In the United States , there ’s Harvard University . In the U.K. , there ’s Oxford University . Each is the old in its several country , though neither has been around quite as long as theoldest university in the public .
Read on to learn more about the disk - holding university and other ancient institutions .
Guinness Weighs In
Not everyone agrees on what qualifies as the world ’s oldest university . Guinness World Records , however , has bestowed the claim of " sometime higher - learning institution " to the University of al - Qarawiyyin .
" The oldest existing , and continually work educational institution in the macrocosm is the University of Karueein , founded in 859 A.D. in Fez , Morocco , " according toGuinness . " The University of Bologna , Italy , was founded in 1088 and is the oldest one in Europe . "
6 of the Oldest Universities in the World
Aside from the University of al - Qarawiyyin , here are six prestigious university that are also among the quondam .
6. University of Salamanca
King Alfonso IX ground the University of Salamanca in 1218 . The school — Spain ’s oldest institution — was the first to offer international studentslanguage classes .
In 1254 , the same twelvemonth that King Alfonso X issued a royal charter to grant " the University twelve chairs of learning,“Pope Alexander IVgave the schoolhouse a General School condition . Theuniversity townof Salamanca is on the UNESCO World Heritage Site listing .
5. University of Cambridge
Unlike the U.K. ’s debate over the third oldest university , it is easy to nail their second oldest higher education institution : the University of Cambridge .
in the first place established in 1209 , it has famous alumni , such as Lord Byron , who entered in 1805.Bishop of Elyset up the school ’s first college in 1284 . The school welcomes both local and international students , with the latter grouping make up40 percentof the student body .
4. University of Oxford
The University of Oxford say that with its founding in1096 , it is the " oldest university in the English - verbalize world " and that for nine centuries , it has offered uninterrupted pedagogy . The school began to admit women " as full members " of the school in 1920 .
3. University of Bologna
Started before the French Revolution and the ending of the Middle Ages , theUniversity of Bolognais the " oldest University in the westerly world . " The university , founded in 1088 , start as the " outcome of the spontaneous and informal go-ahead of a few educatee , " fit in to the university itself .
2. Hunan University
This China - found university started atYuelu Academyin 976 C.E. It received university status in 1937 and comply the shibboleth “ try verity from facts , and dare to be pioneers . ”
1. Al-Azhar University
This Cairouniversityis the " earth ’s largest Muslim scholarly spiritual establishment and the 2nd university establish in the world , " according to the educational institution .
