided into 13 autonomous universities. Since the university was closed during the French Revolution, a new university in France came into existence that replaced the University of Paris. It had 4 faculties- of

- the Faculty of Humanities (Faculté des Lettres)
- the Faculty of Law (later including Economics)
- the Faculty of Science, the Faculty of Medicine
- the Faculty of Theology, which was closed in 1885.

University of Cambridge (1209):

The University of Cambridge is one of the most reputed public universities because of its history and influence. Since the time the university was established, it has formed 31 colleges with over 100 departments divided into 6 schools. The university has 100 libraries. It was only after 1948 that women were considered as full members of the University of Cambridge. 116 Nobel laureates are associated with this university.

University of Padua (1222):

Established in 1222 in Padua, Italy, the University of Padua is a public university in a wonderful city. The university manages nine museums and plays a significant role in scientific research at the European and world levels. Initially, it was founded as a school of law and medicine. It became a part of the universities of the Kingdom of Italy in 1873, and ever since the university has been very reputed and prestigious in the country.

University of Naples Federico II (1224):

Located in Naples, Italy, the university sits beside the Bay of Naples and Mount Vesuvius which is still an active volcano. It is a non-religious institution, not influenced by the Pope. The university is divided into 13 universities under three divisions:

- the Division of Science and Technology
- the Division of Life Sciences
- the Division of Social and Human Sciences.

University of Toulouse (1229):

Located in the modern city of Toulouse, the university was closed down during the French Revolution and does not exist independently anymore. It has several universities which are known as its successor universities. This institution was formed as a part of the Treaty of Paris in 1229.