List of oldest universities in continuous operation

The word "university" is derived from the Latin universitas magistrorum et scholarium, which approximately means "community of teachers and scholars."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 [...].From the early modern period onwards, the university 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.St Andrews was the obvious choice — "for centuries, it was the heart of the Scottish church and political activities"[50] and "the seat of the greatest bishopric in Scotland and location of a monastery noted as a centre for learning".[51] A charter of privilege was bestowed upon the society of masters and scholars by the Bishop of St Andrews, Henry Wardlaw,[52] on 28 February 1412.[53] Wardlaw then successfully petitioned the Avignon Pope Benedict XIII to grant the school university status by issuing a series of papal bulls, which followed on 28 August 1413.[130][131] 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.[143] (Río de la Plata) (Córdoba) (Charcas) (La Plata) (New Granada) (Santa Fe de Bogotá) (New Granada) (Santa Fe de Bogotá) (Cuba) (Havana) (Gran Colombia) (Quito) (Guatemala) (Guatemala) (Peru) (Lima) (Venezuela) (Caracas) 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.
A 1911 map of medieval universities in Europe
The University of Bologna in Bologna , Italy, founded in 1088, the world's oldest university in continuous operation [ 1 ]
A dining hall at the University of Oxford in Oxford , England, the world's second-oldest university and oldest in the English-speaking world
A partial view of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge , England, the world's third-oldest university
Established in 1224 by Frederick II during his rule as King of Sicily , the University of Naples Federico II in Naples , Italy is the world's oldest state-funded university in continuous operation. [ 2 ] [ 3 ]
Ancient higher-learning institutionsmedieval universitiesUniversity of BolognaBolognaUniversity of OxfordOxfordEnglish-speaking worldUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeFrederick IIKing of SicilyUniversity of Naples Federico IINaplesuniversityEuropeUniversity of ParisFrench RevolutionNapoleonUniversity of FranceCatholiccathedral schoolsmonastic schoolshigh medieval periodancient GreeceAfricaancient Persiaancient RomeByzantiumancient Chinaancient IndiaIslamic worldUniversity of al-QarawiyyinUniversity of Ez-ZitounaAl-Azhar UniversitymosquesmadrasasMedieval universityinstitutionmedievaladministrative autonomymedieval Europeearly modern periodall other higher-learning institutionsPhilippinesUniversity of Santo TomasList of medieval universitiesUniversity of Sienathe Napoleonic warsCzech RepublicPolandNazi occupationKingdom of ItalyHoly Roman EmpireBarbarossanationKingdom of EnglandUnited Kingdomuniversity therepapal legateNiccolò de RomanischancellorHenry IIImonastic housesindultPope Gregory IXstudium generalepapal bullUniversity of SalamancaKingdom of LeónSalamancaAlfonso IXPope Alexander IVUniversity of PaduaElena Cornaro PiscopiaKingdom of SicilyHoly Roman EmperorSicilyUniversity of CoimbraKingdom of PortugalCoimbraPortugalLisbonUniversity of ValladolidCrown of CastileValladolidUniversity of PerugiaPapal StatesPerugiaPope Clement VCharles UniversityKingdom of BohemiaPragueBohemian ReformationThirty Years' WarRepublic of SienaCommuneInnocent IIPope Gregory XIINapoleonicTuscanyUniversity of PaviaDomain of the House of ViscontiPiacenzaItalian