List of oldest universities in continuous operation

This article contains a list of the oldest existing universities in continuous operation in the world. Inclusion in this list is determined by the date at which the educational institute met the traditional definition of a university used by academic historians[Note 1] although it may have existed as a different kind of institute before that time.[1] This definition limits the term "university" to institutions with distinctive structural and legal features that developed in Europe, and which make the university form different from other institutions of higher learning in the pre-modern world, even though these may sometimes now be referred to popularly as universities. Thus, for the list below, the university must have been founded before 1500 in Europe or be the oldest university derived from the medieval European model in a country or 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 abolished by the Revolution in 1793,[2] are excluded. Some institutions re-emerge, but with new foundations, such as the modern University of Paris, which came into existence in 1896 after the Louis Liard law disbanded Napoleon's University of France system.

Map of medieval universities in Europe

The University of Bologna (Italy) is the oldest university in continuous operation.

The word university is derived from the Latin: universitas magistrorum et scholarium, which approximately means "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 to be the first university.[3][4] The origin of many medieval universities can be traced back to the Christian cathedral schools or monastic schools, which appeared as early as the 6th century and were run for hundreds of years as such before their formal establishment as universities in the high medieval period.[5]

Other institutions of higher learning, such as those of ancient Greece, ancient Persia, ancient Rome, Byzantium, ancient China, ancient India and the Islamic world, are not included in this list owing to their cultural, historical, structural and juristic dissimilarities from the medieval European university from which the modern university evolved.[Note 2][Note 3].[8]

Medieval origins

The university as an institution was historically rooted in medieval society, which it in turn influenced and shaped:[8]

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. The process occurred in the following chronological order:[9]

• Southern and Western Europe (from the 11th or 12th century)
• Central and Northern Europe (from the 14th or 15th century)
• Americas (from the 16th century)
• Australia (from the 19th century)
• Asia and Africa (from the 19th or 20th century), with the exception of the Philippines, where the University of Santo Tomas was established in the 17th century.

Founded as universities before 1500

This list includes 39 medieval universities founded before 1500 which have retained institutional continuity since then. Several of these have been closed for brief periods: for example the University of Siena was closed 1805–1815 during the Napoleonic wars, and non-German speaking universities in the Czech Republic and Poland were closed during Nazi occupation, 1939–1945.

Year	University	Location		Notes
		Original	Current
1088 (charter granted 1158)	University of Bologna	Kingdom of Italy,  Holy Roman Empire	Bologna, Italy	The oldest university in the world. A 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 Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa the "Authentica habita", which settled the rules, rights and privileges of universities.[10]
1096–1167 (charter granted in 1248)[11]	University of Oxford	Kingdom of England	Oxford, United Kingdom	Oxford claims its founding ("...teaching existed ... in some form...") as early as 1096 and no later than 1167.[12] Rashdall takes 1167 as the date when Oxford became a studium generale.[13] In 1254, Pope Innocent IV granted Oxford a university charter by papal bull ("Querentes in agro"). Teaching was suspended in 1209 (due to the town's execution of three scholars[14]) and in 1355 (due to the St. Scholastica Day riot), but was continuous during the English Civil War (1642–1651), when the university was Royalist.
1134 (charter granted in 1218)	University of Salamanca	Kingdom of León	Salamanca, Spain	The oldest university in the Hispanic world. The university claims to have been founded by Alfonso IX of León in 1218 (although James Trager's People's Chronology sets its foundation date as 1134), making it the third or fourth oldest university in continuous operation.[15] It was the first European university to receive the title of "University" as such, which was granted by the King of Castile and León, Alfonso X in 1252, and ratified by the Pope Alexander IV in 1254. After being 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)[16]	University of Cambridge	Kingdom of England	Cambridge, United Kingdom	Founded by scholars leaving Oxford after a dispute caused by the execution of three scholars in 1209.[14] Its royal charter was granted in 1231.[17] The University takes 1209 as its official anniversary.[18] Inspired the establishment of Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, with the first college in the United States, Harvard University named after one of Cambridge University's alumni, John Harvard.
1222 (probably older)	University of Padua	Medieval commune of Padua	Padua, Italy	Founded by scholars and professors after leaving Bologna.[19] The university is conventionally said to have been founded in 1222 (which corresponds to the first time when the University is cited in a historical document as pre-existing, therefore it is quite certainly older) when a large group of students and professors left the University of Bologna in search of more academic freedom (Libertas scholastica). The first subjects to be taught were law and theology. The curriculum expanded rapidly, and by 1399 the institution had divided in two: a Universitas Iuristarum for civil law and Canon law, and a Universitas Artistarum which taught astronomy, dialectic, philosophy, grammar, medicine, and rhetoric. There was also a Universitas Theologorum, established in 1373 by Urban V. From the fifteenth to the eighteenth century, the university was renowned for its research, particularly in the areas of medicine, astronomy, philosophy and law. During this time, the university adopted the Latin motto: Universa universis patavina libertas (Paduan Freedom is Universal for Everyone). Nevertheless, the university had a turbulent history, and there was no teaching in 1237–61, 1509–17, 1848–50.
1224 (1258)	University of Naples Federico II	Kingdom of Sicily	Naples, Italy	The first public university,[20] 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. It is considered to be the oldest public and state university in the world.
1240–1357	University of Siena	Republic of Siena	Siena, Italy	Originally founded in 1240 by the Commune of Siena,[21] although Rashdall dates the proclamation of the Studium to 1246, when Frederick II tried to place a ban on scholars travelling to Bologna. Was granted some exemptions from taxes by Pope Innocent II in 1252, but closed shortly after when the scholars returned to Bologna. Attempted revivals in 1275 and (fed by further short-lived migrations of scholars from Bologna) in 1321 and 1338 were unsuccessful. Gained an Imperial Bull in 1357 "granting it de novo the 'privileges of a Studium Generale.'", but was not firmly established until "[i]n 1408 a fresh grant of privileges was obtained from Pope Gregory XII".[22] Closed temporarily in 1808–1815 when Napoleonic forces occupied Tuscany.[21] On 7 November 2015 the University celebrated its 775th anniversary.
1290	University of Coimbra[23]	Kingdom of Portugal	Coimbra, Portugal	It began its existence in Lisbon with the name Studium Generale (Estudo Geral). Scientiae thesaurus mirabilis ("the admirable treasure of knowledge"), the royal charter announcing the institution of the University, was dated 1 March 1290, although efforts had been made since at least 1288 to create this first university in Portugal. Papal confirmation was also given in 1290 (on 9 August of that year), during the papacy of Pope Nicholas IV.
	University of Macerata[23]	Papal States	Macerata, Italy	Founded in 1290, possibly as a private law school rather than a university. Unknown whether this was in continuous operation, but there is evidence for a school (without degree awarding powers) in 1518. After petitions from the commune to the Pope from 1534, bull establishing a studium generale issued in 1540.[24]
1293	University of Valladolid	Crown of Castile	Valladolid, Spain	Founded in the late 13th century (first documentary evidence 1293), probably by the city.[25][26]
	Complutense University of Madrid		Madrid, Spain	The University of Alcalá was founded by Sancho IV of Castile as Studium Generale in 1293 in Alcalá de Henares. It was granted a 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 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, its 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		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.
1343	University of Pisa	Republic of Pisa	Pisa, Italy	It was formally founded on 3 September 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	Kingdom of Bohemia,  Holy Roman Empire	Prague, Czech Republic	Three of four faculties closed in 1419. Merged with Prague Jesuit University (founded in 1562) and renamed Charles-Ferdinand University in 1652. Split into German and Czech parts in 1882; the Czech branch closed briefly during Nazi occupation (1939–1945) while the German branch closed permanently in 1945.[27]
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		Heidelberg, Germany	Founded by Rupert I, Elector Palatine. The oldest university in contemporary Germany and third oldest historically Germanophone university after Prague's Charles University and the University of Vienna.
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.[28]
1434	University of Catania	Kingdom of Sicily	Catania, Italy	The oldest in Sicily. Founded by Alfonso V of Aragon.
1450[29]	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		Freiburg, Germany	Temporarily transferred to Constance in 1686–98 and 1713–15.
1460	University of Basel		Basel, Switzerland	Founded in 1460 (Schola Basiliensis), the University of Basel is the oldest university in Switzerland.[30]
1472	Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich		Munich, Germany	Founded in Ingolstadt in 1472; with a Papal Bull obtained in 1459 from Pope Pius II by Louis the Rich,[31] transferred to Landshut in 1800, moved to Munich in 1826.
1477	Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen		Tübingen, Germany
	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.
	University of Santiago de Compostela	Kingdom of Galicia, Crown of Castile	Santiago de Compostela, Spain	The university traces its roots to 1495, when a school was opened in Santiago.[32] 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. Many universities were established at institutes of learning such as schools and colleges that may have been founded significantly earlier but were not classed as universities upon their foundation; this is normally described in the notes for that institution. In some countries (particularly the US and those influenced by its culture), degree-granting higher education institutions that would normally be called universities are instead called colleges, in this case both the oldest institution that would normally be regarded as a university and the oldest institution (if different) to actually be called a university are given. In many parts of the world the first university to have a presence was an institution based elsewhere (often the University of London via the affiliation of a local college); where this is different from the first locally established university both are given.

