List of oldest universities in continuous operation

Map of medieval universities in Europe

This is a list of the oldest existing universities in the world. To be included in this table, an educational institution must satisfy a traditional definition of university at the time of its founding. Chronologically, it must have been founded before 1500 in Europe or be the oldest university derived from the medieval European model in a 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 suspended from 1793 to 1896, are excluded.

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

Other institutions of higher learning, like those of ancient Greece, ancient Persia, ancient Rome, Byzantium, ancient China, ancient India and the Muslim world, are not included in this list due to their cultural, historical, structural and juristic dissimilarities from the medieval European university from which the modern university evolved. In lists based on broader definitions, Al-Qarawiyyin, founded in 859 as a madrasa and in 1963 as a university, is sometimes considered as the "oldest university".

Medieval origins

Main article: Medieval university

The university as an institution was historically rooted in that medieval society which it in turn influenced and shaped:

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. This process occurred in the following chronological order:

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

Founded before 1500

Main article: List of medieval universities

The earliest and only universities before the colonisation of the Americas were established and run in medieval Europe.

Year	Name	Contemporaneous location	Current location	Notes
1088	University of Bologna	Kingdom of Italy, Holy Roman Empire	Bologna, Italy	The first 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 the Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa the "Authentica habita" which settled rules, rights and privileges of Universities.
1096-1167 (charter granted in 1248)	University of Oxford	Kingdom of England	Oxford, United Kingdom	"Claimed to be the oldest university in the English speaking world, there is no clear date of foundation of Oxford University, but teaching existed at Oxford in some form in 1096 and developed rapidly from 1167, when Henry II banned English students from attending the University of Paris." Teaching suspended in 1209 (due to town execution of two scholars) and 1355 (due to the St. Scholastica Day riot), but was continuous during the English Civil War (1642–1651) - the University was Royalist. All Souls College and University College have repeatedly claimed that they own documents proving that teaching in Oxford started in the year 825, but these documents have never seen the public light (allegedly, John Speed dated his famous 1605 Oxford maps based on these documents). However, it was not until 1254 that Pope Innocent IV granted to Oxford the University charter by papal bull ("Querentes in agro").
1134 (charter granted in 1218)	University of Salamanca	Kingdom of León	Salamanca, Spain	It is the oldest university in operation in Spain. Although there are records of the University granting degrees many years before (James Trager's People's Chronology sets its foundation date in 1134), it only received the Royal chart of foundation as "Estudio General" in 1218, making it possibly the fourth or even the third oldest European university in continuous operation. However, it was the first European university to receive the title of "University" as such, granted by king of Castile and León Alfonso X and the Pope in 1254. Having been 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)	University of Cambridge	Kingdom of England	Cambridge, United Kingdom	Founded by scholars leaving Oxford after a dispute caused by the execution of two scholars in 1209, and royal charter was granted in 1231. The university takes 1209 as its official anniversary. Through one of Cambridge's alumni, John Harvard, it inspired the establishment of Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States with the first college in the United States, Harvard University.
1222 (probably older)	University of Padua	Lombard League	Padua, Italy	Founded by scholars and professors after leaving Bologna.
1224 (1258)	University of Naples Federico II	Kingdom of Sicily	Naples, Italy	The first public university, 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.
1240	University of Siena	Republic of Siena	Siena, Italy	Originally called Studium Senese, was founded by Commune of Siena in 1240. In 1321, the studium was able to attract a larger number of pupils due to a mass exodus from the prestigious University of Bologna. Closed temporarily in 1808–1815 when Napoleonic forces occupied Tuscany. On November 7, 2015 the university celebrates its 775th anniversary.
1241	University of Valladolid	Kingdom of Castile, Crown of Castile	Valladolid, Spain	One hypothesis is that its foundation is the result of the transfer of Palencia General Survey between 1208 and 1241 by Alfonso VIII, king of Castile, and Bishop Tello Téllez de Meneses.
1290	University of Macerata	Papal States	Macerata, Italy	The University of Macerata (Italian: Università degli Studi di Macerata) is a university located in Macerata, Marche, Italy. It was founded in 1290 and is organized into 7 faculties.
1290	University of Coimbra	Kingdom of Portugal Lisbon	Coimbra, Portugal	Begun its existence in Lisbon with the name Studium Generale (Estudo Geral). Scientiae thesaurus mirabilis, the royal charter announcing the institution of the University, was dated 1 March of that year, although efforts had been made at least since 1288 to create this first university in Portugal. The papal confirmation was also given in 1290 (on 9 August of that year), during the papacy of Pope Nicholas IV.
1293	University of Alcalá	Crown of Castile	Alcalá de Henares, Spain	The University of Alcalá was founded by King Sancho IV of Castile as Studium Generale in 1293 in Alcalá de Henares. It was granted 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 of the 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, the 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	Papal States	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.
1336	University of Camerino	Papal States	Camerino, Italy	The great literate and jurist Cino from Pistoia, living in Marche in the years 1319-21, and in Camerino in the spring of 1321, remembers the territory blooming with juridical schools. Camerino has been a center of learning since no later than 1200, offering degrees in civil law, canonical law, medicine, and literary studies. Gregory XI took the decision upon the request of Gentile III da Varano with the papal edict of 29 January 1377, directed to the commune and to the people, authorizing Camerino to confer (after appropriate examination) bachelor and doctoral degrees with apostolic authority.
1343	University of Pisa	Republic of Pisa	Pisa, Italy	It was formally founded on September 3, 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 of Prague	Kingdom of Bohemia	Prague, Czech Republic	Three of four faculties closed in 1419, joined with Jesuit university and renamed Charles-Ferdinand University in 1652, split into German and Czech part in 1882, Czech branch closed during Nazi occupation (1939–1945), German branch closed in 1945.
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	Holy Roman Empire	Heidelberg, Germany	Founded by Rupert I, Elector Palatine. The oldest in contemporary Germany and third oldest Germanophone university.
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.
1419	University of Rostock	Holy Roman Empire	Rostock, Germany	During the Reformation, "the Catholic university of Rostock closed altogether and the closure was long enough to make the refounded body feel a new institution".
1434	University of Catania	Kingdom of Sicily	Catania, Italy	The oldest in Sicily. Founded by Alfonso V of Aragon.
1450	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	Holy Roman Empire	Freiburg, Germany	Temporarily transferred to Constance in 1686–98 and 1713–15.
1460	University of Basel	Holy Roman Empire	Basel, Switzerland	Founded in 1460 (Schola Basiliensis), the University of Basel is the oldest university in Switzerland.
1472	Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich	Holy Roman Empire	Munich, Germany	Founded in Ingolstadt in 1459, transferred to Landshut in 1800, moved to Munich in 1826.
1477	Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen	Holy Roman Empire	Tübingen, Germany
1477	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.
1495	University of Santiago de Compostela	Galicia, Crown of Castile	Santiago de Compostela, Spain	The university traces its roots to 1495, when a school was opened in Santiago. 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. Oldest entity of each continent is indicated in bold:

