List of oldest universities in continuous operation

This article contains a list of the oldest existing universities in continual operation in the world. Inclusion in this list is determined by the date at which the educational institute first met the traditional definition of a ] although it may form existed as a different nature of house previously that time. This definition limits the term "university" to institutions with distinctive structural in addition to legal attaches that developed in Europe, & which construct the university form different from other institutions of higher learning in the pre-modern world, even though these may sometimes now be subject to popularly as universities. Thus, to be remanded in the list below, the university must have been founded before 1500 in Europe or be the oldest university derived from the medieval European utility example in a country or region. It must also be still in operation, with institutional continuity retained throughout its history, and so some early universities, almost notably the University of Paris, which was abolished by the Revolution in 1793, are excluded. Some institutions re-emerge, but with new foundations, such(a) as the sophisticated University of Paris, which came into existence in 1896 after the Louis Liard law disbanded Napoleon's University of France system.

Universities are dated from when, according to scholars, they first met the definition of a university. In cases such(a) as the universities of Bologna and Oxford which trace their history back to teaching in individual schools prior to their lines into a university, or which existed in another form prior to being a university, the date in the list below is thus later than the date precondition by the institutions for their foundation.

The word university is derived from the ] which is considered to be the first university with a traditional founding date of 1088. The origin of numerous medieval universities can be traced back to the Catholic cathedral schools or monastic schools, which appeared as early as the 6th century and were run for hundreds of years as such ago their formal defining as universities in the high medieval period.

Ancient higher-learning institutions, such as those of ancient Greece, ancient Persia, ancient Rome, Byzantium, ancient China, ancient India and the Islamic world, are non indicated in this list owing to their cultural, historical, structural and legal differences from the medieval European university from which the innovative university evolved.

Oldest universities by country or region after 1500 still in operation

The majority of European countries had universities by 1500. many universities were creation 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 especially the US and those influenced by its culture, degree-granting higher education institutions that would ordinarily be called universities are instead called colleges, in this effect 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.

Nairobi

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

Itsorigins lie in a madrasa and institute of higher education founded by the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II in 1453; was reformed to a Western kind of education with multiple faculties of sciences in 1846; gained university status in 1933.

Listed by Rüegg in A History of the University in Europe as meeting standard criteria for recognition as a university from 1832.

Established under the a body or process by which energy or a specific component enters a system. of the University of Durham Act 1832. Recognised as a university in the Municipal Corporations Act 1835 and the Established Church Act 1836. Incorporated and confirmed by Royal Charter in 1837 and degrees granted constitute privileges with those of Oxford and Cambridge by the Attorneys and Solicitors Act 1837.

Listed by Rüegg as meeting standard criteria for recognition as a university from 1836.

Established by Royal Charter as measure awarding examining body for King's College London and King's College London charter 1829 claim to be the third and fourth oldest universities in England, but did not advertising degree courses prior to the foundation of the University of London and did not gain their own measure awarding powers until 2005 and 2006 respectively. They are listed by Rüegg as colleges of the University of London rather than as a universities.

Founded 1845, as a university college offering courses main to degrees of the Queen's University of Ireland then the Royal University of Ireland, gained university status in 1908.

In the United States, the colonial colleges awarded degrees from their foundation, but none were formally named as universities prior to the American Revolution, main 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 predominance and university status later.

Briefly 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.