Africa

Location		Current name	Year	Notes
Current	Original
Algeria (Algiers)	French Algeria (Algiers)	University of Algiers	1909
Angola (Luanda)	Portuguese Angola (Luanda)	Agostinho Neto University	1962	Founded as Estudos Gerais Universitários de Angola. Was renamed Universidade de Luanda (University of Luanda) in 1968. After Angolan independence from Portugal in 1975, the institution was renamed the University of Angola (Universidade de Angola). In 1985 it was renamed Agostinho Neto University, in honour of Agostinho Neto, the first President of Angola.
Benin (Abomey-Calavi)	Republic of Dahomey (Abomey-Calavi)	University of Abomey-Calavi	1970	Originally the University of Dahomey. Renamed the National University of Benin in 1975 and took its current name in 2001.
Botswana (Gaborone, Francistown, Maun)		University of Botswana	1964 (as part of the University of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland; university 1982)
Burkina Faso (Ouagadougou)	Republic of Upper Volta (Ouagadougou)	University of Ouagadougou	1974
Burundi (Bujumbura)	Kingdom of Burundi (Bujumbura)	University of Burundi	1964
Cameroon (Yaoundé)	Federal Republic of Cameroon (Yaoundé)	University of Yaoundé	1962	In 1993 following a university reform the University of Yaounde was split into two (University of Yaoundé I and University of Yaoundé II) following the university branch-model pioneered by the University of Paris.
Cape Verde (Praia)		Jean Piaget University of Cape Verde	2001	as a result of the merger of the two previously existing higher education establishments (ISE and ISECMAR)
Central African Republic (Bangui)		University of Bangui	1969
Chad (N'Djamena)		University of N'Djamena	1971	Originally the University of Chad, renamed the University of N'Djamena 1994.
Comoros (Moroni)		University of the Comoros	2003[33]
DR Congo (Kinshasa)	Belgian Congo (Kinshasa)	University of Kinshasa	1954	Originator established as the Lovanium University, affiliated to the Catholic University of Leuven. Merged into the National University of Zaire in 1971 then demerged under its current name in 1981.
Congo (Brazzaville)	People's Republic of the Congo (Brazzaville)	Marien Ngouabi University	1971	Founded as the University of Brazzaville in 1971, changed to current name in 1977.
Djibouti (Djibouti City)		University of Djibouti	2006
Egypt (Giza)	Khedivate of Egypt (Cairo)	Cairo University	1908	The oldest university in Egypt and second oldest higher education institution (after Al-Azhar University, which was founded as a madrasa c. 970 and became a university in 1962)
Equatorial Guinea (Malabo)		National University of Equatorial Guinea	1995
Eritrea (Mai Nefhi)		Eritrea Institute of Technology	2003	Founded following the closure of the University of Asmara, which had been established as a college in 1958
Eswatini (Kwaluseni)	Swaziland (Kwaluseni)	University of Eswatini	1964 (as part of the University of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland; university 1982	Originally established as the University of Swaziland, changed to current name in 2018
Ethiopia (Addis Ababa)	Ethiopian Empire (Addis Ababa)	University of Addis Ababa	1950 (as college offering degree courses; university 1962)	The university was originally called the University College of Addis Ababa in 1950, offering courses leading to degrees of the University of London. It became Haile Selassie I University in 1962, named after the Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I. The institution received its current name in 1975.
Gabon (Libreville)		Omar Bongo University	1970	Founded as the National University of Gabon and took current name in 1978
Gambia (Serekunda)		University of the Gambia	1999
Ghana (Accra)	Gold Coast (Accra)	University of Ghana	1948 (as affiliate college of the University of London; university 1961)[34]	Founded as the University College of the Gold Coast, an affiliate college of the University of London which supervised its academic programmes and awarded the degrees. It gained full university status in 1961.
Guinea (Conakry)		Gamal Abdel Nasser University of Conakry	1962[35]
Guinea-Bissau (Bissau)		Universidade Colinas de Boé	2003
		Universidade Amílcar Cabral	2003
Ivory Coast (Abidjan)		Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny	1964 (as main campus of the University of Abidjan; university 1996)
Kenya (Nairobi)	Colony and Protectorate of Kenya (Nairobi)	University of Nairobi	1961 (as affiliate college of the University of London; college 1956; university 1970)	Oldest in Kenya. Established 1956 as the Royal Technical College. Renamed the Royal College of Nairobi when it became affiliated to the University of London 1961. On 20 May 1964, was renamed University College Nairobi when it was admitted as a constituent college of inter-territorial University of East Africa. In 1970, it transformed into the first national university in Kenya and was renamed the University of Nairobi.[36] Egerton University, which was established as a farm school in 1939 but did not become a university until 1987, claims to be "the oldest institution of higher learning in Kenya".[37]
Kenya (Nairobi)	Colony and Protectorate of Kenya (Nairobi)	Egerton University	1939 as a farm school; 1987 as university	Founded in 1939, and was originally named Egerton Farm School. It was established by a land grant of 740 acres (3 km^2) by Maurice Egerton, 4th Baron Egerton of Tatton. The school's original purpose was to prepare white European youth for careers in agriculture. By 1955, the name had changed to Egerton Agricultural College. A one-year certificate course and a two-year diploma course in agriculture were offered. In 1958, Lord Egerton donated another 1,100 acres (4.5 km^2) of land. Soon afterwards, the college opened its doors to people of all races from Kenya and other African countriese 1956. In 1979, with support from the Government of Kenya and USAID, the college expanded yet again, becoming part of the University of Nairobi system. In 1987, the college was recognized as a chartered public university.[38][39]
