Studying in one of the world's oldest university is an amazing experience for students. They are not only a hub of knowledge but have the latest modern education system to meet the updating requirements. This blog lists 10 such universities, so, let's check it out!
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Do you know that the world’s oldest university is the "The University of Bologna in Italy and there are around 25,000 universities across the globe.”
While in most countries, universities are the ones that have government recognition, there are also countries like the United States which have no specific definition for them. The most interesting of all facts is that the oldest university has been in operation since 1088.
Many universities have been demolished or renovated due to the changing times and modernization. However, there is a list of a few oldest universities in the world that stand tall with development. They have caught up with the new time education system and are still carrying the legacy of the good old traditions.
The old and the golden universities are a treasure of knowledge and witness of history. They are like wisdom wells from where you will not be returning empty-handed. In this blog, we will look into some such prestigious and legendary yet the oldest university in the world, in detail
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You already know that the University of Bologna is the oldest university in the world. But, there are many other decades-old universities that also have a major historical significance. The list below mentions some of the oldest universities in the world, known to humans:
The oldest university in the world which is still operating is definitely Al-Qarawiyyin in Fez, Morocco. It was founded in 859 AD by Fatima al-Fihri as the first university of the world. It was meant for various subjects ranging from Islamic studies, theology, astronomy, linguistics, to mathematics. This university is famous in the Arab world for providing Islamic knowledge and Arabic literature across Africa and Europe.
As the name suggests, it's in Bologna, Italy and was founded by a group of scholars in 1088 AD. It is known as the birthplace of modern higher education. Thus, it provides courses on law, medicine, arts, business, humanities, engineering, and social sciences. This is one of the world's oldest universities that is still in operation. Which means it hosts students for teaching and awarding degrees.
Though the founder is not known, this university has been in existence since 1096 AD. This England-based university offers courses in Humanities, science, business, social sciences, law, and medicine. It is known to have produced 30 UK Prime Ministers and 70+ Nobel Prize Winners. Hence, it is a world class university with consistent high rankings from global ranking bodies like QS and THE.
This university of Paris is in the city of Love, which was founded by King Philip II in 1150 AD. It has also been one of the most influential universities in the world. You can mainly pursue subjects like theology, philosophy, science, arts, social sciences, and law. It was ranked 60 in Academic Ranking of World Universities by Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
Another oldest university in the world is the University of Cambridge in the UK. It was founded by some scholars in 1209 AD. This is known to provide 120+ Nobel Laureates and offers courses like, social sciences, business, technology, humanities, engineering, and medicine. It s one of the most selective universities in the world with highly competitive students. Hence, the acceptance rate of Cambridge University is also around 20% only,
The King Alfonso IX of Leon in 1218 AD founded this university in Spain. It is known to have helped in Christopher Columbus' Voyages as he took guidance from the scholars here. Moreover, this was the first university to offer Spanish language classes to international students. It also offers courses in engineering, law, social sciences, linguistics, and medicine. It is also one of the oldest universities in Spain.
This Italy-based university was founded in 1222 AD by a group of scholars. It is a historic university for being the first to allow women to earn degrees. The great Galileo Galilei, the one who discovered the rings on Saturn, was a professor here. It is known to offer courses in astronomy, philosophy, arts, law, physics, and economics. The university is also famous for teaching and research with business and networking.
This is the oldest university in the world to train administrators. It was founded by Emperor Frederick II in 1224 AD for the Holy Roman Empire. It offers courses in arts, medicine, science, technology, engineering and law. This university was founed by a head of state unlike others which were a product of corporate initiatives. It was built to put an end to the dominance of universities of Northern Italy.
This Portuguese university founded by King Denis of Portugal in 1290 AD has one of the most beautiful libraries, Joanina Library. It is known so well for its historic and cultural richness that it is also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It provides courses in Humanities, science, law, medicine, economics, and engineering. It offers more than 40 UG courses and 127 masters programs. This university also offers 79 PhD courses to students.
This is a government-founded university in Italy. It is the oldest publicly funded university in the country which is located in Tuscany. This is also famous for its law and medicine faculties for centuries. It offers courses in subjects like law, medicine, humanities, political science, economics, and engineering. Siena itself is a very student friendly city that is rich in history and art.
These are the world's oldest university lists that you should know about. If you haven't found the one yet, then you can try our university finder to get your preferred results. However, if you are planning to get into one of these prestigious institutions, then, use our course finder to know what suits you well and apply for it.
In this blog, you’ve checked out the world’s oldest university and the list of top 10 across the globe. Many of these universities are also known for providing good quality education. Hopefully this list helped you learn about some of the oldest universities in the world. If you are planning to get into any of these or any university abroad and need any help, our study abroad consultants are here to guide you.
The term itself is explanatory in that it was established long back so it is called the world's oldest that has yet in operation continuously since it was founded.
The criteria for the world's oldest university are:
Yes, these universities take international students and have specific programs and scholarships as well to aid them in a smooth education abroad.
The world's oldest universities offer 30+ courses including the top ones such as medicine, engineering, law, social sciences, linguistics, humanities, mathematics, science, theology, and philosophy.
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