The significance of the oldest university in the world is extraordinary. They have always been the living fossils and beacons in the course of human civilization. Throughout the historical development, these ancient universities have endeavored to preserve related knowledge and documents, such as philosophy, science, medicine, and law. All of this has become our precious wealth. Therefore, exploring the oldest schools in the world is not only about recalling the past glory, but also about understanding the source of our current knowledge system and spiritual world. Now, let’s take a look at these world’s oldest universities.
List of 10 Oldest University in the World [2025]
These oldest universities in the world laid the foundation for modern universities. The university system we are familiar with today, including the independent college structure, the degree awarding system, etc., can all trace their origins back to these oldest institutions. The existence of these universities is also a symbol of civilized dialogue, witnessing the integration of Eastern and Western, and the blending of past and present thoughts. The following are the top 10 oldest universities in the world.
| Rank | Name | Location | Year Founded | Still Opening or Not |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Bologna | Bologna, Italy | 1088 | Yes |
| 2 | University of Oxford | Oxford, UK | 1096 | Yes |
| 3 | University of Salamanca | Salamanca, Spain | 1218 | Yes |
| 4 | University of Paris | Paris, France | mid 12th century | Yes |
| 5 | University of Cambridge | Cambridge, UK | 1209 | Yes |
| 6 | University of Padua | Padua, Italy | 1222 | Yes |
| 7 | University of Naples Federico II | Naples, Italy | 1224 | Yes |
| 8 | University of Siena | Siena, Italy | 1240 | Yes |
| 9 | University of Coimbra | Coimbra, Portugal | 1290 | Yes |
| 10 | Al-Azhar University | Cairo, Egypt | 1961 | Yes |
Top 10 oldest school in the world
The following is the detailed introduction to top 10 oldest school in the world.
1. University of Bologna
- Location: Bologna, Italy
- Year Established: 1088
University of Bologna was founded in 1088 AD. It is generally regarded as the first university in the world and is known as the “Mother of Universities”. Initially, it was organized by students themselves and taught by hired teachers, forming a community called universitas. This laid the foundation for the modern university system.
Today, University of Bologna, with 32 departments, has over 86,000 registered students. Approximately 8,000 of them are from other countries. It has six campuses located in Bologna, Cesena, Firenze, Ravenna, Rimini in Italy, as well as Buenos Aires, Argentina. As the largest public university in Italy, the University of Bologna consistently ranks among the top five in Italy and the top 50 in Europe, and is rated as the fifth largest sustainable university in Europe.
2. University of Oxford
- Location: Oxford, UK
- Year Established: 1096
University of Oxford is located in Oxford, England, and it is one of the first school in the world. In 1167, due to King Henry II’s ban that make students cannot go to Paris for education, scholars gathered in Oxford. Oxford University consistently ranks among the top three globally in rankings such as Times Higher Education and QS. It has cultivated over 70 Nobel laureates, 30 British prime ministers, and numerous world leaders.
Nowadays, Oxford Uni is composed of 39 independent colleges and 6 permanent private schools. The proportion of its international students exceeds 40%. The university has four main departments: Humanities, Social Sciences, Mathematics Physics and Life Sciences, and Medicine. It offers over 350 undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Due to its excellent teaching quality and abundant academic resources, countless people apply to Oxford University every year.
3. University of Salamanca
- Location: Salamanca, Spain
- Year Established: 1218
In 1218, University of Salamanca was founded by King Alfonso IX of León. It is the oldest university in Spain and the third-oldest university in Europe. The school has always been an important center of Christian learning.
At present, University of Salamanca contains about 28,000 students, and the proportion of international students ranks second in Spain. The university has 9 campuses, separately located in Salamanca, Avila, Zamora and Béjar. The main campus not only preserves ancient architecture, but also houses modern laboratories, libraries and sports centers.
4. University of Paris
- Location: Paris, France
- Year Established: mid 12th century
As one of the oldest university in the world, University of Paris evolved from the school affiliated with Notre Dame Cathedral and the private teaching groups on the left bank of the Seine River. In 1215, after being officially recognized by Pope Innocent III, it became one of the mother universities in medieval Europe. In its early days, the university contained four departments: theology, law, medicine, and literature. All courses were taught in Latin. At its peak, the school accommodated over 10,000 students.