Lesotho (Roma)		National University of Lesotho	1964 (as part of the University of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland; college 1945; university 1975
Liberia (Monrovia)		University of Liberia	1951 (college 1863)	building on Liberia College founded in 1863
Libya (Benghazi & Tripoli)	Kingdom of Libya (Benghazi)	University of Libya	1956	A royal decree was issued on 15 December 1955 for the founding of the university. The first faculty to be formed was the Faculty of Literature in Benghazi, and the royal palace "Al Manar", from which King Idris I of Libya declared its independence on 24 December 1951, was assigned to be the campus. 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 (Antananarivo)	Colony of Madagascar and Dependencies (Antananarivo)	University of Antananarivo	1961 (as university; institute for advanced studies 1955)	Founded December 1955 as the Institute for Advanced Studies in Antananarivo. Renamed the University of Madagascar in 1961.
Malawi (Zomba, Blantyre & Lilongwe)		University of Malawi	1965
Mali (Bamako)		University of Bamako	1996
Mauritania (Nouakchott)		University of Nouakchott Al Aasriya	1981
Mauritius (Moka)	British Mauritius (Moka)	University of Mauritius	1965	The Faculty of Agriculture is the oldest faculty of the university. It was founded in 1914 as the School of Agriculture in 1914, and in 1966 it was incorporated into the newly established University of Mauritius.
Morocco (Fez)	Idrisid Kingdom of Morocco (Fez)	University of Al Quaraouiyine	1965 (as university; madrasa 859)	Traces its origins back to the al-Qarawiyyin mosque and associated madrasa founded by Fatima al-Fihri in 859, and was named a university in 1965. It is the oldest continuously operating institution of higher learning in the world,[40][41] though only became an official university in 1965.
Morocco (Rabat)		Mohammed V University	1957	Founded as University of Rabat
Mozambique (Maputo)	Portuguese Mozambique (Lourenço Marques)	Eduardo Mondlane University	1962	Estudos Gerais Universitários de Moçambique
Namibia (Windhoek)		University of Namibia	1992
Niger (Niamey)		Abdou Moumouni University	1974	Originally the University of Niamey
Nigeria (Ibadan)	Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria (Yaba, Lagos)	University of Ibadan	1949 (as affiliated college of the University of London; college 1932; university 1962)	Founded as Yaba College in 1932 in Yaba, Lagos, as the first tertiary educational institute in Nigeria. Yaba College was transferred to Ibadan, becoming the University College of Ibadan, in 1948[42] and was a university college associated with the University of London. Independent university since 1962.[43]
Nigeria (Nsukka)	Federation of Nigeria (Nsukka)	University of Nigeria, Nsukka	1960[44]	First university in Nigeria.
Rwanda (Kigali)	Rwanda (Kigali)	University of Rwanda	1963	Founded as the National University of Rwanda in 1963; incorporated into the University of Rwanda 2013
São Tomé and Príncipe (São Tomé)		University of São Tomé and Príncipe	2014 (as university; polytechnic school 1996)
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (Tifariti)		University of Tifariti	2013
Senegal (Dakar)	French Senegal (Dakar)	Cheikh Anta Diop University	1957
Seychelles (Anse Royale)		University of Seychelles	2009
Sierra Leone (Freetown)	Sierra Leone Colony and Protectorate (Freetown)	Fourah Bay College	1876 (as affiliated college of Durham University; college 1827; part of University of Sierra Leone 1967)	Oldest university-level institution in Africa. Founded as a missionary school to train teachers in 1827. Became an affiliated college of Durham University in 1876 and awarded first degrees in West Africa in 1878. Became part of the federal University of Sierra Leone in 1967.[45][46]
Somalia (Mogadishu)	Italian Somaliland (Mogadishu)	Somali National University	1954
South Africa (Pretoria)	Cape Colony (Cape Town)	University of South Africa	1873	Originally founded as the University of the Cape of Good Hope in 1916 it was transformed into the federal University of South Africa (Unisa) and relocated to Pretoria.
South Sudan (Juba)	Democratic Republic of the Sudan (Juba)	University of Juba	1975
Sudan (Khartoum)	Republic of the Sudan (Khartoum)	University of Khartoum	1956 (as university; college 1902)[47]	Renamed from Gordon Memorial College, founded 1902, when it gained full university status in 1956
Tanzania (Dar es Salaam)	Tanganyika Territory (Dar es Salaam)	University of Dar es Salaam	1961 (as affiliated college of the University of London; part of the University of East Africa 1963; university 1970)
Togo (Lomé)		University of Lomé	1970	Originally the University of Benin, changed to current name in 2001
Tunisia (Tunis)	Umayyad Caliphate (Tunis)	University of Ez-Zitouna	1961 (as university; madrasa c. 737)	traces its origins back to the Al-Zaytuna madrasa founded around 737, it gained university status in 1961
Uganda (Kampala)	British Protectorate of Uganda (Kampala)	Makerere University	1963 (as part of the University of East Africa; college 1922; university 1970)
Zambia (Lusaka)		University of Zambia	1966
Zimbabwe (Harare)	Southern Rhodesia (Salisbury)	University of Zimbabwe	1952 (as affiliated college of the University of London; university 1970)	Founded in 1952 as University College of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. University of Rhodesia from 1970 and University of Zimbabwe from 1980