Africa

• Algeria: University of Algiers, 1909
• Angola: Agostinho Neto University (as Estudos Gerais Universitários de Angola), 1962
• Cameroon: University of Yaoundé, 1962
• Cape Verde: Jean Piaget University of Cape Verde, 2001
• Egypt: Cairo University, 1908; The American University in Cairo, 1919 as a private university.
• Ethiopia: University of Addis Ababa, 1950
• Ghana: University of Ghana, 1948
• Kenya: Egerton University, 1939 (as Egerton Farm School)
• Liberia: Liberia College – University of Liberia, 1951, building on Liberia College founded in 1863.
• Libya: University of Libya, 1956; 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 University of Antananarivo, 1965
• Mauritius: University of Mauritius, 1965
• Morocco: The University of al-Qarawiyyin traces its origins back to the al-Qarawiyyin mosque and associated madrasa founded by Fatima al-Fihri in 859, but only became a university in 1965
  • University of Rabat, 1957
  • University of Hassan II Casablanca Ain Chok, 1975.
• Mozambique: Eduardo Mondlane University (as Estudos Gerais Universitários de Moçambique), 1962
• Nigeria: University of Ibadan, 1948
• Sierra Leone: Fourah Bay College - University of Sierra Leone, 1827
• Somalia: Somali National University, 1954 Gaheyr
• South Africa:
  • University of Cape Town, 1829 (University status: 2 April 1918)
  • Stellenbosch University, 1866 (University status: 2 April 1918)
• Sudan: University of Khartoum, 1902 (renamed from Gordon Memorial College in 1956).
• Uganda: Makerere University, 1922
• Zimbabwe: University of Zimbabwe, 1952

