List of oldest universities in continuous operation
This is a list of the oldest existing universities in Europe. To be included in this table, an educational institution must satisfy a traditional definition of university[Note 1] at the time of its founding.[1] Chronologically, it must have been founded before 1500 in Europe or be the oldest university derived from the medieval European model in a region. It must also be still in operation, with institutional continuity retained throughout its history, and so some early universities, most notably the University of Paris which was suspended from 1793 to 1896, are excluded.
The word university is derived from the Template:Lang-la, roughly meaning "community of teachers and scholars". The term was coined by the Italian University of Bologna, which, with a traditional founding date of 1088, is considered the first university.[2][3] The origin of many medieval universities can be traced to the Christian cathedral schools or monastic schools which appear as early as the 6th century and were run for hundreds of years as such before their formal establishment as university in the high medieval period.[4]
Other institutions of higher learning, like those of ancient Greece, ancient Persia, ancient Rome, Byzantium, ancient China, ancient India and the Muslim world, are not included in this list due to their cultural, historical, structural and juristic dissimilarities from the medieval European university from which the modern university evolved.[Note 2][Note 3][7] In lists based on broader definitions, Al-Qarawiyyin, founded in 859 as a madrasa and in 1963 as a university, is sometimes considered as the "oldest university".
Medieval origins
The university as an institution was historically rooted in that medieval society which it in turn influenced and shaped:[7]
The university is a European institution; indeed, it is the European institution par excellence. There are various reasons for this assertion. As a community of teachers and taught, accorded certain rights, such as administrative autonomy and the determination and realisation of curricula (courses of study) and of the objectives of research as well as the award of publicly recognised degrees, it is a creation of medieval Europe, which was the Europe of papal Christianity...
Modern spread
From the early modern period onwards, the university gradually spread from the medieval Latin west across the globe, eventually replacing all other higher-learning institutions and becoming the preeminent institution for higher education everywhere. This process occurred in the following chronological order:[8]
- Western Europe (since 11th or 12th century)
- Central and Eastern Europe (since 14th or 15th century)
- Americas (since 16th century)
- Australia (since 19th century)
- Asia and Africa (since 19th or 20th century), except in the Philippines where the University of Santo Tomas was established in the 17th century.
Founded before 1500
The earliest and only universities before the colonisation of the Americas were established and run in medieval Europe.
Year | University | Location | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Original | Current | |||
1088 | University of Bologna | Kingdom of Italy, Holy Roman Empire |
Bologna, Italy | The first university in the sense of a higher-learning, degree-awarding institute, the word university (Latin: universitas) having been coined at its foundation. It received, in 1158, from the Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa the "Authentica habita" which settled rules, rights and privileges of Universities.[9] |
1096-1167 (charter granted in 1248)[10] | University of Oxford | Kingdom of England | Oxford, United Kingdom | "Claimed to be the oldest university in the English speaking world, there is no clear date of foundation of Oxford University, but teaching existed at Oxford in some form in 1096 and developed rapidly from 1167, when Henry II banned English students from attending the University of Paris."[11] Teaching suspended in 1209 (due to town execution of two scholars) and 1355 (due to the St. Scholastica Day riot), but was continuous during the English Civil War (1642–1651) - the University was Royalist. All Souls College and University College have repeatedly claimed that they own documents proving that teaching in Oxford started in the year 825, but these documents have never seen the public light (allegedly, John Speed dated his famous 1605 Oxford maps based on these documents). However, it was not until 1254 that Pope Innocent IV granted to Oxford the University charter by papal bull ("Querentes in agro"). |
1134 (charter granted in 1218) | University of Salamanca | Kingdom of León | Salamanca, Spain | It is the oldest university in operation in Spain. Although there are records of the University granting degrees many years before (James Trager's People's Chronology sets its foundation date in 1134), it only received the Royal chart of foundation as "Estudio General" in 1218,[12] making it possibly the fourth or even the third oldest European university in continuous operation. However, it was the first European university to receive the title of "University" as such, granted by king of Castile and León Alfonso X and the Pope in 1254. Having been excluded from the University in 1852 by the Spanish government, the Faculties of Theology and Canon Law became the Pontifical University of Salamanca in 1940. |
1209 (charter granted in 1231)[13] | University of Cambridge | Kingdom of England | Cambridge, United Kingdom | Founded by scholars leaving Oxford after a dispute caused by the execution of two scholars in 1209, and royal charter was granted in 1231.[14] The university takes 1209 as its official anniversary.[15] Through one of Cambridge's alumni, John Harvard, it inspired the establishment of Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States with the first college in the United States, Harvard University. |
1222 (probably older) | University of Padua | Lombard League | Padua, Italy | Founded by scholars and professors after leaving Bologna. |
1224 (1258) | University of Naples Federico II | Kingdom of Sicily | Naples, Italy | The first public university,[16] founded by Frederick II, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. The university moved to Salerno in 1253, and its return to Naples in 1258 is sometimes considered as a refoundation. |
1240 | University of Siena | Republic of Siena | Siena, Italy | Originally called Studium Senese, was founded by Commune of Siena in 1240. In 1321, the studium was able to attract a larger number of pupils due to a mass exodus from the prestigious University of Bologna. Closed temporarily in 1808–1815 when Napoleonic forces occupied Tuscany. On November 7, 2015 the university celebrates its 775th anniversary. |