Asia

Location		Current name	Year	Notes
Current	Original
Afghanistan (Kabul)	Kingdom of Afghanistan (Kabul)	Kabul University	1931	Founded in 1931, formally opened 1932.
Bahrain (Sakhir, Isa Town)		University of Bahrain	1986
Bangladesh (Dhaka)	British Raj (Dhaka, Eastern Bengal and Assam)	University of Dhaka	1921	First university in Bangladesh, opened 1 July 1921.[48]
Bhutan (Thimphu)		Royal University of Bhutan	2003
Brunei (Bandar Seri Begawan)		University of Brunei Darussalam	1985
Cambodia (Phnom Penh)	French Protectorate of Cambodia (Phnom Penh)	Royal University of Fine Arts	1918
China	Song Empire (Yuelu Mountain, Changsha, Hunan)	Hunan University	1903 (as university; academy 976)	Known in Chinese as 湖南大学. The university was originally called the Yuelu Academy in 976 and was converted into Hunan Institute of Higher Learning (with university status) in 1903. It was later renamed Hunan Normal College, Hunan Public Polytechnic School, and finally Hunan University in 1926.[49]
	Qing Empire	Peking University	1898	First modern national university in China, which original name was Imperial University of Peking (京师大学堂). It is the successor of Guozijian, or Imperial College, which was founded in 1306.
		Tianjin University	1895	The first higher education institution in China. It was established in 1895 as Imperial Tientsin University (天津北洋西學學堂) and later Peiyang University (北洋大學). In 1951, after restructuring, it was renamed Tianjin University, and became one of the largest multidisciplinary engineering universities in China.
		Nanjing University	1888	Traces its origins to a Confucian institution Taihsueh (太學), which was founded in 258. Known in Chinese as Jinling University (金陵大学). Was a private university later merged with the public University of Nanjing (南京大学). First institution in China to use the English term "university". Educational institutions were closed in China on 13 June 1966 due to the Cultural Revolution, reopening in July 1967.[50]
East Timor		National University of East Timor	2000
Hong Kong	Hong Kong	The University of Hong Kong	1911 (as university; college 1887)	Founded as the Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese in 1887, incorporated as a university in 1911
India (Serampore)	Danish India (Serampore)	Serampore College	1827 (as university; college 1818)	Incorporated and granted university status and the right to award degrees by royal charter of Frederick VI of Denmark on 23 February 1827, endorsed by the Bengal Government Act 1918.[51]
India (Kolkata)	British Raj (Calcutta, Bengal Presidency)	University of Calcutta	1857	First full-fledged multi-disciplinary university in South Asia. The University of Bombay and the University of Madras were subsequently established in the same year
India (Mumbai)	British Raj (Bombay, Bombay Presidency)	University of Mumbai		Called the University of Bombay until 1996.
India (Chennai)	British Raj (Madras, Madras Presidency)	University of Madras
Indonesia	Dutch East Indies	University of Indonesia	1924 (as hogeschool; medical school 1851; university 1947)	Incorporates the medical school founded as the Dokter-Djawa School Batavia in 1851, which became the Geneeskundige Hogeschool in 1927 and the Rechts Hogeschool founded in 1924.
		Bandung Institute of Technology	1920	Founded as Technische Hogeschool. Renamed in 1959.
Iran	Imperial State of Persia	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)
Iraq	Kingdom of Iraq	University of Baghdad	1956	the Iraqi Royal College of Medicine was established in 1928
Israel	Ottoman Empire	Technion – Israel Institute of Technology	1912 (opened 1924)	founded in 1912, but formal teaching began in 1924
	Occupied Enemy Territory Administration	Hebrew University of Jerusalem	1918
Japan	Empire of Japan	University of Tokyo	1877	Previous names are University of Tokyo (1877–1886), Imperial University (1886–1897), and Tokyo Imperial University (1897–1947). Its origins include a private college of Confucian studies founded by Hayashi Razan in 1630,[52] Tenmonkata (The Observatory, 1684)[53] and Shutōsho (Smallpox Vaccination Centre, 1849).[54] The university was established in 1877 by the merger of three institutions: Shoheiko (Japanese and Chinese Literature, established 1789), Yogakusho (Occidental Studies, established 1855) and Shutosho (Vaccinations, established 1860), originally as Tokyo University before becoming the Imperial University and then Tokyo Imperial University before reverting to its original name after World War II.[55]
		Keio University	1920 (as university; school for Dutch studies 1858)	Founded as a "school for Dutch studies" in 1858. College with three university departments (literature, law and economics) established 1890. Accredited as a university by the Japanese government in 1920.[56]
		Ryukoku University	1876 (as "Daikyoko (Great School)"; school 1639; university 1922	Traces its origins to a school for Buddhist monks of the Nishi Hongan-ji denomination founded in 1639. Assumed its current name and became a university under the University Ordinance in 1922.[57]
Jordan		University of Jordan	1962
Kazakhstan	Soviet Union (Kazakh Autonomous Socialist Soviet Republic)	Al-Farabi Kazakh National University	1933
Kuwait		University of Kuwait	1966
Kyrgyzstan	Soviet Union (Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic)	Kyrgyz National University	1951 (as university; institute of education 1925)
Laos		National University of Laos	1996
Lebanon	Ottoman Empire	American University of Beirut	1866 (as degree-awarding college; university 1920)	Originally Syrian Protestant College, chartered by the State of New York, took current name in 1920
		Saint Joseph University	1872
Macau	Macau	University of Macau	1981	established as University of East Asia in 1981, renamed 1991
Malaysia	British Malaya	University of Malaya	1905	Established as Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States Government Medical School on 13 July 1905 in Singapore
Maldives		Maldives National University	1998 (as degree awarding college; university 2011)	Established in 1998 as the Maldives College of Higher Education, establishing its first degree course in 2000. Became the Maldives National University in 2011.[58]
Mongolia	Mongolian People's Republic	National University of Mongolia	1942
Myanmar	Burma	Rangoon University	1878[59]
Nepal	Nepal	Tribhuvan University	1959[60]
North Korea	Korea (Provisional People's Committee for North Korea)	Kim Il-sung University	1946
Oman		Sultan Qaboos University	1986[61]
Pakistan	British Raj (Punjab)	University of the Punjab	1882	Established by British colonial authorities in 1882 as the first university in what would become Pakistan.[62]
		Government College University, Lahore	1864 (as affiliated college of the University of Calcutta; university 2002)	Established as Government College, Lahore, 1864. Became an independent university in 2002.[63]
Palestine	Israeli Military Governorate	Bethlehem University	1973[64]
Philippines	Captaincy General of the Philippines	University of Santo Tomas	1645 (college 1611)	Founded on 28 April 1611 by the Order of Preachers and raised to university status by Pope Innocent X in 1645. The National Historical Commission of the Philippines recognizes it as the oldest university in the country as well as in Asia.[65]
Qatar		Qatar University	1977[66]
Saudi Arabia		King Saud University	1957
Singapore	Straits Settlements	National University of Singapore	1905	Founded as Straits and Federated Malay States Government Medical School
South Korea	Joseon	Sungkyunkwan University	1895 (as university; royal institution 1398)	Sungkyunkwan was established in 1398 as the highest educational institution of the Joseon Dynasty. In 1895, Sungkyunkwan was reformed into a modern three-year university after the national state examination was abolished the previous year. It was again reorganized as Sungkyunkwan University in 1946 at the end of the Japanese occupation of Korea.
Sri Lanka	Ceylon	University of Colombo	1942	Formed in 1942 as the University of Ceylon by the amalgamation of University College Colombo (established 1921) and Ceylon Medical College (established in 1870). Was part of the University of Sri Lanka 1972–1978.[67]
Syria	State of Damascus	University of Damascus	1923	founded in 1923 through the merger of the School of Medicine (established 1903) and the Institute of Law (established 1913)
Taiwan	Japanese Taiwan	National Taiwan University	1928	Founded as Taihoku (Taipei) Imperial University
Tajikistan	Soviet Union (Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic)	Tajik National University	1947
Turkmenistan	Soviet Union (Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic)	Turkmen State University	1950 (as university; pedagogical institute 1931)
Thailand		Chulalongkorn University	1917 (as university; college 1899)
United Arab Emirates		United Arab Emirates University	1976
Vietnam	French Indochina	Hanoi Medical University	1902
		Vietnam National University, Hanoi	1904	Originally the University of Indochina, first full subject university in Vietnam.
Yemen	North Yemen	Sana'a University	1970