Asia

• Afghanistan:
  • Kabul Medical University, 1946
  • Kabul University, founded in 1931, formally opened 1932
• Bahrain: University of Bahrain, 1986
• Bangladesh:
  • Dhaka College, 1841 Dhaka College was established by Dr. James Taylor (Civil Surgeon at Dhaka) in 1835 as an English School (at present Dhaka Collegiate School).
  • Chittagong College, 1869
  • Rajshahi College, 1873
  • Dhaka University, 1921
• Cambodia:
  • Royal University of Fine Arts, 1918
  • Royal University of Law and Economics, 1948
  • Royal University of Phnom Penh, 1960
• China:
  • Tianjin University, established in 1895 as Imperial Tientsin University.
  • Jiaotong University, founded in 1896 as Nanyang Public School
  • Peking University, founded in 1898 as Imperial Capital University or Imperial University of Peking
  • Shandong University, founded in 1901 as Shandong Imperial University
  • Nanjing University (National Central University), established as Sanjiang Normal College in 1902, the first Chinese university providing doctoral degree (in 1927)
  • Tsinghua University, established in 1911 under the name "Tsinghua College"
• Hong Kong: The University of Hong Kong, founded as the Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese in 1887, incorporated as a university in 1911
• India:
  • Serampore College, 1818, first institution with university status (although not a university) to grant degrees in theology
  • University of Calcutta, 1857, first full-fledged multi-disciplinary university in South Asia in terms of foundation date although the University of Bombay and the University of Madras were subsequently established in the same year
• Indonesia:
  • University of Indonesia, 1947, founded as the School of Javanese Doctor in 1851
  • Bandung Institute of Technology, 1959, founded as Technische Hogeschool in 1920
• Iraq: University of Baghdad, 1956 - Although the Iraqi Royal College of Medicine was established in 1928
• Iran: 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)
• Israel:
  • Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 1918
  • Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, founded in 1912, but formal teaching began in 1924
• Japan:
  • University of Tokyo, Its origins include a private college of Confucian studies founded by Hayashi Razan in 1630, Tenmonkata (The Observatory, 1684) and Shutōsho (Smallpox Vaccination Centre, 1849). It was later organised in 1867 as the Imperial University.
  • Keio University, 1858 as the oldest modern institute of higher education in Japan (To be noted, Japan's oldest academic institution is Ashikaga Gakko)
• Jordan:
  • University of Jordan, 1962
• Kazakhstan:
  • Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, 1933
• Lebanon:
  • American University of Beirut, 1866
  • Saint Joseph University (Universite Saint Joseph), 1872
  • Universite de la Sagesse, 1875
• Macau: University of Macau, established as University of East Asia in 1981, renamed 1991.
• Malaysia: University of Malaya, as Straits and Federated Malay States Government Medical School in 1905 in Singapore
• Mongolia:
  • Mongolian Academy of Sciences, 1921, as part of the Institute of Literature and Script
  • Institute of finance and economics of Mongolia, 1924 as the School of Custom's Officers in Ulaanbaatar.
  • National University of Mongolia, 1942
• Myanmar: Rangoon University, 1878
• Nepal: Tribhuvan University, 1959
• Pakistan:
  • King Edward Medical University, Lahore, 1860
  • Forman Christian College University, established as Forman Christian College in Lahore, 1864
  • Government College University, Lahore, established as Government College, Lahore, 1864
  • University of the Punjab, 1882 (Pakistan)
• Philippines:
  • University of Santo Tomas, 1611 - founded on 28 April 1611, it is the oldest extant university charter in the Philippines and in Asia. It celebrated its 400th anniversary in 2011.
  • Colegio de San Juan de Letran, 1620
  • University of San Carlos traces its origins back to the Colegio de San Ildefonso founded in 1595, but the current university was established in 1948.