The alumni of the University of Paris are renowned. Marie Curie won the Nobel Prize twice. Descartes, Pasteur, Romain Rolland, Simone de Beauvoir, etc, all studied here. Modern alumni include 14 Nobel laureates, 20 French presidents and prime ministers. Therefore, the University of Paris has become one of the most desired universities for students worldwide.
5. University of Cambridge
- Location: Cambridge, UK
- Year Established: 1209
University of Cambridge was founded in 1209. Just like Oxford University, it adopts the college system. Currently, there are 31 colleges. The oldest one, Peter College, was established in 1284. While the newest one, Robinson College, was built in 1977. The campus is built along the River Cam. Gothic chapels, the Bridge of Sighs and the River Cam all add a charm to this world-class academic institution.
In academic field, Cambridge Uni has cultivated scientific giants such as Newton, Maxwell, Darwin and Hawking. Many huge achievements, such as the double helix structure of DNA, the discovery of electrons, and stem cell technology all came from this university. To date, there are 121 alumni and staff members of Cambridge University have received the Nobel Prize, ranking first among global universities.
6. University of Padua
- Location: Padua, Italy
- Year Established: 1222
University of Padua is one of the oldest school in the world and was the first to establish an autonomous model where students elect the president and set their own regulations. It set an example for academic freedom in Europe. Galileo taught here from 1592 to 1610, improving the telescope and preaching the heliocentric theory. The first university botanical garden in the world established here in 1545 remains a key center for plant research until today.
The university now has 8 colleges and 32 departments, with approximately 60,000 students enrolled, among whom over 7,000 are international students. The courses cover agriculture, veterinary science, economics, politics, law, engineering, medicine, psychology, etc. On campus, there is the earliest anatomy theater in Europe, the observation tower used by Galileo, and an advanced space research center. Its library contains over 3 million books.
7. University of Naples Federico II
- Location: Naples, Italy
- Year Established: 1224
The University of Naples Federico II was founded in 1224. It was established by imperial decree. It is the first secular public university in Europe that is funded by the state and not controlled by the church. At first, it was established to cultivate administrative and judicial talents for Italy, so as to reduce reliance on foreign educational institutions.
The university is located in Naples, the third-largest city of Italy. It has three main campuses, and the total area is over one million square meters. It contains 82 departments, and they can be divided into three divisions: science, life sciences, and social humanities. This university laid the foundation for higher education in southern Italy.
8. University of Siena
- Location: Siena, Italy
- Year Established: 1240
University of Siena was officially established by the Siena Republic Parliament through an ordinance. It is the oldest university in the Tuscany region and one of the oldest university in the world that received legislative protection for urban governance. In the 14th century, the school was supported by both the Vatican and the Republic, and its departments of law, medicine, and humanities gained worldwide renown. Petrarch, San Giorgio della Grande, and other cultural luminaries once lectured or studied here.
The alumni of this university include three Nobel laureates, two presidents of the Italian Republic, and many EU judges. University of Siena adheres to the concept of “a city of knowledge and goodness”, integrating its over 800-year academic tradition with modern research and innovation. The school continuously cultivates professional talents with an international perspective and a sense of social responsibility for Europe and the world.
9. University of Coimbra
- Location: Coimbra, Portugal
- Year Established: 1290
University of Coimbra was established by King Dinis I of Portugal with a royal charter issued in Lisbon. It has now become the only university in the Portuguese Kingdom that has lasted for hundreds of years. The core building of the campus is the former royal palace, Alcâcer do Paço. The renovated bell tower, the Baroque library, the 18th-century botanical garden, and the classical courtyard together form the world heritage site “The Historical Center of the University of Coimbra”. They bear witness to the longest tradition of higher education on the Iberian Peninsula.
Nowadays, the university has 8 colleges, over 40 departments and institutes, and approximately 25,000 students. The courses cover medicine, law, economics, psychology, physical education, etc. The university’s research on Portuguese-speaking countries and neuroscience is renowned in Europe. The school also has one of the largest academic publishing houses in Europe, an advanced brain imaging center, an ocean and environment research institute, and is in charge of major projects under the EU’s “Horizon” program.