WarsNapoleonic warsRevolutions of 1848Jagiellonian UniversityKingdom of PolandKrakówCasimir the GreatJadwigaWładysław JagiełłoAustrian EmpireOccupation of Poland (1939–1945)Nazi concentration campsUniversity of ViennaDuchy of AustriaViennaAustriaRudolf IV, Duke of AustriaPope Urban VIGerman-speaking worldCatholic ChurchReformationRuprecht Karl University of HeidelbergElectoral PalatinateHeidelbergGermanyuniversity in GermanyRupert I, Elector PalatineKarl Friedrich, Grand Duke of BadenUniversity of PisaRepublic of PisaPope Clement VIPistoiaFlorenceUniversity of TurinDuchy of SavoyUniversity of LeipzigLeipzigUniversity of St. AndrewsKingdom of ScotlandSt. AndrewsHenry WardlawAntipope Benedict XIIIAugustinianAvignon schismAnglo-Scottish WarscharterBishop of St AndrewsAvignon Pope Benedict XIIIpapal bullsJames I of ScotlandJames V of ScotlandUniversity of RostockRostockJohann OldendorpJohannes AurifaberDavid ChytraeusUniversity of FerraraHouse of EsteFerraraSapienza University of RomeUniversity of CataniaCataniaUniversity of BarcelonaCrown of AragonBarcelonaAlfonso V of AragonEstudi Generalmedical schoolKing Martin of AragonUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowancient universitiesUniversity of GreifswaldGreifswaldDuke Wartislaw IXPope Callixtus IIIProtestant ReformationAlbert Ludwigs University of FreiburgFreiburgBishop of ConstanceAlbert VI, Archduke of AustriaUniversity of BaselSwitzerlandLudwig Maximilian University of MunichMunichIngolstadtPope Pius IILouis the RichLandshutUniversity of CopenhagenKingdom of DenmarkKalmar UnionCopenhagenDenmarkEberhard Karls University of TübingenTübingenUppsala UniversityKingdom of SwedenUppsalaSwedenJakob UlvssonUniversity of AberdeenAberdeenKing's CollegeMarischal CollegeComplutense University of MadridMadridSancho IV of CastileAlcalá de HenaresPope Alexander VICisnerosVallodolidUniversity of ValenciaValenciaUniversity of LondonAlgeriaAlgiersFrench AlgeriaUniversity of AlgiersAngolaLuandaPortuguese AngolaAgostinho Neto UniversityAngolan independenceAgostinho NetoAbomey-CalaviRepublic of DahomeyUniversity of Abomey-CalaviBotswanaGaboroneFrancistownUniversity of BotswanaUniversity of Botswana, Lesotho and SwazilandBurkina FasoOuagadougouRepublic of Upper VoltaUniversity of OuagadougouBurundiBujumburaKingdom of BurundiUniversity of BurundiCameroonYaoundéFederal Republic of CameroonUniversity of YaoundéUniversity of Yaoundé IUniversity of Yaoundé IICape VerdeJean Piaget University of Cape VerdeCentral African RepublicBanguiUniversity of BanguiN'DjamenaUniversity of N'DjamenaComorosMoroniUniversity of the ComorosDR CongoKinshasaBelgian CongoUniversity of KinshasaLovanium UniversityCatholic University of LeuvenNational University of ZaireBrazzavillePeople's Republic of the CongoMarien Ngouabi UniversityDjiboutiDjibouti CityUniversity of DjiboutiKhedivate of EgyptCairo UniversitymadrasaEquatorial GuineaMalaboNational University of Equatorial GuineaEritreaMai NefhiEritrea Institute of TechnologyUniversity of AsmaraEswatiniKwaluseniSwazilandUniversity of EswatiniEthiopiaAddis AbabaEthiopian EmpireUniversity of Addis AbabaHaile Selassie ILibrevilleOmar Bongo UniversityGambiaSerekundaUniversity of the GambiaGold CoastUniversity of GhanaGuineaConakryGamal Abdel Nasser University of ConakryGuinea-BissauBissauUniversidade Colinas de BoéUniversidade Amílcar CabralIvory CoastAbidjanUniversité Félix Houphouët-BoignyNairobiColony and Protectorate of KenyaUniversity of NairobiUniversity of East