See also: List of the oldest schools in the Philippines

• Saudi Arabia: King Saud University, 1957
• Singapore: National University of Singapore, 1905 - Founded as Straits and Federated Malay States Government Medical School.
• South Korea: Listed according to the year when institutions became universities
  • Ewha Womans University, started higher education in 1910, and was reorganized as Ewha Womans University in 1946. It was established in 1886 as the first mission school to educate women in Korea.
  • Korea University, then Boseong School, was established in 1905, and was restructured as Korea University in 1946.
  • Sungkyunkwan University, was reorganized as Sungkyunkwan University in 1946. Sungkyunkwan, its origin, was established in 1398 as the royal institution for higher education of the Joseon Dynasty.
  • Yonsei University, Chosun Christian University which is established in 1915 was merged with a hospital named Jaejungwon(1885) in the name of Yonsei University in 1957.
  • Sogang University, The university was established in 1960 by the Wisconsin province of the Society of Jesus to provide education based on Catholic beliefs inspired by the Jesuit education philosophy.
• Sri Lanka:
  • University College Colombo, 1920 - Although the Ceylon Medical College was established in 1870
  • University of Ceylon, 1942 - First full-fledged multi disciplinary university in Sri Lanka
• Syria: University of Damascus was founded in 1923 through the merger of the School of Medicine (established 1903) and the Institute of Law (established 1913).
• Taiwan:
  • National Taiwan University, 1928, as Taihoku (Taipei) Imperial University.
  • National Taipei University of Technology, 1912, as School of Industrial Instruction
• Thailand:
  • Chulalongkorn University, 1917
  • Thammasat University, 1939
  • Kasetsart University, 1943
  • Mahidol University, 1943
  • Silpakorn University, 1943
• Vietnam:
  • Hanoi Medical University 1902
  • Vietnam National University, Hanoi 1904
  • Hanoi College of Fine Arts 1925

