What Are the 15 Oldest Universities in the World? 24 Feb, 2025 | University Preparation Articles
The University of Cambridge is one of the oldest universities in the world. There are around 25,000 universities in the world, providing an incredible range of higher education opportunities, but how long have universities actually been around? Today, we’re exploring the roots of academia so we can understand the enduring legacy of the world’s oldest institutions.
Here are the 15 oldest universities in the world!
1. University of Al Quaraouiyine The oldest university in the world is the University of Al Quaraouiyine, in Fez, Morocco. It was originally founded as a mosque in 859, before developing into one of the leading spiritual and educational centres of the Islamic Golden Age.
In 1963, it officially became a part of Morocco’s modern state university system, and is now widely known for being the oldest continuously operating university in the world.
The university has contributed significantly to global Islamic education, and has played a massive role in shaping intellectual and cultural traditions. The classes taught there concentrate heavily on the Islamic religious and legal sciences, with a particular focus on Classical Arabic grammar and linguistics and Maliki law.
The mosque building itself features elements from various periods of Moroccan history, becoming an important architectural landmark.
2. University of Bologna The second oldest university in the world is the University of Bologna, founded in 1088 in Bologna, Italy. As the oldest university in Europe, and the first ever degree-awarding institution in higher education, it has played a very influential role in the development of the modern legal and scientific systems.
Some notable alumni include Nicolaus Copernicus (formulator of the heliocentric model), Pope Alexander VI, the poet Francesco Petrarca (also known as Petrarch), and Thomas Becket (former royal chancellor and archbishop of Canterbury).
3. University of Oxford The University of Oxford is the third oldest university in the world, established in the twelfth century in Oxford, England. With an esteemed legacy, it’s now a renowned global centre of learning.
As a collegiate university, its main functions are divided between 44 colleges where students live and work. The oldest colleges – University College, Merton College and Balliol College – were all founded between 1249 and 1264.
However, the newest college, Reuben College, was only founded in 2019, demonstrating how the university has continued to grow and thrive over the centuries.
The university has contributed significantly to many fields, and has produced illustrious alumni, from Oscar Wilde and Sir Walter Raleigh, to Dame Josephine Barnes (the first female President of the British Medical Association), 30 UK prime ministers and even Hugh Grant!
Please note: The Oxford Scholastica Academy is separate from the University of Oxford, and it’s important to understand that we have no formal connection with the University.
The University of Oxford is one of the oldest universities in the world.
4. University of Salamanca The fourth oldest university in the world is the University of Salamanca, which was founded in 1134 in Salamanca, Spain. It has a distinct reputation as the oldest university in the Hispanic world, and played a pivotal role in the spread of knowledge during the Renaissance.
As well as remaining one of the top universities in Europe today, it’s renowned for its architectural marvels like its ornate plateresque façade.
It’s also well-known for being the alma mater of famous poet and astronomer, Fray Luis de León, who began studying Canon Law in 1541 at just 14 years old. There are many tributes to the poet astronomer across campus, including a large statue and a preserved classroom where he taught in the 1570s.
5. University of Paris The University of Paris is the fifth oldest university in the world, founded around 1150 in France’s capital. The university is renowned for being a medieval powerhouse of learning, and maintains its status as a symbol of intellectual pursuit.
In the Middle Ages it was a trailblazer in theology and philosophy studies. It also introduced a few educational structures that have spread across the world and remain traditions today, such as doctoral degrees!
In addition, the university has produced three Popes, eleven French presidents, and almost 50 heads of government.
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List Of The Oldest University In The World