AfricaEgerton UniversityMaurice Egerton, 4th Baron EgertonLesothoNational University of LesothoLiberiaMonroviaUniversity of LiberiaBenghaziTripoliKingdom of LibyaUniversity of LibyaKing Idris IUniversity of TripoliGaddafi's eraMadagascarAntananarivoColony of Madagascar and DependenciesUniversity of AntananarivoMalawiBlantyreLilongweUniversity of MalawiBamakoUniversity of BamakoMauritaniaNouakchottUniversity of Nouakchott Al AasriyaMauritiusBritish MauritiusUniversity of MauritiusMoroccoIdrisid Kingdom of MoroccoUniversity of Al QuaraouiyineFatima al-FihriMohammed V UniversityMozambiqueMaputoPortuguese MozambiqueLourenço MarquesEduardo Mondlane UniversityNamibiaWindhoekUniversity of NamibiaNiameyAbdou Moumouni UniversityNigeriaIbadanColony and Protectorate of NigeriaYaba, LagosUniversity of Ibadantertiary educational instituteNsukkaFederation of NigeriaUniversity of Nigeria, NsukkaRwandaKigaliUniversity of RwandaSão Tomé and PríncipeSão ToméUniversity of São Tomé and PríncipeSahrawi Arab Democratic RepublicTifaritiUniversity of TifaritiSenegalFrench SenegalCheikh Anta Diop UniversitySeychellesAnse RoyaleUniversity of SeychellesSierra LeoneFreetownSierra Leone Colony and ProtectorateFourah Bay CollegeDurham UniversityUniversity of Sierra LeoneSomaliaMogadishuTrust Territory of SomalilandSomali National UniversitySouth AfricaPretoriaCape ColonyCape TownUniversity of South AfricaUniversity of the Cape of Good HopeSouth SudanDemocratic Republic of the SudanUniversity of JubaKhartoumRepublic of the SudanUniversity of KhartoumTanzaniaDar es SalaamTanganyika TerritoryUniversity of Dar es SalaamUniversity of LoméTunisiaUmayyad CaliphateUgandaKampalaBritish Protectorate of UgandaMakerere Universityaffiliate collegeZambiaLusakaUniversity of ZambiaZimbabweHarareSouthern RhodesiaSalisburyUniversity of ZimbabweAfghanistanKingdom of AfghanistanKabul UniversityBahrainSakhirIsa TownUniversity of BahrainBangladeshBengal PresidencyUniversity of DhakaBhutanThimphuRoyal University of BhutanBruneiBandar Seri BegawanUniversity of Brunei DarussalamCambodiaPhnom PenhFrench Protectorate of CambodiaRoyal University of Fine ArtsQing EmpireTianjin UniversitySouthwest Jiaotong UniversityPeking UniversityTimor-LesteNational University of East TimorHong KongThe University of Hong KongNew DelhiAligarhUnited Provinces of British IndiaJamia Milia IslamiaDelhi UniversitySt Stephen's CollegeHindu CollegeZakir Husain Delhi CollegeRamjas CollegeSeramporeDanish IndiaFrederiknagoreSerampore CollegeFrederick VI of DenmarkKolkataCalcuttaUniversity of CalcuttaSouth AsiaUniversity of BombayUniversity of MadrasMumbaiBombayBombay PresidencyUniversity of MumbaiChennaiMadrasMadras PresidencyNorth-Western ProvincesAligarh Muslim UniversityPrayagrajAllahabadUniversity of AllahabadMysoreKingdom of MysoreUniversity of MysoreKrishnaraja Wadiyar IVSir M. VisvesvarayaVaranasiBanarasBanaras Hindu UniversityChandigarhLahorePunjab ProvincePanjab UniversityIndonesiaDutch East IndiesBandung Institute of TechnologyUniversity of IndonesiaImperial State of PersiaUniversity of TehranRezā ShāhDar ul-FununTehran School of Political SciencesSublime State of PersiaKharazmi UniversityKhwarizmiKingdom of IraqUniversity of BaghdadIsraelOttoman EmpireBeirut vilayetTechnion – Israel Institute of TechnologyOccupied Enemy Territory AdministrationHebrew University of JerusalemUniversity of TokyoTenmonkataKeio UniversityDutch studiesRyukoku UniversityNishi Hongan-jiJordanUniversity of JordanKazakhstanSoviet