10. Al-Azhar University
- Location: Cairo, Egypt
- Year Established: 1961
Al-Azhar University is establised in 970-972 in Cairo. Initially, it was a religious school, named after Fatima al-Zahra, the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad. In 1961, the Nasser government issued a decree to officially transform it into a modern comprehensive university. From then on, it added medical school, engineering school, agricultural school, business school and women’s college, and admited female students for the first time.
Al-Azhar University received over 120,000 students, with international students from 75 different countries. The main campus is located next to the Al-Azhar Mosque. Its library houses 400,000 rare manuscripts and early printed books, and the earliest versions can date back to the 10th century. Today, the school still continues to play an irreplaceable central role in global higher education and religious culture.
Advantages of attending oldest university in the world
After hundreds or even thousands of years of accumulation, the oldest university in the world has developed a unique teaching system. Due to their long history, they demonstrate their core competitiveness. The following are some of the most important advantages:
1. Long-standing academic tradition
The first university in the world is just like museum. Their campuses house ancient buildings, and the library also preserves centuries-old knowledge heritage. If you can enter these schools, you will be able to better experience this atmosphere. These unique traditional ceremonies, such as the entrance ceremony, graduation ceremony, and formal hall, enhance students’ sense of belonging and honor.
2. School reputation and recognition
These ancient universities themselves symbolize excellence and are the founders of the modern higher education system. The academic norms, research methods and degree systems of many disciplines were pioneered and spread by them to the world. Graduating from these schools means having top-level intelligence, strong stress-resistance ability and self-discipline. Regardless of where they seek employment or further their studies globally, their academic qualifications are highly respected and recognized.
3. Strong alumni network
For hundreds of years, these prestigious universities have produced countless outstanding alumni. These alumni resources have spread to various industries and regions all over the world. This powerful network means that studying here allows you to access industry insider information, entrepreneurial support, career referrals, and more. The natural trust and sense of identity among alumni can provide many conveniences for graduates.
4. Excellent management system
The college system represented by Oxford University and Cambridge University is one of the core advantages of these universities. The university is a large academic alliance, while the colleges are small communities for students’ life and social activities. The tutorial system is also one of the teaching essentials of these universities. Students can have very small-scale and high-intensity academic discussions with their tutors. This scale greatly cultivates students’ critical thinking, debating skills and deep analytical abilities.
Conclusion
We explore the oldest university in the world not merely to honor the past, but also to have a clearer vision for the future. These universities have witnessed how human civilization has gradually moved towards systematic inheritance and innovation. These witnesses spanning hundreds of years prove the immense power of knowledge, which can continuously drive social progress. We hope you can study at these renowned institutions, making your future brighter.
FAQ
It is generally believed that University of Bologna in Italy is the first university in the world. It was established in 1088 and was honored with the title of “Mother of Universities”.
Its significance mainly lies in the fact that it established the core institutional framework and model of modern universities. The University of Bologna was initially formed by students and was renowned for its research and teaching of Roman law. It was the first to establish the concept of “university”, as well as a complete disciplinary system, degree-granting system, and the tradition of academic freedom. These models later became the templates that all universities in Europe followed and had a profound impact on the development of global higher education.
The world’s oldest university in India is the University of Calcutta.
As one of the first modern universitites in India, this school was established in 1857. Its establishment marked the beginning of India’s modern higher education system and completely changed India’s traditional teaching mode. It has cultivated numerous outstanding scholars, including the first Nobel Prize winner Rabindranath Tagore. And it has had an immeasurable and profound impact on India’s ideological enlightenment and social reform. To this day, it still remains one of the most important higher education institutions in India.
Determining the age of a university is not simply a matter of checking the claimed founding year. Instead, a rigorous investigation is required, with the main criteria including the following aspects:
- Has the university been operating continuously?
- Does the university’s system align with the modern university system?
- Are there historical documents and officially recognized records?
To enter these oldest schools in the world is undoubtedly very difficult. Because they are top universities in the world, students from all over the world want to study here. Due to the large number of applicants but limited number of admissions, the acceptance rates of these universities are very low.