1241 | University of Valladolid | Kingdom of Castile, Crown of Castile | Valladolid, Spain | One hypothesis is that its foundation is the result of the transfer of Palencia General Survey between 1208 and 1241 by Alfonso VIII, king of Castile, and Bishop Tello Téllez de Meneses. |
1290 | University of Macerata[17] | Papal States | Macerata, Italy | The University of Macerata (Italian: Università degli Studi di Macerata) is a university located in Macerata, Marche, Italy. It was founded in 1290 and is organized into 7 faculties. |
1290 | University of Coimbra[17] | Kingdom of Portugal |
Coimbra, Portugal | Begun its existence in Lisbon with the name Studium Generale (Estudo Geral). Scientiae thesaurus mirabilis, the royal charter announcing the institution of the University, was dated 1 March of that year, although efforts had been made at least since 1288 to create this first university in Portugal. The papal confirmation was also given in 1290 (on 9 August of that year), during the papacy of Pope Nicholas IV. |
1293 | University of Alcalá | Crown of Castile | Alcalá de Henares, Spain | The University of Alcalá was founded by King Sancho IV of Castile as Studium Generale in 1293 in Alcalá de Henares. It was granted Papal Bull in 1499, and quickly gained international fame thanks to the patronage of Cardinal Cisneros and the production of the Complutensian Polyglot Bible in 1517, which is the basis for most of the current translations. The University moved to Madrid in 1836 by Royal Decree as Universidad Central. The Moyano Law of 1857 established Central as the sole university in Spain authorized to confer the title of Doctor on any scholar. This law remained in effect until 1969. In 1970, Universidad Central de Madrid changed its name to Universidad Complutense de Madrid, the present name. On the other side, the Universidad de Alcalá was restored in Alcalá de Henares in 1977. |
1303 | Sapienza University of Rome | Papal States | Rome, Italy | Founded by Pope Boniface VIII, but became a state university in 1935. |
1308 | University of Perugia | Papal States | Perugia, Italy | Attested by the Bull of Pope Clement V. |
1321 | University of Florence | Republic of Florence | Florence, Italy | The University of Florence evolved from the Studium Generale, which was established by the Florentine Republic in 1321. The Studium was recognized by Pope Clement VI in 1349. |
1336 (not recognised until 1727) | University of Camerino | Papal States | Camerino, Italy | The great literate and jurist Cino from Pistoia, living in Marche in the years 1319-21, and in Camerino in the spring of 1321, remembers the territory blooming with juridical schools. Camerino has been a center of learning since no later than 1200, offering degrees in civil law, canonical law, medicine, and literary studies. Gregory XI took the decision upon the request of Gentile III da Varano with the papal edict of 29 January 1377, directed to the commune and to the people, authorizing Camerino to confer (after appropriate examination) bachelor and doctoral degrees with apostolic authority.[citation needed] University by Papal Bull and Charter of Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor in 1727.[18] |
1343 | University of Pisa | Republic of Pisa | Pisa, Italy | It was formally founded on September 3, 1343 by an edict of Pope Clement VI, although there had been lectures on law in Pisa since the 11th century. Nowadays is one of the most important universities in Italy. |
1348 | Charles University of Prague | Kingdom of Bohemia | Prague, Czech Republic | Three of four faculties closed in 1419, joined with Jesuit university and renamed Charles-Ferdinand University in 1652, split into German and Czech part in 1882, Czech branch closed during Nazi occupation (1939–1945), German branch closed in 1945.[19] |
1361 | University of Pavia | Domain of the House of Visconti | Pavia, Italy | Closed for short periods during the Italian Wars, Napoleonic wars, and Revolutions of 1848. |
1364 | Jagiellonian University | Kingdom of Poland | Kraków, Poland | Founded by Casimir the Great under the name Studium Generale, and was commonly referred to as the Kraków Academy. The institution's development stalled upon the king's death in 1370; primarily due to a lack of funding. Without a permanent location; lectures were held across the city at various churches and in the Kraków Cathedral School. Further development again resumed in the 1390s, by the initiative of King Władysław Jagiełło and his wife Jadwiga of Poland; at which point the school became a fully functioning university with a permanent location. The university was forcibly shut down during the German Occupation of Poland (1939–1945). The staff was deported to Nazi concentration camps, and many of its collections were deliberately destroyed by the occupying German authorities. Within a month after the liberation of the city, the university again re-opened; with some of the original pre-war staff who survived the occupation. |
1365 | University of Vienna | Holy Roman Empire | Vienna, Austria | Modelled on the University of Paris. |
1386 | Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg | Holy Roman Empire | Heidelberg, Germany | Founded by Rupert I, Elector Palatine. The oldest in contemporary Germany and third oldest Germanophone university. |
1391 | University of Ferrara | House of Este | Ferrara, Italy | Founded by Marquis Alberto d'Este. |
1404 | University of Turin | Duchy of Savoy | Turin, Italy | Founded by the prince "Louis of Piedmont" during the reign of Amadeus VIII. |
1409 | University of Leipzig | Holy Roman Empire | Leipzig, Germany | Founded when German-speaking staff left Prague due to the Jan Hus crisis. |
1413 | University of St. Andrews | Kingdom of Scotland | St. Andrews, United Kingdom | A school of higher studies was founded in 1410 and became a full university by the issue of a Papal bull in 1413.[20] |
1419 | University of Rostock | Holy Roman Empire | Rostock, Germany | During the Reformation, "the Catholic university of Rostock closed altogether and the closure was long enough to make the refounded body feel a new institution".[21] |
1434 | University of Catania | Kingdom of Sicily | Catania, Italy | The oldest in Sicily. Founded by Alfonso V of Aragon. |
1450[22] | University of Barcelona | Crown of Aragon | Barcelona, Spain | Founded by Alfonso V of Aragon as Estudi general de Barcelona after the unification of all university education. For forty-nine years prior to that foundation, however, the city had had a fledgling medical school founded by King Martin of Aragon, and in the 13th century Barcelona already possessed several civil and ecclesiastical schools. |
1451 | University of Glasgow | Kingdom of Scotland | Glasgow, United Kingdom | Founded by a Papal bull. |
