List of the Oldest University in the World

Higher education institutions have existed for hundreds of years—and in some cases, for millennia—but not all of them have stood the test of time. Many of the oldest universities in the world have been abolished, divided into independent colleges, or completely modernized over the years. Do you realize that some universities date back more than a thousand years? Many of them were founded in the first half of the fifth century and are still in use today. Universities that have withstood the test of time and remain important centers of learning have a lot more to offer than just a degree. They stand for the enduring power of culture, ancestry, and the capacity for adaptation to historical change. What a blessing it would be to attend such a university. Let's investigate the survival journey of the oldest university in the world.

The University of Bologna

The University of Bologna is one of the oldest university in the world and is located in the Italian city of Bologna. It was established in 1088 by a group of students who formed a guild. Today, it is one of the most well-known colleges in Europe. The University of Bologna is ranked at 160th place in the QS World University Rankings 2021. Around 232-degree programs are currently available at the oldest university in the world in the fields of education, law, medicine, humanities, engineering and architecture, sociology, veterinary medicine, psychology, etc. The University of Bologna also operates a few specialized schools in the fields of veterinary medicine, cultural heritage, psychology, and health and law.

University of Oxford

The Institution of Oxford, which is the oldest university in England and the second oldest university in the world to still be in continuous operation, is ranked fifth in the QS World University Rankings for 2021. Evidence suggests that the university dates back to at least 1096. Currently, the institution has 6 permanent private halls and 39 independent colleges. The four academic divisions of social sciences, humanities, medical sciences and mathematics, and physical and life sciences make up the majority of the 100 major academic departments at this oldest university in the world. International students make up about 43% of all University of Oxford undergraduates.

University of Cambridge

The Institution of Cambridge is one of the top Oldest university in the world and the second-oldest university in England, having been founded in 1209. The Cambridge University Press, the second-largest university press in the world, is housed in the county town of Cambridge. The University of Cambridge is one of the top universities in the world right now, coming in at number seven in the QS World University Rankings 2021. The university has various faculties and departments in addition to 31 independent colleges and 6 schools. The Physical Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences, Clinical Medicine, Biological Sciences, and Technology are among the six schools at this Oldest University in the World.

University of Salamanca

King Alfonso IX created the Institution of Salamanca in 1218, making it the third operating oldest university in the world. It provides over 81 undergraduate and graduate courses across its 26 faculties and schools, which are made up of several departments. This best university also features a number of University Research Institutes that are committed to conducting research in the domains of science, the arts, and technology as well as providing specialized instruction. The social and legal sciences are the fields in which this Oldest University in the World offers the most popular courses. In the QS World University Rankings 2021, the university is ranked between 601 and 650th.

University of Padua

The second-oldest institution of higher learning in Italy and the fifth-oldest university in the world is the University of Padua. It was established in the northern Italian city of Padua in 1222. The university is divided into 8 major schools: the School of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, School of Economics and Political Science, School of Engineering, School of Human and Social Sciences and Cultural Heritage, Law School, School of Medicine, School of Psychology, and the School of Science. These 8 major schools collectively have 32 departments. According to the QS World University Rankings 2021, the University of Padua is ranked 234 overall.

University of Siena

The University of Siena is situated in the central Italian city of Siena and is one of the country's oldest public universities. According to the QS World University Rankings 2021, this Oldest University in the World now holds a ranking between 651 and 700. The University of Siena has a total of 15 departments, which are split into the four main categories of biomedical and medical sciences, economics, law, and political science, experimental sciences and literature, history, philosophy, and the arts, as well as a number of university-wide and departmental research centers. The most well-known courses offered by this oldest university in the world are those in law, economics, management, and medicine.

University of Florence

The Republic of Florence in Italy founded the University of Florence in 1321, and it is regarded as one of the best and oldest university in the world. The institution initially offered courses in Civil and Canon Law, Literature, and Medicine. In the QS World University Rankings 2021, the University of Florence is now ranked 432. This Oldest university in the world contains a total of 10 schools and 21 departments that provide undergraduate and graduate-level coursework. The 10 schools are the School of Agriculture, the School of Architecture, the School of Economics and Management, the School of Law, the School of Engineering, the School of Psychology, the School of Human Health, the School of Mathematical Sciences, the School of Physical and Natural Sciences, the School of Political Sciences, and the School of Humanities and Education.

University of Al-Karaouine

It is the oldest university in the world that still runs higher education facilities, and it is situated in Fez, Morocco. In 859, Fatima al-Fihri, an Arab lady, founded it together with a related madrasa. This institution initially offered classes in the Islamic religion, Arabic grammar, music, Sufism, medicine, and astronomy. The institution was incorporated into the state's educational system in 1947, and starting in 1957, classes in physics, chemistry, and foreign languages were offered. Students that attend the University of Al-Karaouine from Morocco, Islamic West Africa, and Muslim Central Asia still receive their education in accordance with a traditional method.

University of Vienna

One of the best and oldest university in the world, the University of Vienna was established in 1365. It is a public university in Austria that is well-known for its humanities programs. This oldest university in the world, which is ranked 150th in the QS World University Rankings for 2021, provides about 178 distinct degree programs. The university provides bachelor's and master's degree programs in the following disciplines: art, culture & media; economics; social sciences & law; education; philosophy; history; languages; cultures; mathematics; computer science & technology; natural sciences; psychology; health & sports; and society & politics. The fields of law and interdisciplinary legal studies, humanities, philosophy, education, business, economics, and statistics, as well as the natural and life sciences, all, provide Ph.D. degrees.

Depending on the programs, institutions, and nations you have applied for, the top Oldest university in the world has a unique admissions procedure. The oldest university in the world requires applicants to submit their native language or English language competence scores. Additionally to academic records.