Europe

While Europe had 143 universities in 1789, the Napoleonic wars took a heavy toll, reducing the number to 83 by 1815. The universities of France were abolished[2] and over half of the universities in both Germany and Spain were destroyed. By the mid 19th century, Europe had recovered to 98 universities.[68]

Location		Current name	Year	Notes
Current	Original
Albania (Tirana)	People's Socialist Republic of Albania (Tirana)	University of Tirana	1957	originally established in 1957 as the State University of Tirana through merging of five existing institutes of higher education, the most important of which was the Institute of Sciences, founded in 1947
Albania (Shkodër)	People's Socialist Republic of Albania (Shkodër)	University of Shkodër "Luigj Gurakuqi"	1957
Armenia (Yerevan)	First Republic of Armenia (Alexandropol)	Yerevan State University	1919
Austria (Graz)	Archduchy of Austria,  Holy Roman Empire (Graz)	University of Graz	1585 (continuous from 1827)	founded in 1585 by Archduke Charles II of Austria. Closed 1782–1827.
Austria (Innsbruck)	Archduchy of Austria,  Holy Roman Empire (Innsbruck)	University of Innsbruck	1669 (continuous from 1826)	Originally established as a Jesuit school in 1562 before becoming a university in 1669. Closed as a university from 1782 to 1826.
Azerbaijan (Baku)	Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (Baku)	Baku State University	1919	In 1930, the government ordered the University shut down in accordance with a reorganization of higher education, and the University was replaced with the Supreme Pedagogical Institute. In 1934 the University was reestablished.
Belgium (Flemish Region) (Ghent)	United Kingdom of the Netherlands (Ghent)	Ghent University	1817	established in 1817 by William I of the Netherlands
Belgium (Wallonia) (Liège)	United Kingdom of the Netherlands (Liège)	University of Liège	1817	established in 1817 by William I of the Netherlands
Belgium (Flemish Region and Wallonia) (Leuven and Louvain-la-Neuve)	Belgium (Mechelen)	KU Leuven and UCLouvain	1834	Founded as the Catholic University of Belgium in Mechlin on 8 November 1834 by the bishops of Belgium. Moved to Leuven on 1 December 1835, after the suppression of the State University of Leuven, where it took the name Catholic University of Louvain.[Note 4] In 1968, it split to form two institutions: Dutch-speaking Katholieke Universiteit te Leuven and French-speaking Université catholique de Louvain.
Belgium (Brussels – Capital Region)	Belgium (Brussels)	Université libre de Bruxelles and Vrije Universiteit Brussel	1834	Founded in 1834 as the Université libre de Belgique (Free University of Belgium). In 1836, it changed its name to Université libre de Bruxelles. On 1 October 1969, the university was split into two sister institutions: the French-speaking Université libre de Bruxelles and the Dutch-speaking Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Both names mean Free University of Brussels in English, so neither uses the English translation as it is ambiguous.
Bosnia and Herzegovina (Sarajevo)	Yugoslavia (Sarajevo)	University of Sarajevo	1949
Bulgaria (Sofia)	Principality of Bulgaria (Sofia)	Sofia University	1904 ("higher pedagogical course" from 1888)[70]
Croatia (Zagreb)	Kingdom of Croatia (Habsburg) (Zagreb)	University of Zagreb	1669	History of the University began on 23 September 1669, when the Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I issued a decree granting the establishment of the Jesuit Academy of the Royal Free City of Zagreb. Decree was accepted at the Council of the Croatian Kingdom on 3 November 1671.
Czech Republic (Olomouc)	Bohemian crown lands,  Holy Roman Empire (Olomouc)	Palacký University	1573	Originally known as Olomouc Jesuit University.
Denmark (Copenhagen)		Technical University of Denmark	1829	was founded in 1829 as the College of Advanced Technology
Estonia (Tartu)	Kingdom of Sweden (Dorpat)	University of Tartu	1632 (continuous operation since 1802)	founded as The Academia Gustaviana in the then Swedish province of Livonia. It was closed from 1710 to 1802.
Finland (Helsinki)	Kingdom of Sweden (Åbo)	University of Helsinki	1640	founded as the Royal Academy of Turku (Swedish: Kungliga Akademin i Åbo. It was shut down by the Great Fire of Turku in 1827. The University of Helsinki was founded the next year, in 1828, and it started operating in 1829. The University of Helsinki sees itself as continuation of the Royal Academy of Turku.
France (Paris)	Kingdom of France (Paris)	Sorbonne University	1150–1250 (continuous operation since 1896)	Emerged around 1150 as a corporation associated with the cathedral school of Notre Dame de Paris, it was considered the second-oldest university in Europe. Officially chartered in 1200 by Philip II (Philippe-Auguste) of France and recognised in 1215 by Pope Innocent III, it was often nicknamed after its theology collegiate institution, College of Sorbonne, founded about 1257 by Robert de Sorbon and charted by Saint Louis, King of France. It was abolished in 1793 by the French Revolution,[2] and was replaced by Napoléon on 1 May 1806 by the University of France system. In 1896 the Law of Liard allowed the founding of a new University of Paris. In 1970, it split into 13 separate universities and numerous specialised institutions of higher education. In 2018, Sorbonne University was formed from the Paris-Sorbonne University (created from the faculty of humanities of the University of Paris) and Pierre and Marie Curie University (created from the faculty of science and medicine of the University of Paris).[71][72]
France (Occitanie)	County of Toulouse (Toulouse)	Université fédérale de Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées	continuous operation since 1896	Founded by papal bull in 1229 as the University of Toulouse. It closed in 1793 due to the French Revolution, and reopened in 1896. In 1969, it split into three separate universities and numerous specialised institutions of higher education. It no longer represents a single university, as it is now the collective entity which federates the universities and specialised institutions of higher education in the region.