1456 | University of Greifswald | Holy Roman Empire | Greifswald, Germany | Teaching had started by 1436. Founded by initiative of Heinrich Rubenow, Lord Mayor of Greifswald (and first rector), with approval of Pope Callixtus III and Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor, under the protection of Wartislaw IX, Duke of Pomerania. Teaching paused temporarily during the Protestant Reformation (1527–39). |
1457 | Albert Ludwigs University of Freiburg | Holy Roman Empire | Freiburg, Germany | Temporarily transferred to Constance in 1686–98 and 1713–15. |
1460 | University of Basel | Holy Roman Empire | Basel, Switzerland | Founded in 1460 (Schola Basiliensis), the University of Basel is the oldest university in Switzerland.[23] |
1472 | Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich | Holy Roman Empire | Munich, Germany | Founded in Ingolstadt in 1459, transferred to Landshut in 1800, moved to Munich in 1826. |
1477 | Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen | Holy Roman Empire | Tübingen, Germany | |
1477 | Uppsala University | Kingdom of Sweden within the Kalmar Union |
Uppsala, Sweden | Uppsala's bull, which granted the university its corporate rights, was issued by Pope Sixtus IV in 1477, and established a number of provisions. Among the most important of these was that the university was officially given the same freedoms and privileges as the University of Bologna. |
1479 | University of Copenhagen | Kingdom of Denmark within the Kalmar Union |
Copenhagen, Denmark | The University of Copenhagen is the oldest university in Denmark, and the second oldest in Scandinavia after Uppsala University in Sweden |
1481 | University of Genoa | Republic of Genoa | Genoa, Italy | Founded in 1481 (Genuense Athenaeum). |
1495 | University of Aberdeen | Kingdom of Scotland | Aberdeen, United Kingdom | King's College was founded by a Papal bull in 1495 and then Marischal College in 1593; they merged in 1860. |
1495 | University of Santiago de Compostela | Galicia, Crown of Castile | Santiago de Compostela, Spain | The university traces its roots to 1495, when a school was opened in Santiago.[24] In 1504, Pope Julius II approved the foundation of a university in Santiago, and the bull for its creation was granted by Clement VII in 1526. |
1499 | University of Valencia | Crown of Aragon | Valencia, Spain |
Oldest universities by country or region after 1500 still in operation
The majority of European countries had universities by 1500. After 1500, universities began to spread to other countries all over the world. Oldest entity of each continent is indicated in bold:
- Algeria: University of Algiers, 1909
- Angola: Agostinho Neto University (as Estudos Gerais Universitários de Angola), 1962
- Cameroon: University of Yaoundé, 1962
- Cape Verde:
- Jean Piaget University of Cape Verde (private), 2001
- University of Cape Verde (public), as a result of the merger of the two previously existing higher education establishments (ISE and ISECMAR), 2006
- Egypt: Cairo University, 1908; The American University in Cairo, 1919 as a private university.
- Ethiopia: University of Addis Ababa, 1950
- Ghana: University of Ghana, 1948[25]
- Kenya: Egerton University, 1939 (as Egerton Farm School)
- Liberia: Liberia College – University of Liberia, 1951, building on Liberia College founded in 1863.
- Libya: University of Libya, 1956; later divided to University of Benghazi and University of Tripoli, the names were changed again during Gaddafi's era, but now they have reinstated their original names
- Madagascar University of Antananarivo, 1965
- Mauritius: University of Mauritius, 1965
- Morocco: The University of al-Qarawiyyin traces its origins back to the al-Qarawiyyin mosque and associated madrasa founded by Fatima al-Fihri in 859, but only became a university in 1965
- Mozambique: Eduardo Mondlane University (as Estudos Gerais Universitários de Moçambique), 1962
- Nigeria: University of Ibadan, 1948[26]
- Sierra Leone: Fourah Bay College - University of Sierra Leone, 1827[27]
- Somalia: Somali National University, 1954 Gaheyr
- South Africa:
- University of Cape Town, 1829 (University status: 2 April 1918)[28]
- Stellenbosch University, 1866 (University status: 2 April 1918)
- Sudan: University of Khartoum, 1902[29] (renamed from Gordon Memorial College in 1956).
- Uganda: Makerere University, 1922
- Zimbabwe: University of Zimbabwe, 1952
- Afghanistan: Kabul University, founded in 1931, formally opened 1932
- Bahrain: University of Bahrain, 1986
- Bangladesh:
- Dhaka College, 1841[30] Dhaka College was established by Dr. James Taylor (Civil Surgeon at Dhaka) in 1835 as an English School (at present Dhaka Collegiate School).
- Chittagong College, 1869[31]
- Rajshahi College, 1873[32]
- Cambodia:
- China:[Note 4]
- Tianjin University, established in 1895 as Imperial Tientsin University.
- Jiaotong University, founded in 1896 as Nanyang Public School
- Peking University, founded in 1898 as Imperial Capital University or Imperial University of Peking
- Shandong University, founded in 1901 as Shandong Imperial University
- Nanjing University (National Central University), established as Sanjiang Normal College in 1902, the first Chinese university providing doctoral degree (in 1927)
- Tsinghua University, established in 1911 under the name "Tsinghua College"
- Hong Kong: The University of Hong Kong, founded as the Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese in 1887, incorporated as a university in 1911
- India:
- Serampore College, 1818, first institution with university status (although not a university) to grant degrees in theology
- University of Calcutta, 1857, first full-fledged multi-disciplinary university in South Asia in terms of foundation date although the University of Bombay and the University of Madras were subsequently established in the same year
- Indonesia:
- University of Indonesia, 1947, founded as the School of Javanese Doctor in 1851
- Bandung Institute of Technology, 1959, founded as Technische Hogeschool in 1920
- Iraq: University of Baghdad, 1956 - Although the Iraqi Royal College of Medicine was established in 1928
- Iran: University of Tehran, 1934, founded by Rezā Shāh, incorporating portions of the Dar ul-Funun Polytechnic Institute (1851) and the Tehran School of Political Sciences (1899)
- Israel:
- Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 1918
- Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, founded in 1912, but formal teaching began in 1924
- Japan:
- University of Tokyo, Its origins include a private college of Confucian studies founded by Hayashi Razan in 1630,[33] Tenmonkata (The Observatory, 1684)[34] and Shutōsho (Smallpox Vaccination Centre, 1849).[35] It was later organised in 1867 as the Imperial University.