UnionKazakh Autonomous Socialist Soviet RepublicAl-Farabi Kazakh National UniversityKuwaitUniversity of KuwaitKyrgyzstanKirghiz SSRKyrgyz National UniversityNational University of LaosLebanonSyria vilayetAmerican University of BeirutState of New YorkSaint Joseph UniversityPakistanPunjabUniversity of the PunjabBritish colonial authoritiesKing Edward Medical University, LahoreGovernment College University, LahoreUniversity of MacauMalaysiaBritish MalayaUniversity of MalayaMaldivesMaldives National UniversityMongoliaMongolian People's RepublicNational University of MongoliaMyanmarRangoon UniversityTribhuvan UniversityNorth KoreaProvisional People's Committee for North KoreaKim Il-sung UniversitySultan Qaboos UniversityPalestineIsraeli Military GovernorateBethlehem UniversityCaptaincy General of the PhilippinesOrder of PreachersPope Innocent XNational Historical Commission of the PhilippinesQatar UniversitySaudi ArabiaKing Saud UniversitySingaporeStraits SettlementsNational University of SingaporeSouth KoreaSungkyunkwan UniversitySungkyunkwanEwha Womans UniversityEwha HaktangSri LankaCeylonUniversity of ColomboUniversity of CeylonCeylon Medical CollegeState of DamascusUniversity of DamascusTaiwanJapanese TaiwanNational Taiwan UniversityTajikistanTajik SSRTajik National UniversityTurkmenistanAshgabatTurkmen SSRTurkmen State UniversityThailandRattanakosin KingdomChulalongkorn UniversityUnited Arab EmiratesUnited Arab Emirates UniversityVietnamFrench IndochinaHanoi Medical UniversityVietnam National University, HanoiYemen Arab RepublicSanaa UniversityFrench Revolutionary and Napoleonic WarsAlbaniaTiranaPeople's Socialist Republic of AlbaniaUniversity of TiranaShkodërUniversity of Shkodër "Luigj Gurakuqi"ArmeniaYerevanFirst Republic of ArmeniaAlexandropolYerevan State UniversityArchduchy of AustriaUniversity of GrazInnsbruckUniversity of InnsbruckJesuitAzerbaijanAzerbaijan Democratic RepublicBaku State UniversityBelgiumFlemish RegionUnited Kingdom of the NetherlandsGhent UniversityWilliam I of the NetherlandsWalloniaLiègeUniversity of LiègeLeuvenLouvain-la-NeuveMechelenKU LeuvenUCLouvainCatholic University of BelgiumMechlinState University of LeuvenCatholic University of LouvainKatholieke Universiteit te LeuvenUniversité catholique de LouvainBrussels – Capital RegionBrusselsUniversité libre de BruxellesVrije Universiteit BrusselFree University of BelgiumPalace of Charles of LorrainePierre-Théodore VerhaegenBosnia and HerzegovinaSarajevoYugoslaviaUniversity of SarajevoBulgariaPrincipality of BulgariaSofia UniversityCroatiaZagrebKingdom of Croatia (Habsburg)University of ZagrebLeopold IJesuit AcademyOlomoucBohemian crown landsPalacký UniversityTechnical University of DenmarkEstoniaDorpatUniversity of TartuLivoniaFinlandHelsinkiUniversity of HelsinkiRoyal Academy of TurkuGreat Fire of TurkuFranceKingdom of FranceSorbonne UniversityNotre Dame de ParisPhilip II of FrancePope Innocent IIIRobert de SorbonLouis IX of FranceParis-Sorbonne UniversityPierre and Marie Curie UniversityOccitanieCounty of ToulouseToulouseUniversité fédérale de Toulouse Midi-PyrénéesMontpellierKingdom of MajorcaUniversity of MontpellierPaul Valéry University Montpellier 3University of Montpellier 1Montpellier 2Montpellier 3University of Montpellier 2Aix-en-ProvenceMarseilleCounty of ProvenceAix-Marseille UniversityCounty of FlandersSpanish NetherlandsUniversity of LillePhilip II of SpainUniversity of DouaiWittenbergMartin Luther University of Halle-WittenbergFrankfurt/OderEuropean