Europe

• Albania: University of Tirana, 1957.
• Armenia: Yerevan State University, 1919
• Austria
  • University of Graz, 1585.
  • University of Salzburg, 1622.
  • University of Innsbruck, 1669.
• Azerbaijan: Baku State University, 1919
• Belgium
  • Ghent University, 1817.
  • University of Liège, 1817.
  • Catholic University of Mechlin, 1834, then called Catholic University of Louvain, 1835, and then split into Dutch-speaking Katholieke Universiteit Leuven and French-speaking Université catholique de Louvain, 1968
  • Free University of Brussels, 1834
• Bosnia and Herzegovina: University of Sarajevo, 1949
• Bulgaria:
  • University of Sofia, 1888
  • University of National and World Economy, 1920
  • University of Economics Varna, 1920
• Croatia: University of Zagreb, 1669
• Czech Republic (apart from the Charles University 1348, see above)
  • Palacký University of Olomouc, 1573, as Olomouc Jesuit University
  • Czech Technical University, 1707, being the oldest non-military technical university in Europe
• Denmark: Technical University of Denmark, 1829
• Estonia: University of Tartu, 1632, the university was closed from 1710 to 1802
• Finland:
  • University of Helsinki, 1640, originally the Academy of Turku, but moved to Helsinki in 1827
• France: All French universities were suspended in 1793, and so do not meet the criteria for inclusion in the pre-1500 list above. However many modern French universities trace their origins to earlier foundations, including
  • University of Paris (Sorbonne), between 1160 and 1250
  • University of Toulouse, 1229
  • University of Montpellier, 1289 (probably earlier, and with the world's oldest medicine faculty still in operation)
• Germany:
  • University of Wittenberg, 1502
  • Philipps-Universität Marburg, 1527
  • University of Jena, 1558
  • Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, 1734
  • University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, 1742
• Georgia: Tbilisi State University, 1918
• Greece:
  • Ionian Academy, 1824
  • National Technical University of Athens, 1836
  • National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 1837
• Hungary:
  • Eötvös Loránd University, 1635
  • Semmelweis University, 1769
  • Budapest University of Technology and Economics, 1782
• Iceland: University of Iceland, 1911
• Ireland
  • University of Dublin, 1592
  • National University of Ireland, Cork, 1845
  • National University of Ireland, Galway, 1845
  • University College Dublin,1854
• Italy
  • Oldest universities founded after 1500 (so, excluding Italian universities listed above), by region:
    • Abruzzo: University of L'Aquila, 1596
    • Basilicata: University of Basilicata, 1982
    • Calabria: Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria, 1962
    • Campania: Università degli Studi di Napoli "L'Orientale", 1732
    • Emilia-Romagna: none, all universities founded from the 12th to 14th centuries
    • Friuli-Venezia Giulia: University of Trieste, 1924
    • Lazio: University of Cassino and Tuscia University, both in 1979
    • Liguria: none, the only university was founded in the 15th century
    • Lombardia: Polytechnic University of Milan, 1863
    • Marche: University of Urbino, 1506
    • Molise: University of Molise, 1982
    • Piemonte: Polytechnic University of Turin, 1859
    • Puglia: University of Bari, 1925
    • Sardegna: University of Sassari, 1617
    • Sicilia: University of Messina, 1548
    • Toscana: Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa, 1810
    • Trentino-Alto Adige: University of Trento, 1962
    • Umbria: University for Foreigners Perugia, 1921
    • Veneto: Ca' Foscari University of Venice, 1868
• Latvia: Riga Technical University, 1862
• Liechtenstein: Hochschule Liechtenstein, 1992, successory to the Abendtechnikum Vaduz established in 1961
• Lithuania: University of Vilnius, 1579, successory to the Vilnius Academy 1570, although its operation was not continuous: the university was closed from 1832 to 1919 and again in 1943-44
• Luxembourg: University of Luxembourg, 2003
• Macedonia:
  • Ss. Cyril and Methodius University of Skopje, 1946
  • St. Clement of Ohrid University of Bitola, 1979
• Malta: University of Malta, 1768, first established as the Collegium Melitense by the Jesuits 1592
• Netherlands
  • University of Leiden, 1575
  • University of Groningen, 1614
  • University of Amsterdam, 1632, as Athenaeum Illustre
  • Utrecht University, 1636
• Norway: University of Oslo, 1811
• Poland:
  • University of Wrocław, 1701, re-founded 1811
  • University of Warsaw, 1816
• Portugal
  • University of Évora, second oldest university in Portugal, 1559–1759, resumed work in 1973
  • University of Lisbon, 1911
  • University of Porto, 1911
• Romania:
  • Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Iaşi, 1860; successor to Vasilian College, 1640, Princely Academy, 1707, and Academia Mihăileană, 1834
  • University of Bucharest, Bucharest, 1864; successor to the Princely Academy, 1694, and Saint Sava College, 1822
  • Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, 1872/1918; teaching existed in Cluj-Napoca since the Jesuits College, 1581, and the Jesuits Academy, 1688
• Russia
  • Moscow State University, 1755
  • Kazan Federal University, 1804
  • Saint Petersburg State University, 1724–1803, 1819
  • Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, 1967 (claims continuity from University of Königsberg, 1544)
• Serbia: Belgrade University, 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: Comenius University in Bratislava 1919
• Slovenia: University of Ljubljana, 1919
• Spain
  • University of Seville, 1505
  • University of Granada, 1531
  • University of Zaragoza, 1542
  • University of Oviedo, 1608
• Sweden:
  • 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:
  • Cantons University
    • University of Zürich, origin 1525; est. 1833. Switzerland's largest university (25,000 students)
    • University of Lausanne, 1537
    • University of Geneva 1559; founded by John Calvin
    • University of Fribourg origin 1582; est. 1889
    • University of Bern, 1834
    • University of Neuchâtel,1838
    • University of Lucerne, 1851
    • University of St. Gallen, 1898
    • University of Lugano, 1996; Switzerland's newest university
  • Federal Institutes of Technology
    • Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) est. 1853; opened in 1869
    • Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETHZ) 1855
• Turkey:
  • Boğaziçi University Founded in 1863 as Robert College, transformed into a public research university in 1971.
  • Istanbul University The current state university was founded in 1933, but traces its origins back to the House of Multiple Sciences founded in 1846. Its ultimate origins lie in a madrasa founded by Mehmed II in 1453, itself built upon a previous Byzantine school dating back to 1321.
  • Istanbul Technical University Founded in 1773 as Imperial School of Naval Engineering by Mustafa III, but became a state university in 1928.
  • Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University founded in 1882
  • Yıldız Technical University founded in 1911
• Ukraine
  • University of Lviv, operated from 1661-1773, 1784-1805, 1817–1848, 1850-
  • University of Kharkiv, 1804
• United Kingdom
  • England: Besides Oxford and Cambridge (listed above), no surviving universities were created in England until the 19th century. Differing definitions of a university lead to conflicting claims to be the next university founded.
    See also: Third-oldest university in England debate
    • Officially recognised universities:
      • Durham University, 1832.
      • University of London, 1836.
    • Other university institutions:
      • University College London, 1826.
      • King's College London, 1829.
  • Northern Ireland:
    • Queen's University Belfast, 1908 (as a university), 1845 (as a university college)
  • Scotland:
    • University of Edinburgh, 1583
  • Wales: As with England, there are multiple claims to be the oldest university in Wales.
    • Officially recognised university:
      • University of Wales 1893.
    • Other university institutions:
      • St David's College, Lampeter now University of Wales, Trinity Saint David, 1822.
      • University College Wales, 1872.