- Keio University, 1858 as the oldest modern institute of higher education in Japan (To be noted, Japan's oldest academic institution is Ashikaga Gakko)
- Jordan:
- University of Jordan, 1962
- Kazakhstan:
- Lebanon:
- American University of Beirut, 1866
- Saint Joseph University (Universite Saint Joseph), 1872
- Universite de la Sagesse, 1875
- Macau: University of Macau, established as University of East Asia in 1981, renamed 1991.
- Malaysia: University of Malaya, as Straits and Federated Malay States Government Medical School in 1905 in Singapore
- Mongolia:
- Mongolian Academy of Sciences, 1921, as part of the Institute of Literature and Script
- Institute of finance and economics of Mongolia, 1924 as the School of Custom's Officers in Ulaanbaatar.
- National University of Mongolia, 1942
- Myanmar: Rangoon University, 1878[36]
- Nepal: Tribhuvan University, 1959[37]
- Pakistan:
- King Edward Medical University, Lahore, 1860
- Forman Christian College University, established as Forman Christian College in Lahore, 1864
- Government College University, Lahore, established as Government College, Lahore, 1864
- University of the Punjab, 1882 (Pakistan)[38]
- Philippines:
- University of Santo Tomas, 1611 - founded on 28 April 1611, it is the oldest extant university charter in the Philippines and in Asia. It celebrated its 400th anniversary in 2011.
- Colegio de San Juan de Letran, 1620
- University of San Carlos traces its origins back to the Colegio de San Ildefonso founded in 1595, but the current university was established in 1948.
- Saudi Arabia: King Saud University, 1957
- Singapore: National University of Singapore, 1905 - Founded as Straits and Federated Malay States Government Medical School.
- South Korea: Listed according to the year when institutions became universities
- Ewha Womans University, started higher education in 1910, and was reorganized as Ewha Womans University in 1946. It was established in 1886 as the first mission school to educate women in Korea.
- Korea University, then Boseong School, was established in 1905, and was restructured as Korea University in 1946.
- Sungkyunkwan University, was reorganized as Sungkyunkwan University in 1946. Sungkyunkwan, its origin, was established in 1398 as the royal institution for higher education of the Joseon Dynasty.
- Sri Lanka:
- University College Colombo, 1920 - Although the Ceylon Medical College was established in 1870
- University of Ceylon, 1942 - First full-fledged multi disciplinary university in Sri Lanka
- Syria: University of Damascus was founded in 1923 through the merger of the School of Medicine (established 1903) and the Institute of Law (established 1913).
- Taiwan:
- National Taiwan University, 1928, as Taihoku (Taipei) Imperial University.
- National Taipei University of Technology, 1912, as School of Industrial Instruction
- Thailand:
- Chulalongkorn University, 1917
- Thammasat University, 1939
- Kasetsart University, 1943
- Mahidol University, 1943
- Silpakorn University, 1943
- Timor Leste: National University of East Timor, 2000
- Vietnam:
- Albania: University of Tirana, 1957.
- Armenia: Yerevan State University, 1919
- Austria
- University of Graz, 1585.
- University of Salzburg, 1622.
- University of Innsbruck, 1669.
- Azerbaijan: Baku State University, 1919
- Belgium
- Ghent University, 1817.
- University of Liège, 1817.
- Catholic University of Mechlin, 1834, then called Catholic University of Louvain,[Note 5] 1835, and then split into Dutch-speaking Katholieke Universiteit Leuven and French-speaking Université catholique de Louvain, 1968
- Free University of Brussels, 1834
- Bosnia and Herzegovina: University of Sarajevo, 1949
- Bulgaria:
- Croatia: University of Zagreb, 1669
- Czech Republic (apart from the Charles University 1348, see above)
- Palacký University of Olomouc, 1573, as Olomouc Jesuit University
- Czech Technical University, 1707, being the oldest non-military technical university in Europe
- Denmark: Technical University of Denmark, 1829
- Estonia: University of Tartu, 1632, the university was closed from 1710 to 1802
- Finland:
- University of Helsinki, 1640, originally the Academy of Turku, but moved to Helsinki in 1827
- France: All French universities were suspended in 1793 and so do not meet the criteria for inclusion in the pre-1500 list above. However many modern French universities, which were re-created in 1896, trace their origins to earlier foundations, including
- University of Paris (Sorbonne), between 1160 and 1250
- University of Toulouse, 1229
- University of Montpellier, 1289 (probably earlier, and with the world's oldest medicine faculty still in operation)
- University of Caen, 1432 (by John of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Bedford), 1452 (by Charles VII of France)
- Germany:
- University of Wittenberg, 1502
- Philipps-Universität Marburg, 1527
- University of Jena, 1558
- Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, 1734
- University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, 1742
- Georgia: Tbilisi State University, 1918
- Greece:
- Hungary:
- Iceland: University of Iceland, 1911
- Ireland
- Italy
- Oldest universities founded after 1500 (i.e., excluding Italian universities listed above), by region:
- Abruzzo: University of L'Aquila, 1596
- Basilicata: University of Basilicata, 1982
- Calabria: Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria, 1962
- Campania: Università degli Studi di Napoli "L'Orientale", 1732