France (Montpellier)	Kingdom of Majorca (Montpellier)	University of Montpellier Paul Valéry University Montpellier 3	continuous operation since 1896	The world's oldest medicine faculty was established before 1137 and operated continuously through the French Revolution. University by Papal Bull in 1289. It closed in 1793 due to the French Revolution, and reopened in 1896. The university of Montpellier was officially re-organised in 1969 after the students' revolt. It was split into its successor institutions the University of Montpellier 1 (comprising the former faculties of medicine, law, and economy), Montpellier 2 (science and technology) and Montpellier 3 (social sciences, humanities and liberal arts). On 1 January 2015, the University of Montpellier 1 and the University of Montpellier 2 merged to form the newly recreated University of Montpellier.[73][74] Meanwhile, the Paul Valéry University Montpellier 3 remains a separate institution.
France (Aix-en-Provence, Marseille)	County of Provence,  Holy Roman Empire (Aix)	Aix-Marseille University	continuous operation since 1896	Founded in 1409 as the University of Provence, and in 1792, dissolved, along with twenty-one other universities. In 1896 it was reformed as the University of Aix-Marseille, one of 17 self-governing regional universities financed by the state. In 1968 it was divided into two institutions, the University of Provence (Aix-Marseille I) as a school of languages and letters, and the University of Aix-Marseille (Aix-Marseille II) as primarily a school of medicine and sciences. In 1973 the University of Law, Economics and Science (Aix-Marseille III) was added. In 2012 the three universities merged and was renamed Aix-Marseille University.
France (Lille)	County of Flanders, Spanish Netherlands (Douai)	University of Lille	1559	Founded by Philip II of Spain in 1559 as the University of Douai. It closed in 1795 due to the French Revolution, and reopened in 1808. In 1887, it was transferred as University of Lille 27 km away from Douai. In 1971, it split into three separate universities. At the beginning of 2018, the three universities merged to form again the University of Lille.
Germany (Wittenberg Halle)	Holy Roman Empire (Wittenberg)	Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg	1502	created in 1502 as the University of Wittenberg. Merged with University of Halle (founded 1691) in 1817.
Georgia (Tbilisi)	Democratic Republic of Georgia (Tbilisi)	Tbilisi State University	1918	founded in 1918 as Tbilisi State University
Gibraltar		University of Gibraltar	2015[75]
Greece (Athens)	Kingdom of Greece (Athens)	National and Kapodistrian University of Athens	1837[76]
Hungary (Budapest)	Kingdom of Hungary (Nagyszombat)	Eötvös Loránd University	1635	Founded in 1635 by the archbishop and theologian Péter Pázmány as the University of Nagyszombat. Renamed Royal Hungarian University of Science in 1769. The university was moved to Buda (today part of Budapest) in 1777. The university moved to its final location in Pest (now also part of Budapest) in 1784 and was renamed Royal University of Pest. It has been renamed three times since then: University of Budapest (1873–1921), (Hungarian Royal Pázmány Péter University (1921–1950), and since 1950, Eötvös Loránd University.
Iceland (Reykjavík)	Denmark (Reykjavík)	University of Iceland	1911
Ireland (Dublin)	Kingdom of Ireland (Dublin)	University of Dublin	1592	Effectively synonymous with Trinity College, Dublin
Italy (Urbino)	Kingdom of Italy,  Holy Roman Empire (Urbino)	University of Urbino	1506
Kosovo (Prishtina)	Yugoslavia (Prishtina)	Universiteti i Prishtinës	1969
Latvia (Riga)	Russian Empire (Riga)	Riga Technical University	1862	first established as Riga Polytechnicum in 1862
Liechtenstein (Vaduz)	Liechtenstein (Vaduz)	University of Liechtenstein	1961	successor to the Abendtechnikum Vaduz in 1992
Lithuania (Vilnius)	Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (Vilnius)	Vilnius University	1579 (continuous operation since 1919)	founded as the Jesuit Academy (College) of Vilnius; the university was closed from 1832 to 1919 and again in 1943–44
Luxembourg (Esch-sur-Alzette)	Luxembourg (Esch-sur-Alzette)	University of Luxembourg	2003
Malta (Msida)	Hospitaller Malta (Valletta)	University of Malta	1769	first established as the Collegium Melitense by the Jesuits in 1592
Netherlands (Leiden)	Dutch Republic (Leiden)	Leiden University	1575
North Macedonia (Skopje)	Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Skopje)	Ss. Cyril and Methodius University of Skopje	1946
Norway (Oslo)	Denmark–Norway (Christiania)	University of Oslo	1811	founded as The Royal Frederik's University
Poland (Wrocław)	Bohemian crown lands,  Holy Roman Empire (Breslau)	University of Wrocław	1702	Founded in 1702 by Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor as the university Leopoldina. It has been renamed five times since then: Universitas Literarum Vratislaviensis in 1742 by King Frederick II of Prussia, Silesian Friedrich Wilhelm University in Breslau in 1811, University of Breslau in the second half of the 19th century, Bolesław Bierut university between 1952 and 1989, and since 1989, University of Wrocław.
Poland (Warsaw)	Kingdom of Poland,  Russian Empire	University of Warsaw	1816	founded as a Royal University on 19 November 1816, when the Partitions of Poland separated Warsaw from the older University of Kraków (founded in 1364).
Portugal (Porto)	Kingdom of Portugal (Porto)	University of Porto	1836 (university 1911)	first established as Polytechnic University of Porto and Medical-Surgical School of Porto since 1836
Portugal (Lisbon)	Portuguese Republic (Lisbon)	University of Lisbon	1911	successor to the Lisbon General Study, 1290
Romania (Iași)	United Principalities (Iași)	Alexandru Ioan Cuza University	1860[77][78]	successor to the Princely Academy from Iaşi, 1642, and Academia Mihăileană, 1835[79]
Romania (Bucharest)	United Principalities (Bucharest)	University of Bucharest	1864[77][80]	successor to the Saint Sava College, 1694
Romania (Cluj-Napoca)	Principality of Transylvania (Kolozsvár)	Babeș-Bolyai University	1518 (continuous operation since 1919)[81][77][82]	academic successor of Academia / Universitas Claudiopolitana (1581), continued by Franz Joseph University (1872), King Ferdinand I University (1919), and Babeș-Bolyai University in its current form (1959).
Russia (Kaliningrad)	Duchy of Prussia (Königsberg)	Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University	1967 (claims continuity with the University of Königsberg, 1544)	After the World War II, Königsberg was renamed Kaliningrad, the University of Königsberg (the Albertina) was closed, and the new Russophone Kaliningrad State Pedagogical Institute used the campus of the Albertina from 1948 to 1967. In 1967, the institute received the status of a university and became known as Kaliningrad State University.