Latin America and the Caribbean

Main article: List of colonial universities in Latin America

• Argentina: National University of Córdoba, 1613
• Belize: University of Belize, 2000
• Bolivia: Royal and Pontificial Major University of St. Francis Xavier of Chuquisaca, 1624
• Brazil:
  • Federal University of Amazonas (UFAM), 1909
  • Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), 1912
  • Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), 1920; successor to the Royal Academy of Artillery, Fortification and Design, 1792
• Chile:
  • Universidad de Chile, 1842 September 17; successor to the "Real Universidad de San Felipe", created in 1738 and installated in 1747
• Colombia:
  • Saint Thomas Aquinas University, 1580
  • Pontifical Xavierian University, 1623
  • Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Señora del Rosario - Universidad del Rosario, 1653
• Cuba: 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: Central University of Ecuador, 1622, 19 May, as Real y Pontificia Universidad de San Gregorio Magno
• El Salvador: Universidad de El Salvador, 1841
• Grenada: St. George's University, 1976
• Guatemala: Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, 1676
• Guyana: University of Guyana, 1963
• Haiti: Universite d'Etat d'Haiti, 1820 and Haitian Adventist University, 1921
• Honduras: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras, 1847
• Jamaica: University of the West Indies, Mona 1948 and University of Technology, Jamaica 1958
• Mexico:
  • National Autonomous University of Mexico, September 22, 1551, as Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico (in 1920 changed its name to National Autonomous University of Mexico, when it was given the freedom to define its own curriculum and manage its own budget without interference from the government)
  • Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, 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 October 15, 1917.
  • Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, founded 1587 as Colegio del Espíritu Santo (it was sponsored by Jesuits until its conversion into a public college in 1825, and a public university in 1937)
  • Universidad de Guadalajara, founded October 12, 1791; legally established October 12, 1925
• Panama: Universidad de Panamá, 1935
• Paraguay: Universidad Nacional de Asunción, 1889
• Peru:
  • National University of San Marcos, Lima, May 12, 1551, as the Royal and Pontifical University of the City of the Kings. 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 American continent.
  • National University of San Antonio Abad in Cuzco or Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco - 1 June 1692
• Puerto Rico: University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, 1903
• Surinam: Anton de Kom University, 1968
• Uruguay: Universidad de la República, 1849
• Venezuela: Central University of Venezuela, 1721

Canada and the United States

• Canada:
  • Université Laval, founded in 1663, chartered in 1852 (oldest post-secondary institution in Canada; founded as Séminaire de Québec)
  • University of New Brunswick, founded in 1785, chartered in 1827 (oldest English-language post-secondary institution in Canada; founded as College of New Brunswick)
  • University of King's College, founded in 1789, chartered in 1802 (oldest chartered university in Canada; founded as King's College)
• United States:
  • Harvard University, founded in 1636, chartered in 1650
  • The College of William & Mary, chartered in 1693
  • Yale University, chartered in 1701, moved to current location in 1718

See also: First university in the United States and Oldest public university in the United States

Oceania

• Australia
  • University of Sydney, 1850 (oldest in Australia and Oceania)
  • University of Melbourne, 1853 (oldest in Victoria)
  • University of Adelaide, 1874 (oldest in South Australia)
  • University of Tasmania, 1890 (oldest in Tasmania)
  • University of Queensland, 1909 (oldest in Queensland)
  • University of Western Australia, 1911 (oldest in Western Australia)
  • Australian National University, 1946 (oldest in Australian Capital Territory)
  • University of New England, 1954 (first established outside of a state capital)
  • Northern Territory University, 1989 (amalgamated as part of Charles Darwin University in 2004)
• New Zealand
  • University of Otago, 1869 (oldest in New Zealand and the South Island)
  • University of Canterbury, 1873 (oldest in Christchurch)
  • University of Auckland, 1883 (oldest in Auckland and the North Island)
  • Victoria University of Wellington 1899 (oldest in Wellington)

See also

• List of medieval universities
• List of oldest madrasahs in continuous operation