- Emilia-Romagna: none, all universities founded from the 12th to 14th centuries
- Friuli-Venezia Giulia: University of Trieste, 1924
- Lazio: University of Cassino and Tuscia University, both in 1979
- Liguria: none, the only university was founded in the 15th century
- Lombardia: Polytechnic University of Milan, 1863
- Marche: University of Urbino, 1506
- Molise: University of Molise, 1982
- Piemonte: Polytechnic University of Turin, 1859
- Puglia: University of Bari, 1925
- Sardegna: University of Sassari, 1617
- Sicilia: University of Messina, 1548
- Toscana: Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa, 1810
- Trentino-Alto Adige: University of Trento, 1962
- Umbria: University for Foreigners Perugia, 1921
- Veneto: Ca' Foscari University of Venice, 1868
- Oldest universities founded after 1500 (i.e., excluding Italian universities listed above), by region:
- Latvia: Riga Technical University, 1862
- Liechtenstein: Hochschule Liechtenstein, 1992, successory to the Abendtechnikum Vaduz established in 1961
- Lithuania: University of Vilnius, 1579, successory to the Vilnius Academy 1570, although its operation was not continuous: the university was closed from 1832 to 1919 and again in 1943-44
- Luxembourg: University of Luxembourg, 2003
- Macedonia:
- Malta: University of Malta, 1768, first established as the Collegium Melitense by the Jesuits 1592
- Netherlands
- University of Leiden, 1575
- University of Groningen, 1614
- University of Amsterdam, 1632, as Athenaeum Illustre
- Utrecht University, 1636
- Norway: University of Oslo, 1811
- Poland:
- University of Wrocław, 1701, re-founded 1811
- University of Warsaw, 1816
- Portugal
- University of Évora, second oldest university in Portugal, 1559–1759, resumed work in 1973
- University of Lisbon, 1911
- University of Porto, 1911
- Romania:[39][40][41][42]
- Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Iaşi, 1860; successor to Vasilian College, 1640, Princely Academy, 1707, and Academia Mihăileană, 1834
- University of Bucharest, Bucharest, 1864; successor to the Princely Academy, 1694, and Saint Sava College, 1822
- Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, 1872/1918; teaching existed in Cluj-Napoca since the Jesuits College, 1581, and the Jesuits Academy, 1688
- Russia
- Moscow State University, 1755
- Kazan Federal University, 1804
- Saint Petersburg State University, 1724–1803, 1819
- Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, 1967 (claims continuity from University of Königsberg, 1544)
- Serbia: Belgrade University, founded in 1808 as the Belgrade Higher School, by 1838 it merged with the Kragujevac-based departments into a single university, under current name from 1905; Orthodox Christian Lyceum in 1794; Teacher's college in 1778
- Slovakia: Comenius University in Bratislava 1919
- Slovenia: University of Ljubljana, 1919
- Spain
- University of Seville, 1505
- University of Granada, 1531
- University of Zaragoza, 1542
- University of Oviedo, 1608
- Sweden:
- Lund University, 1666; a Franciscan Studium Generale was founded in Lund in 1425, as the first university in Northern Europe, but as a result of the Protestant Reformation the operations of the catholic university were suspended
- Switzerland:
- Cantons University
- University of Zürich, origin 1525; est. 1833. Switzerland's largest university (25,000 students)
- University of Lausanne, 1537
- University of Geneva 1559; founded by John Calvin
- University of Fribourg origin 1582; est. 1889
- University of Bern, 1834
- University of Neuchâtel,1838
- University of Lucerne, 1851
- University of St. Gallen, 1898
- University of Lugano, 1996; Switzerland's newest university
- Federal Institutes of Technology
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) est. 1853; opened in 1869
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETHZ) 1855
- Cantons University
- Turkey:
- Boğaziçi University Founded in 1863 as Robert College, transformed into a public research university in 1971.
- Istanbul University The current state university was founded in 1933, but traces its origins back to the House of Multiple Sciences founded in 1846. Its ultimate origins lie in a madrasa founded by Mehmed II in 1453, itself built upon a previous Byzantine school dating back to 1321.
- Istanbul Technical University Founded in 1773 as Imperial School of Naval Engineering by Mustafa III, but became a state university in 1928.[43]
- Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University founded in 1882
- Yıldız Technical University founded in 1911
- Ukraine
- University of Lviv, operated from 1661-1773, 1784-1805, 1817–1848, 1850-
- University of Kharkiv, 1804
- United Kingdom
- England: Besides Oxford and Cambridge (listed above), no surviving universities were created in England until the 19th century. Differing definitions of a university lead to conflicting claims to be the next university founded.[Note 6]
- Officially recognised universities:
- Durham University, 1832.[Note 7]
- University of London, 1836.[Note 8]
- Other university institutions:
- University College London, 1826.[Note 9]
- King's College London, 1829. [Note 10]
- Officially recognised universities:
- Northern Ireland:
- Queen's University Belfast, 1908 (as a university), 1845 (as a university college)[61]
- Scotland:
- University of Edinburgh, 1583
- Wales: As with England, there are multiple claims to be the oldest university in Wales.