Russia (Saint Petersburg)	Russian Empire (Saint Petersburg)	Saint Petersburg State University	1724 (continuous from 1819)	claims to be the successor of the university established along with the Academic Gymnasium and the Saint Petersburg Academy of Sciences on 24 January 1724 by a decree of Peter the Great. In the period between 1804 and 1819, Saint Petersburg University officially did not exist
Russia (Moscow)	Russian Empire (Moscow)	Moscow State University	1755	Founded in 1755 as Imperial Moscow University
Serbia (Belgrade)	Kingdom of Serbia (Belgrade)	University of Belgrade	1808	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 (Bratislava)	Czechoslovakia (Bratislava)	Comenius University	1919
Slovenia (Ljubljana)	Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (Ljubljana)	University of Ljubljana
Spain (Seville)	Spain (Seville)	University of Seville	1505
Kingdom of Sweden (Lund)		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 (Lausanne)	Old Swiss Confederacy (Lausanne)	University of Lausanne	1537
Switzerland (Zurich)		University of Zurich	1833 (incorporating colleges dating to 1525)	University established in 1833, taking in the Carolinum theology college, dating to 1525, and colleges of law and medicine.
Turkey (Istanbul)	Ottoman Empire (Constantinople)	Istanbul Technical University	1773 (university 1928)	Founded in 1773 as Imperial School of Naval Engineering by the Ottoman Sultan Mustafa III, but became a state university in 1928.[83]
		Istanbul University	1453 (university 1933)	Its ultimate origins lie in a madrasa and institute of higher education founded by the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II in 1453; was reformed to Western style of education with multiple faculties of sciences in 1846; and gained university status in 1933.
Ukraine (Kharkiv)	Russian Empire (Kharkiv)	V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University	1804
Ukraine (Lviv)	Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (Lwów)	Lviv University	1661 (continuous from 1850)	operated from 1661 to 1773, 1784–1805, 1817–1848, 1850-
United Kingdom ( Scotland) (Edinburgh)	Kingdom of Scotland (Edinburgh)	University of Edinburgh	1582/3[84]	Formally established as the Tounis College (Town's College) under the authority of a Royal Charter granted to the Town of Edinburgh by James VI of Scotland on 14 April 1582.[85][86] It opened its doors to students in October 1583.[87]
United Kingdom ( England) (Durham)		Durham University	1832[88]	Claims to be the third oldest university in England.[89][90] Listed by Rüegg in A History of the University in Europe as meeting standard criteria for recognition as a university from 1832[88] Established under the authority of the University of Durham Act 1832.[91] Recognised as a university in the Municipal Corporations Act 1835 and the Established Church Act 1836.[92][93] Incorporated and confirmed by Royal Charter in 1837 and degrees granted equal privileges with those of Oxford and Cambridge by the Attorneys and Solicitors Act 1837.[94][95]
United Kingdom ( England) (London)		University of London	1836[88]	Claims to be the third oldest university in England on the basis of the date of its charter.[96] Listed by Rüegg as meeting standard criteria for recognition as a university from 1836[88] 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.[97] Degrees granted equal privileges with those of Oxford and Cambridge by the Attorneys and Solicitors Act 1837.[95] University College London (founded 1826; charter 1836) and King's College London (charter 1829[98]) claim to be the third and fourth oldest universities in England,[99][100][101] but did not offer degree courses prior to the foundation of the University of London[102] and did not gain their own degree awarding powers until 2005 and 2006 respectively.[103][104] They are listed by Rüegg as colleges of the University of London rather than as a universities.[88]
United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) (Belfast)	United Kingdom (Ireland) (Belfast)	Queen's University Belfast	1845[88] (as college offering degree courses; university 1908)	Oldest university in Northern Ireland. Listed by Rüegg as meeting standard criteria for recognition as a university from 1845.[88] Founded 1845, as a university college offering courses leading to degrees of the Queen's University of Ireland then the Royal University of Ireland, gained university status in 1908.[105]
United Kingdom ( Wales) (Cardiff)	United Kingdom ( Wales) (Aberystwyth, Bangor, Cardiff)	University of Wales	1893[106]	Founded by Royal Charter in 1893 as a federal university with three constituent colleges – Aberystwyth, Bangor and Cardiff – the university was the first and oldest university in Wales. Listed by Rüegg as meeting standard criteria for recognition as a university from 1893[106]
United Kingdom ( Wales) (Carmarthen, Lampeter, Swansea)	United Kingdom ( Wales) (Carmarthen, Lampeter)	University of Wales Trinity Saint David	1852 (limited degree awarding powers; as college 1822)	The university was founded as St David's College (Coleg Dewi Sant) in 1822 "to provide a liberal education to members of the clergy" and was incorporated by royal charter in 1828.[107] It was renamed St David's University College (Coleg Prifysgol Dewi Sant) in 1971, when it became part of the federal University of Wales. It was again renamed University of Wales, Lampeter in 1996 in line with moves elsewhere in the University of Wales. In 2010 it merged with Trinity University College to form the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David.[108] Although described as the oldest university in Wales,[109][110] it was not listed by Rüegg as meeting standard criteria for a university[111] and lost a court case in 1951 against the Ministry of Education in which it sought to receive recognition as a university.[112]
United Kingdom ( Wales) (Aberystwyth)	United Kingdom ( Wales) (Aberystwyth)	Aberystwyth University	1872[106] (as college offering degree courses; university 2007)	Founded in 1872 as University College Wales, offering courses leading to degrees of the University of London, it became a founder member of the University of Wales in 1894.[113] It claims to be "Wales's oldest university",[114] but was listed by Rüegg as a college of the University of Wales rather than as a university.[106] It became an independent university (as Aberystwyth University) in 2007.[115]

