The 13 Oldest Universities in the World

J.R.R. Tolkien. Alan Turing. Robert Walpole. All these incredible thinkers have one thing in common: they attended one of the oldest universities on Earth.

Humans have been learning for millions of years. When we first roamed the Earth, learning was centered on survival skills. What fruits can people eat? How do you stay dry during rainfall? Nowadays, learning looks a lot different. By the time they learn to read, children can search a web browser for answers.

Formal education has played a role in learning for many centuries. Students gathered to learn under the teachings of professors, studying philosophy, science, medicine, law, and more. Now there are thousands of colleges and universities around the world for avid learners to pursue higher education. So many important thinkers have emerged from these schools, bringing knowledge to the world that wasn’t previously there.

To understand how far education has come, it’s interesting to consider how long ago it dates back. The oldest university of all dates back to the year 1088. That’s nearly 1,000 years ago! Browse this list for a look at the 13 oldest universities in the world. Each of these universities is still operating today and offers a rich look at the past to their students and visitors.

13. University of Pavia

Established in 1361, the University of Pavia, which is located in Pavia, Italy, is the thirteenth-oldest university in the world. Despite its age, the school has maintained a high quality of teaching and presently ranks in the top 300 universities in the globe!

The school has a city campus instead of one, primary hub, with various buildings located around the city of Pavia. The university offers all levels of higher education, with the majority of its doctorate programs geared towards English. It’s a beautiful school with a rich history.

12. University of Siena

The twelfth-oldest university in the world is the University of Siena, located in Siena, Italy. This university was formalized for the second time in 1357. Arguably, this school could take the eighth spot, as it was originally opened in 1246. But it closed six years later and remained closed for about a hundred years.

The University of Siena is a public university whose students account for a third of the population of the city. Before its second closing, Pope John XXI worked at the university from 1215-1277 as a Professor of Medicine. That’s some impressive alumni!

11. Charles University

Located in Prague, Czech Republic, Charles University takes the eleventh spot among the oldest universities in the world. This university opened its doors in 1347, though it has had an up-and-down history since then.

Charles University is also known as the University of Prague and has multiple locations throughout the Czech Republic. It’s a well-ranked school, holding a spot in the top 300 universities in the world. A significant amount of the faculties of Charles University are dedicated to medicine.

10. University of Perugia

Another Italian university on the list is the University of Perugia. This university opened in 1308, making it the tenth-oldest university in the world that is still in operation today. The school is located in Perugia, Italy.

Students at the University of Perugia can study a broad variety of topics, including science, economics, philosophy, and more.

9. University of Valladolid

Located in Valladolid, Spain is the University of Valladolid. This school was founded in 1293, making it the ninth-oldest university in the world. This school has a large student body, with just over 26,000 undergraduate students in attendance.

The public university has some incredible architecture on the grounds, including an emblem of the school on the front of the School of Law. The University of Valladolid offers beautiful grounds and a strong education.

8. University of Coimbra

Heading south to Portugal is the eighth-oldest university on Earth. The University of Coimbra opened in 1290 in Coimbra, Portugal. This public research institution was initially opened in Lisbon but settled in Coimbra in 1537. It’s the oldest university in the country.

This university teaches a broad selection of fields in all three levels of higher education: bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate. 15% of the student body is made up of international students. The university is another with astounding architecture, including a beautifully sculpted palace gate on campus.

7. University of Naples Federico II

The University of Naples Federico II was first founded in 1224. It suffered a few periods of closure, but since then has become the oldest state-funded university in continuous operation. It’s located in Naples, Italy.

This was the first university ever founded by a head of state. The University was founded by Frederick II, the Holy Roman Emperor and king of Sicily. The University of Naples Federico II also suffered some closings and re-openings, opening for good in 1508. While the school is seventh in terms of all oldest universities, it is thought to be the oldest secular university in the world.

6. University of Padua

It’s not uncommon for new universities to be born after a descent from another university. The University of Padua emerged after an exit from the University of Bologna. This university was created in 1222 and is located in Padua, Italy.

72,000 students attended this university in 2021, working towards undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral degrees. The original students of the University of Padua left the University of Bologna to pursue a higher level of academic freedom. The institution studies a wide variety of topics, primarily in the liberal arts category.

5. University of Salamanca

Located in Salamanca, Spain is the fifth-oldest university in the world. The University of Salamanca was founded in 1218. It’s a public research university with a large international draw, hosting students from all around the globe.

The University of Salamanca once carried a wicked reputation for teaching black magic and sorcery. Presently, the university is home to more standard affairs, including a rich language study program.

4. University of Cambridge

A well-known historic institution, the University of Cambridge is the fourth-oldest university in the world. It’s located in Cambridge, United Kingdom, and was founded in 1209. It’s also another instance of a body of students descending from one university to create another. After a political scandal at Oxford in 1209, scholars created the University of Cambridge.

The University of Cambridge hosts a wide variety of academic departments and schools. The campus is also home to over one hundred libraries and eight museums. Regardless of whether you seek to attend this institution or not, the campus is incredibly enlightening to visit. It holds a reputation as one of the best institutions in the world.

3. University of Oxford

Cambridge’s rival, the University of Oxford, is the third-oldest university in the globe. This school was founded in Oxford, United Kingdom in 1200 (though unofficial teaching began in 1096). The University of Oxford houses almost forty colleges, each of which are self-governing.

The University of Oxford is another city campus, lacking a central hub. However, the layout includes certain departments in clustered areas. The campus is also home to some incredible gardens, including the oldest botanic garden in the United Kingdom. The University of Oxford is one of the most esteemed universities in the world.

2. The University of Paris

In second place for the oldest university on earth is the University of Paris! The University of Paris is located in Paris, France. Robert de Sorbon, who was a clergyman, founded the university and, in order to begin working on the school, he had to ask the King of France for permission! The school, and now its subparts, has a reputation for offering exceptional humanities programs.

1. University of Bologna

And finally, the oldest university in the world is in Bologna, Italy! The school was officially founded in 1088. However, unofficial teaching started at the school nearly a hundred years prior to its founding, so the university is even older than it appears! The University of Bologna is another public research university. The university is home to eleven schools on varying topics from economics to medicine.

Europe clearly has a monopoly on the oldest formal universities in the world. From the Czech Republic to Italy and beyond, Europe is home to the oldest institutions of learning the globe has ever seen. However, learning can take place everywhere. Go visit one of these ancient universities and take in the history that is ever-present within their campus!

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Poohz/iStock via Getty Images