University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder)LeopoldinaWrocławGerman reunificationGeorgiaTbilisiDemocratic Republic of GeorgiaTbilisi State UniversityGibraltarUniversity of GibraltarGreeceAthensKingdom of GreeceNational and Kapodistrian University of AthensHungaryBudapestKingdom of HungaryNagyszombatEötvös Loránd UniversityPéter PázmányIcelandReykjavíkUniversity of IcelandIrelandDublinKingdom of IrelandUniversity of DublinElizabeth Icollegiate universitiesTrinity College DublinUrbinoUniversity of UrbinoKosovoPristinaUniversity of PristinaLatviaRussian EmpireRiga Technical UniversityLiechtensteinUniversity of LiechtensteinLithuaniaVilniusGrand Duchy of LithuaniaPolish-Lithuanian CommonwealthVilnius UniversityLuxembourgEsch-sur-AlzetteUniversity of LuxembourgHospitaller MaltaVallettaUniversity of MaltaCollegium MelitenseNetherlandsLeidenDutch RepublicLeiden UniversityHabsburg NetherlandsDutch RevoltGroningenUniversity of GroningenNapoleonic occupation of the Netherlands.UtrechtUtrecht UniversityKingdom of the NetherlandsNorth MacedoniaSkopjeSocialist Federal Republic of YugoslaviaSs. Cyril and Methodius University of SkopjeNorwayDenmark–NorwayChristianiaUniversity of OsloBreslauUniversity of WrocławLeopold I, Holy Roman EmperorKing Frederick II of PrussiaWarsawUniversity of WarsawUniversity of KrakówUniversity of PortoPortuguese RepublicUniversity of LisbonRomaniaUnited PrincipalitiesAlexandru Ioan Cuza UniversityPrincely Academy from IaşiAcademia MihăileanăBucharestUniversity of BucharestSaint Sava CollegeCluj-NapocaPrincipality of TransylvaniaKolozsvárBabeș-Bolyai UniversityAcademia / Universitas ClaudiopolitanaFranz Joseph UniversityRussiaSaint PetersburgSaint Petersburg State UniversityPeter the GreatMoscowMoscow State UniversityImperial Moscow UniversitySerbiaBelgradeRevolutionary SerbiaUniversity of BelgradeLyceumCzechoslovakiaMasaryk UniversitySlovakiaBratislavaComenius UniversitySloveniaLjubljanaKingdom of Serbs, Croats and SlovenesUniversity of LjubljanaSevilleSpanish EmpireUniversity of SevilleLund UniversityLausanneOld Swiss ConfederacyUniversity of LausanneZürichSwiss ConfederationUniversity of ZurichCarolinumTurkeyIstanbulConstantinopleIstanbul Technical UniversityImperial School of Naval EngineeringMustafa IIIIstanbul UniversityMehmed IIUkraineKharkivV. N. Karazin Kharkiv National UniversityPolish–Lithuanian CommonwealthLviv UniversityScotlandEdinburghUniversity of Edinburghroyal charterJames VIEnglandDurhamUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Irelandthird oldest university in EnglandA History of the University in EuropeLondonKing's College LondonUniversity College LondonNorthern IrelandBelfastQueen's University BelfastQueen's University of IrelandRoyal University of IrelandCardiffAberystwythBangorUniversity of WalesCarmarthenLampeterSwanseaUniversity of Wales Trinity Saint DavidSt David's CollegeUniversity of Wales, LampeterTrinity University CollegeMinistry of EducationAberystwyth UniversityList of colonial universities in Latin AmericaAnguillaAntigua and BarbudaBahamasBarbadosBelizeBritish Virgin IslandsCayman IslandsDominicaGrenadaJamaicaMontserratSt. Kitts and NevisSt. LuciaSt. Vincent and the GrenadinesTrinidad and TobagoTurks and CaicosKingstonUniversity of the West IndiesArgentinaRío de la PlataCórdobaNational University of CórdobaUniversity of BelizeBoliviaCharcas(La Plata)University of Saint Francis XavierPhilip IVPope Innocent XIISaint Francis XavierBrazilFederal