Latin America and the Caribbean

Location		Current name	Year	Notes
Current	Original
Anguilla  Antigua and Barbuda  Bahamas  Barbados  Belize  British Virgin Islands  Cayman Islands  Dominica  Grenada  Jamaica  Montserrat  St. Kitts and Nevis  St. Lucia  St. Vincent and the Grenadines  Trinidad and Tobago  Turks and Caicos	Jamaica	University of the West Indies	1948 (as affiliated college of the University of London; university 1962)	First campus opened in Jamaica as the University College of the West Indies associated with the University of London in 1948. Gained independent university status in 1962.
Argentina	Spanish Empire	National University of Córdoba	1613	the oldest university in Argentina
Belize	Belize	University of Belize	2000
Bolivia	Spanish Empire	University of Saint Francis Xavier	1624	Founded in 1624 by order of the Spanish King Philip IV, and with the support of Pope Innocent XII. Full name is The Royal and Pontificial Major University of Saint Francis Xavier of Chuquisaca
Brazil		Federal University of Rio de Janeiro	1920 (precursors trace back to 1792)	Created in 1920 as "University of Rio de Janeiro".[116] Has as precursors the Polytechnic School (founded as Royal Academy of Artillery, Fortification and Design in 1792),[117] the National College of Medicine (founded as Academy of Medicine and Surgery in 1808)[118] and by the National College of Law (founded in 1891).[119][120]
		University of São Paulo	1934 (precursors trace back to 1827)	Its precursor, the São Paulo Law School, dates from 1827.[121]
		Federal University of Pernambuco	1946 (precursors trace back to 1827)	Its precursor, the Olinda Law School, dates from 1827.
		Federal University of Bahia	1946 (precursors trace back to 1808)	Its precursor, the Medical School of Bahia, was founded in 1808, when the Portuguese court transferred to Rio de Janeiro.
		Federal University of Paraná	1912 (closed in 1920, refounded in 1951)	Closed as university in 1920. Refounded as university in 1951.
		Federal University of Amazonas	1913 (closed in 1926, refounded in 1962, precursors trace back to 1909)	Has as precursor the Free University School of Manaós, founded on 17 January 1909. Became the University of Manaós in 1913. Closed 1926, reformed 1962 as the University of Amazonas.[122]
Chile		Universidad de Chile	1842	successor to the "Real Universidad de San Felipe", created in 1738. The oldest university in Chile
Colombia	Spanish Empire	Saint Thomas Aquinas University	1580	Founded in 1580 by the Dominican Order. It is the second-oldest university in the Americas.
Costa Rica		University of Costa Rica	1940	The first institution dedicated to higher education in Costa Rica was the University of Saint Thomas (Universidad de Santo Tomás), which was established in 1843. That institution maintained close ties with the Roman Catholic Church and was closed in 1888 by the progressive and anti-clerical government of President Bernardo Soto Alfaro as part of a campaign to modernize public education. The schools of law, agronomy, fine arts, and pharmacy continued to operate independently. In 1940, those four schools were re-united to establish the modern UCR, during the reformist administration of President Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia.
Cuba	Spanish Empire	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	Gran Colombia	Central University of Ecuador	1826	Real y Pontificia Universidad de San Gregorio Magno
El Salvador	El Salvador	Universidad de El Salvador	1841	founded on 16 February 1841, by the President Juan Lindo,
Grenada		St. George's University	1976
Guatemala	Spanish Empire	Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala	1676 (as colegio in 1562)	The San Carlos University was the fourth university founded in The Americas, when Guatemala was part of the Viceroyalty of New Spain. It had five major transformations but never ceased teaching. It grew out of the Colegio de Santo Tomas de Aquino (a high school), founded in 1562 by Bishop Francisco Marroquin. The university's founder was King Charles II of Spain and it was consecrated by Pope Innocent XI in 1687. Activities were interrupted after Central American independence in 1821.
Guyana	British Guiana	University of Guyana	1963
Haiti	Haiti	Universite d'Etat d'Haiti	1820
	United States occupation of Haiti	Université Adventiste d'Haïti	1921
Honduras		Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras	1847
Mexico		Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México	1910	traces its origins back to Real y Pontificia Universidad de México (1551–1865) but no institutional continuity
		Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo	1917 (as university; college 1540)	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 15 October 1917.[123]
Panama		Universidad de Panamá	1935
Paraguay		Universidad Nacional de Asunción	1889
Peru	Spanish Empire	National University of San Marcos	1551	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 Americas.
Peru		National University of Saint Augustine	1828
Puerto Rico		University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras	1903	Original campus of the University of Puerto Rico
Suriname	Kingdom of the Netherlands	Anton de Kom University	1968
Uruguay		Universidad de la República	1849
USVI		University of the Virgin Islands	1967 (degree awarding; college 1962; university 1986)	Established by act of legislature in 1962. Opened in 1963 as the College of the Virgin Islands, offering only associate degrees. First bachelor's degree programmes 1967. Became the University of the Virgin Islands in 1986.[124]
Venezuela	Spanish Empire	Central University of Venezuela	1721

Northern America

In the United States, the colonial colleges awarded degrees from their foundation, but none were formally named as universities prior to the American Revolution, leading to various claims to be the first university in the United States. The earliest Canadian institutions were founded as colleges, without degree awarding powers, and gained degree granting authority and university status later.

Location		Current name	Year	Notes
Current	Original
Bermuda		University of the West Indies	2009 (Bermudian membership)	First campus opened in Jamaica as the University College of the West Indies associated with the University of London in 1948. Gained independent university status in 1962. Bermuda joined the university in 2009.[125] Bermuda has also had a community college, Bermuda College, since 1974.
Canada (Halifax, Nova Scotia)	Nova Scotia (Windsor)	University of King's College	1802 (as university; collegiate school 1789)	First established as the King's Collegiate School in Windsor, Nova Scotia in 1789. Received a royal charter in 1802 establishing it (after the model of Trinity College, Dublin) as "The Mother of an University", making it the oldest chartered university in Canada.[126][127] A fire destroyed the original university in 1920, and the institution relocated to Halifax.
Greenland (Nuuk)	Greenland (Nuuk)	University of Greenland	1989 (as university; college 1983)	Established 1983, took name University of Greenland 1987, formal university status by legislation since 1 September 1989.[128]
Saint Pierre and Miquelon		Institut Frecker	1975 (part of Memorial University of Newfoundland)[129]
United States (Cambridge, Massachusetts)	Massachusetts (Cambridge)	Harvard University	1636	Founded in 1636, named Harvard College in 1639, chartered in 1650. Oldest institution of higher education in the United States. Officially recognised as a university by the Massachusetts Constitution of 1780.[130][131]
United States (Williamsburg, Virginia)	Virginia (Middle Plantation)	The College of William & Mary	1693 (continuously since 1888)	Chartered in 1693. Claims to be the "first college to become a university" in the US, in 1779.[132] Closed during two different periods—from 1861 to 1869 due to the Civil War and postwar financial problems, and 1882 to 1888 due to continued financial difficulties.
United States (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)	Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania Colony)	University of Pennsylvania	1755	Traces its roots to a charity school founded in 1740. Collegiate charter 1755. Claims to be "the first American institution of higher education to be named a university" (in 1779).[133]

Oceania

Location		Current name	Year	Notes
Current	Original
Australia ( New South Wales)	New South Wales	University of Sydney	1850	oldest in New South Wales, Australia and Oceania
Australia ( Victoria)	Victoria	University of Melbourne	1853	oldest in Victoria
Australia ( South Australia)	South Australia	University of Adelaide	1874	oldest in South Australia
		University of South Australia	1889	UniSA was formed in 1991 by the merger of the South Australian Institute of Technology with three South Australian College of Advanced Education campuses
Australia ( Tasmania)	Tasmania	University of Tasmania	1890	oldest in Tasmania
Australia ( Queensland)		University of Queensland	1909	oldest in Queensland
Australia ( Western Australia)		University of Western Australia	1911	oldest in Western Australia
Australia ( Australian Capital Territory)		Australian National University	1946	oldest in Australian Capital Territory
Australia ( Northern Territory)		Charles Darwin University	1989	Founded as University of the Northern Territory in 1989, merged with other institutions to form Charles Darwin University in 2003.[134]
Cook Islands  Fiji  Kiribati  Marshall Islands  Nauru  Niue  Samoa  Solomon Islands  Tokelau  Tonga  Tuvalu  Vanuatu	Colony of Fiji	University of the South Pacific	1968	Regional university, operating in (and owned by the governments of) 12 Pacific island nations. Main campus in Fiji.
Guam	Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands	University of Guam	1965 (degree granting; college 1952; university 1968)
Papua New Guinea	Papua New Guinea	University of Papua New Guinea	1965	first university in Papua New Guinea
New Zealand ( Otago)	New Zealand (Dunedin)	University of Otago	1869	oldest in New Zealand
New Zealand (Auckland)		University of Auckland	1883	oldest in the North Island

See also

• List of Islamic seminaries#List of oldest Islamic seminaries
• List of medieval universities
• List of oldest institutions in continuous operation

References

Notes

1. '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".'[1]
2. "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."[6]
3. "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."[7]
4. 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." According to Arlette Graffart,[69] only the State University of Louvain, deserves to be considered as the "resurrection of this one" : "elle seule ⟨the State University of Louvain⟩ et non point celle qui vit le jour en 1834 à l'initiative des évêques de Belgique, c'est-à-dire l'université catholique de Malines devenue de Louvain l'année suivante".

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