- Officially recognised university:
- University of Wales 1893.[62]
- Other university institutions:
- Officially recognised university:
- England: Besides Oxford and Cambridge (listed above), no surviving universities were created in England until the 19th century. Differing definitions of a university lead to conflicting claims to be the next university founded.[Note 6]
- Argentina:
- National University of Córdoba, 1613
- University of Buenos Aires (UBA), 1821
- Belize: University of Belize, 2000
- Bolivia: Royal and Pontificial Major University of St. Francis Xavier of Chuquisaca, 1624
- Brazil:
- Federal University of Amazonas (UFAM), 1909
- Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), 1912
- Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), 1920; successor to the Royal Academy of Artillery, Fortification and Design, 1792
- Chile:
- Universidad de Chile, 1842 September 17; successor to the "Real Universidad de San Felipe", created in 1738 and installated in 1747
- Colombia:
- Saint Thomas Aquinas University, 1580
- Pontifical Xavierian University, 1623
- Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Señora del Rosario - Universidad del Rosario, 1653
- Costa Rica: Universidad de Costa Rica, 1940
- Cuba: Universidad de La Habana, 1728
- Dominica: Ross University School of Medicine, 1978
- Dominican Republic: Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo, 1914; successor to the Universidad Santo Tomás de Aquino, 1558, which disappeared in 1823
- Ecuador: Central University of Ecuador, 1622, 19 May, as Real y Pontificia Universidad de San Gregorio Magno
- El Salvador: Universidad de El Salvador, 1841
- Grenada: St. George's University, 1976
- Guatemala: Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, 1676
- Guyana: University of Guyana, 1963
- Haiti: Universite d'Etat d'Haiti, 1820 and Université Adventiste d'Haïti, 1921
- Honduras: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras, 1847
- Jamaica: University of the West Indies, Mona 1948 and University of Technology, Jamaica 1958
- Mexico:
- Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, founded in 1540 as Colegio de San Nicolás Obispo (St. Nicholas Bishop College) and later in 1543 was appointed Real Colegio de San Nicolás Obispo (Royal St. Nicholas Bishop College) by King Carlos I of Spain; it was converted into a university on October 15, 1917.[71]
- Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, founded 1587 as Colegio del Espíritu Santo (it was sponsored by Jesuits until its conversion into a public college in 1825, and a public university in 1937)
- Universidad de Guadalajara, founded October 12, 1791; legally established October 12, 1925
- Panama: Universidad de Panamá, 1935
- Paraguay: Universidad Nacional de Asunción, 1889
- Peru:
- National University of San Marcos, Lima, May 12, 1551, as the Royal and Pontifical University of the City of the Kings. Also known as the "Dean university of the Americas"; This is the first officially established (privilege by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor) and the longest continuously operating university in the American continent.
- National University of San Antonio Abad in Cuzco or Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco - 1 June 1692
- Puerto Rico: University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, 1903
- Surinam: Anton de Kom University, 1968
- Uruguay: Universidad de la República, 1849
- Venezuela: Central University of Venezuela, 1721
Canada and the United States
- Canada:
- Université Laval, founded in 1663, chartered in 1852 (oldest post-secondary institution in Canada; founded as Séminaire de Québec)
- University of New Brunswick, founded in 1785, chartered in 1827 (oldest English-language post-secondary institution in Canada; founded as College of New Brunswick)
- University of King's College, founded in 1789, chartered in 1802 (oldest chartered university in Canada; founded as King's College)
- United States:
- Harvard University, founded in 1636, chartered in 1650
- The College of William & Mary, chartered in 1693
- Yale University, chartered in 1701, moved to current location in 1718
- Australia
- University of Sydney, 1850 (oldest in New South Wales, Australia and Oceania)
- University of Melbourne, 1853 (oldest in Victoria)
- University of Adelaide, 1874 (oldest in South Australia)
- University of Tasmania, 1890 (oldest in Tasmania)
- University of Queensland, 1909 (oldest in Queensland)
- University of Western Australia, 1911 (oldest in Western Australia)
- Australian National University, 1946 (oldest in Australian Capital Territory)
- University of New England, 1954 (first established outside of a state capital)
- Northern Territory University, 1989 (oldest in Northern Territory, amalgamated as part of Charles Darwin University in 2004)
- New Zealand
- University of Otago, 1869 (oldest in New Zealand and the South Island)
- University of Canterbury, 1873 (oldest in Christchurch)
- University of Auckland, 1883 (oldest in Auckland and the North Island)
- Victoria University of Wellington 1899 (oldest in Wellington)
See also
References
Notes
- ^ The statement that all universities are descended either directly or by migration from these three prototypes [Oxford, Paris, and Bologna] depends, of course, on one's definition of a university. And I must define a university very strictly here. A university is something more than a center of higher education and study. One must reserve the term university for—and I'm quoting Rashdall here—"a scholastic guild, whether of masters or students, engaged in higher education and study," which was later defined, after the emergence of universities, as "studium generale".
- ^ "No one today would dispute the fact that universities, in the sense in which the term is now generally understood, were a creation of the Middle Ages, appearing for the first time between the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. It is no doubt true that other civilizations, prior to, or wholly alien to, the medieval West, such as the Roman Empire, Byzantium, Islam, or China, were familiar with forms of higher education which a number of historians, for the sake of convenience, have sometimes described as universities.Yet a closer look makes it plain that the institutional reality was altogether different and, no matter what has been said on the subject, there is no real link such as would justify us in associating them with medieval universities in the West. Until there is definite proof to the contrary, these latter must be regarded as the sole source of the model which gradually spread through the whole of Europe and then to the whole world. We are therefore concerned with what is indisputably an original institution, which can only be defined in terms of a historical analysis of its emergence and its mode of operation in concrete circumstances."[5]
- ^ "Thus the university, as a form of social organization, was peculiar to medieval Europe. Later, it was exported to all parts of the world, including the Muslim East; and it has remained with us down to the present day. But back in the Middle Ages, outside of Europe, there was nothing anything quite like it anywhere."[6]
- ^ Educational institutions were closed in China starting on June 13, 1966 due to the Cultural Revolution. They remained closed for a year, or longer in some cases. See [1].