University of Rio de JaneiroFederal University of ParanáFederal University of AmazonasUniversidad de ChileReal Universidad de San FelipeColombia(New Granada)(Santa Fe de Bogotá)Saint Thomas Aquinas UniversityAmericasPontifical Xavierian UniversityJesuit OrderCosta RicaUniversity of Costa RicaBernardo Soto AlfaroRafael Ángel Calderón GuardiaNew Spain(Cuba)HavanaUniversidad de La HabanaRoss University School of MedicineDominican RepublicUniversidad Autónoma de Santo DomingoUniversidad Santo Tomás de AquinoEcuadorRepublic of ColombiaGran ColombiaCentral University of EcuadorEl SalvadorUniversidad de El SalvadorJuan LindoSt. George's UniversityGuatemala(Guatemala)Universidad de San Carlos de GuatemalaViceroyalty of New SpainFrancisco MarroquínCharles II of SpainPope Innocent XIAct of Independence of Central AmericaGuyanaBritish GuianaUniversity of GuyanaUniversité d'État d'HaïtiUnited States occupation of HaitiUniversité Adventiste d'HaïtiHondurasUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de HondurasMexicoUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoReal y Pontificia Universidad de MéxicoUniversidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de HidalgoCarlos I of SpainPanamaUniversidad de PanamáParaguayUniversidad Nacional de Asunción(Peru)National University of San MarcosprivilegeCharles V, Holy Roman EmperorNational University of Saint AugustinePuerto RicoUniversity of Puerto Rico, Rio PiedrasUniversity of Puerto RicoSurinameAnton de Kom UniversityUruguayUniversidad de la RepúblicaUnited States Virgin IslandsUniversity of the Virgin IslandsVenezuela(Venezuela)CaracasCentral University of VenezuelaColonial collegesFirst university in the United StatesAmerican RevolutionBermudaBermuda CollegeCanadaHalifax, Nova ScotiaNova ScotiaWindsorUniversity of King's CollegeNew York CityLoyalistsGreenlandUniversity of GreenlandSaint Pierre and MiquelonMemorial University of NewfoundlandUnited StatesCambridge, MassachusettsMassachusetts Bay ColonyHarvard UniversityMassachusettsWilliamsburg, VirginiaColony of VirginiaThe College of William & MaryCivil WarPhiladelphiaProvince of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvaniacharity schoolAustraliaNew South WalesUniversity of SydneyVictoriaUniversity of MelbourneSouth AustraliaUniversity of AdelaideUniversity of South AustraliaTasmaniaUniversity of TasmaniaQueenslandUniversity of QueenslandWestern AustraliaUniversity of Western AustraliaAustralian Capital TerritoryAustralian National UniversityNorthern TerritoryCharles Darwin UniversityCook IslandsKiribatiMarshall IslandsSolomon IslandsTokelauTuvaluVanuatuColony of FijiUniversity of the South PacificTrust Territory of the Pacific IslandsUniversity of GuamPapua New GuineaUniversity of Papua New GuineaNew ZealandDunedinUniversity of OtagoAucklandUniversity of AucklandNorth IslandList of oldest institutions in continuous operationMiddle AgesRoman EmpireMuslimCourt of Cassation of BelgiumState University of LouvainCambridge University PressStudia IslamicaDeeb, Mary-JaneOxford University PressBBC NewsBibcodeHastings RashdallLee, SidneyDictionary of National BiographyBöhlau VerlagUNESCOThe HinduLa MarseillaiseUniversitatea Babeş-Bolyai, Cluj-NapocaPenny CyclopaediaSociety for the Diffusion of Useful KnowledgeThe GuardianuniversitiescollegesMiddle Ages (pre-1500)Early modern age (1501–1800)Late modern age (1801–1945)Contemporary (post-1945)Hispanic America (1538–1812)Spanish Philippines (1589–1898)Thirteen Colonies (1636–1769)