- ^ Note that the Court of Cassation of Belgium ruled 26 November 1846, that this new Catholic University of Louvain founded in Mechlin in 1834 does not have any links with the Old University of Louvain founded in 1425 and abolished in 1797 and can not be regarded as continuing it: "The Catholic University of Louvain can not be regarded as continuing the old University of Louvain", in, Table générale alphabétique et chronologique de la Pasicrisie Belge contenant la jurisprudence du Royaume de 1814 à 1850, Brussels, 1855, p. 585, column 1, alinea 2. See also: Bulletin Usuel des Lois et Arrêtés, 1861, p.166. To see also this rule of the Cour d'Appel of 1844: La Belgique Judiciaire, 28 july 1844 n° 69, p. 1 : "Cour d’Appel de Bruxelles. Deuxième chambre. L'université libre de Louvain ne représente pas légalement l’antique université de cette ville. Attendu que cette université (l’ancienne Université de Louvain), instituée par une bulle papale, de concert avec l'autorité souveraine, formait un corps reconnu dans l'État, ayant différentes attributions, dont plusieurs même lui étaient déléguées par le pouvoir civil; Attendu que ce corps a été supprimé par les lois de la république française; Attendu que l'université existant actuellement à Louvain ne peut être considérée comme continuant celle qui existait en 1457, ces deux établissemens ayant un caractère bien distinct, puisque l'université actuelle, non reconnue comme personne civile, n'est qu'un établissement tout-à-fait privé, résultat de la liberté d'enseignement , en dehors de toute action du pouvoir et sans autorité dans l'État...". "Court of Appeal of Brussels. Second Chamber. The Free University of Louvain is not legally representend the old university in that city. Whereas this University (formerly University of Louvain), established by a papal bull, together with the sovereign authority, formed a body recognized by the State, with different functions, many of which even he was delegated by the civil power. And whereas this body was removed by the laws of the French Republic; Whereas the currently existing university in Leuven can not be regarded as continuing that which existed in 1457, these two establishments with a distinct character, since the currently university is not recognized as legal person, and is institution is entirely private, the result of academic freedom, apart from any action without authority and power in the state."
- ^ Four university institutions were founded in the second quarter of the 19th century, but only two were officially recognised as universities and listed alongside the ancient universities in contemporary reference works such as the Penny Cyclopaedia.[44] All four now claim (implicitly) to have been universities from their foundation, with three claiming to be England's third oldest university and one England's fourth oldest university.
- ^ Established under the authority of the University of Durham Act 1832.[45] Recognised in the Municipal Corporations Act 1835 and the Established Church Act 1836.[46][47] Incorporated and confirmed by Royal Charter in 1837 and degrees recognised by the Attorneys and Solicitors Act 1837.[48][49] Claims to be third oldest university in England.[50][51]
- ^ Established by Royal Charter as degree awarding examining body for King's College London and University College London (see below), the London medical schools, and other institutions.[52] Degrees recognised by the 1837 Attorneys and Solicitors Act.[49] Claims to be third oldest university in England.[53]
- ^ Established by Deed of Settlement as an unincorporated joint stock company under the name of London University.[54] Unsuccessful in attempts to gain recognition as a University, but accepted charter of incorporation "not as a University but as a College" in 1836, and was affiliated to the University of London.[55][56] Claims to be third oldest university in England and "the first university to be founded in London".[57][58]
- ^ Established by Royal Charter as a College.[59] Claims to be fourth oldest university in England.[60]
- ^ Founded as a college in 1822 "to provide a liberal education to members of the clergy" and incorporated by royal charter in 1828.[63] Lost a court case in 1951 against the Ministry of Education seeking to receive recognition as a university.[64] Became a college of the University of Wales in 1971. Merged with Trinity University College to form the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David in 2010.[65] Described by newspapers as the oldest university in Wales.[66][67]
- ^ First college established by the Welsh University committee and a founding college of the University of Wales in 1893.[68] Became an independent university (as Aberystwyth University) in 2007.[69] Claims to be "Wales's oldest university".[70]
Citations
- ^ Hyde, J. K. (1991). "Universities and Cities in Medieval Italy". In Bender, Thomas (ed.). The university and the city: from medieval origins to the present. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 13–14. ISBN 978-0-19-506775-0.
- ^ Hunt Janin: "The university in medieval life, 1179–1499", McFarland, 2008, ISBN 0-7864-3462-7, p. 55f.
- ^ de Ridder-Symoens, Hilde: A History of the University in Europe: Volume 1, Universities in the Middle Ages, Cambridge University Press, 1992, ISBN 0-521-36105-2, pp. 47–55
- ^ Riché, Pierre (1978). Education and Culture in the Barbarian West: From the Sixth through the Eighth Century. Columbia: University of South Carolina Press. pp. 126–127, 282–298. ISBN 0-87249-376-8.
- ^ Verger, Jacques: "Patterns", in: Ridder-Symoens, Hilde de (ed.): A History of the University in Europe. Vol. I: Universities in the Middle Ages, Cambridge University Press, 2003, ISBN 978-0-521-54113-8, pp. 35–76 (35):
- ^ Makdisi, George: "Madrasa and University in the Middle Ages", Studia Islamica, No. 32 (1970), pp. 255–264 (264):
- ^ a b Rüegg, Walter: "Foreword. The University as a European Institution", in: A History of the University in Europe. Vol. 1: Universities in the Middle Ages, Cambridge University Press, 1992, ISBN 0-521-36105-2, pp. XIX–XX.
- ^ Rüegg, Walter (ed.): Geschichte der Universität in Europa, 3 vols., C.H. Beck, München 1993, ISBN 3-406-36956-1
- ^ Nuria Sanz, Sjur Bergan: "The heritage of European universities", 2nd edition, Higher Education Series No. 7, Council of Europe, 2006, ISBN, p.136
- ^ Adolphus Ballard, James Tait. (2010). British Borough Charters 1216-1307. Cambridge University Press.
- ^ "Introduction and history". University of Oxford. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
- ^ University of Salamanca, A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SALAMANCA.
- ^ Hilde De-Ridder Symoens (2003). Cambridge University Press (ed.). A History of the University in Europe: Universities in the Middle Ages. Vol. 1. p. 89. ISBN 978-0-521-54113-8.
- ^ "Early records". A brief history of the university. University of Cambridge. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
- ^ "800th anniversary". University of Cambridge. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
- ^ "News - Dettagli Notizia". News.unina.it. Retrieved 2013-08-15.
- ^ a b Times Higher Education - QS World University Rankings 2007 - World's oldest universities
- ^ International Handbook of Universities. International Association of Universities. 1959.
- ^ "History of CU - Charles University". Cuni.cz. Retrieved 2013-08-15.
- ^ "St Andrews: the Mediaeval University" (PDF). Retrieved 2013-07-03.
- ^ Quoted from: Chadwick, Owen. The Early Reformation on the Continent. Oxford University Press, 2003. Page 257.
- ^ "The University of Barcelona: 599 years of history. The most important dates and events". Universitat de Barcelona. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
- ^ "University of Basel - Swiss Universities Handbook - Top Universities in Switzerland". Universitieshandbook.com. Retrieved 2013-08-15.
- ^ "La Universidad de Santiago cumple 500 años". El Mundo (in Spanish). March 22, 1995.
- ^ "University of Ghana | Legon". Ug.edu.gh. Retrieved 2013-08-15.
- ^ Damtew Teferra; et al. (2003). African Higher Education: An International Reference Handbook. Indiana University Press. pp. 492–499. ISBN 978-0-253-34186-0.
- ^ "Fourah Bay College (1827 – )". BlackPast.org. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
- ^ "University of Cape Town / About the university / Introducing UCT". Uct.ac.za. Retrieved 2013-08-15.
- ^ "Historical Background". University of Khartoum. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
- ^ http://www.dhakacollege.edu.bd
- ^ Chittagong College
- ^ http://rc.edu.bd/
- ^ 須藤敏夫『近世日本釈奠の研究』(思文閣出版、2001年) ISBN 978-4-7842-1070-1
- ^ "東京大学 [東京大学の歴史]沿革略図". U-tokyo.ac.jp. Retrieved 2013-08-15.
- ^ 深瀬泰旦著 『天然痘根絶史』 恩文閣出版、2002年9月 ISBN 4-7842-1116-0
- ^ "Yangon - From stately city to crumbling symbol of isolation". Reuters. 27 November 2011.
- ^ "About Us". Tribhuvan-university.edu.np. Retrieved 2013-08-15.
- ^ "Official Website of Panjab University - Panjab University, Chandigarh, India". Puchd.ac.in. 1989-05-19. Retrieved 2013-08-15.
- ^ "Study in Romanian - Learn & Live Freely". Study-in-romania.ro. Retrieved 2013-08-15.
- ^ "Prezentarea Universităţii | Universitatea Alexandru Ioan Cuza" (in Romanian). Uaic.ro. 2013-04-23. Retrieved 2013-08-15.
- ^ "A significant history". Universitatea Babeş-Bolyai, Cluj-Napoca. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
- ^ "University of Bucharest - EN Home Page". Unibuc.ro. 1980-01-01. Retrieved 2013-08-15.
- ^ "Istanbul Technical University". Itu.edu.tr. Retrieved 2013-08-15.
- ^ "Universities". Penny Cyclopaedia. Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge: 21. 1843.
- ^ Acts Relating to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England. 1844. p. 389.
- ^ A Collection of Statutes of Practical Utility. p. 225.
nothing herein contained shall affect or interfere with the rights and privileges granted by charter or Act of Parliament to the University of Durham
- ^ A Collection of Statutes of Practical Utility. 1837. p. 148.
that the Bishop of Durham do in future hold the castle of Durham in trust for the University of Durham
- ^ "About Durham University - Royal Charter". Durham University. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
- ^ a b The Statutes of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. His Majesty's Statute and Law Printers. 1837. p. 277.
- ^ Durham University Undergraduate Prospectus 2015. Durham University. p. 6.
We are the third oldest university in England and one of the world's leading centres of scholarship and learning
- ^ "https://www.dur.ac.uk/about/shaped/". Retrieved 30 September 2015.
Henry VIII and Oliver Cromwell's attempts to formally establish a University for the North in Durham were subsumed by politics and North-South rivalries, and it was not until 1832, as the Prince-Bishopric declined lost his powers, was Durham finally endowed with the Castle and lands and granted degree awarding powers by the king as England's third University
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- ^ University of London – The Historical Record, 1836–1912. University of London. 1912. pp. 7–24.
- ^ "History". University of London. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
The University of London was founded by Royal Charter on 28 November 1836 and is the third oldest university in England.
- ^ The deed of settlement of the University of London.
- ^ "London University". Hansard. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
- ^ "University College London". Penny Cyclopaedia. Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge: 23–28. 1843.
- ^ "Living in London". University College London. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
London offers a scene and status unrivalled by any other city. UCL, England's third oldest university, is at the heart of what has been described as 'the knowledge capital of the world'.
- ^ Undergraduate Prospectus 2015. University College London. p. 7.
- ^ The charter and by-laws of King's College, London. 1830.
- ^ "About King's". King's College London.
- ^ . Queen's University Belfast http://www.qub.ac.uk/home/TheUniversity/AboutQueens/. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
Queen's University Belfast was founded as Queen's College in 1845, before becoming a university in its own right in 1908
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(help) - ^ "About Us". University of Wales. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
- ^ "The University of Wales Trinity Saint David celebrates Founders Day". University of Wales Trinity Saint David. 17 November 2014. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
- ^ "St David's College, Lampeter v Ministry of Education 1951" (PDF). Retrieved 2014-12-30.(PDF)
- ^ "University of Wales Trinity Saint David Receives Royal Approval". 23 July 2010. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
- ^ "End of an era for Lampeter, the oldest university in Wales". The Guardian. 17 April 2009. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
- ^ "Fears for the future survival of Wales' oldest university". Wales Online. 7 August 2009. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
- ^ "Early Days". Aberystwyth University. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
- ^ "College by the sea to College on the hill". Aberystwyth University. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
- ^ "Investing over £100m in your future". Aberystwyth University. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
Together they will ensure that Wales's oldest university will be well placed to survive the challenges of the twenty-first century – Aberystwyth's third century of existence.
- ^ http://www.umich.mx/historia.html.
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