Top 15 Oldest Universities in the World You Must Know About 

Did you know the oldest university in the world was established in 859 AD in Morocco? The oldest universities in the world are not only age-old but are reputable and offer good quality education. This blog covers the list of the top 10 oldest universities in the world that you must know about. By reading this blog, you will be able to understand their legacy and the quality of education offered. If you are interested, you can also choose to enroll in any of the universities.

University of Al Quaraouiyine

The University of Al Quaraouiyine is number 1 in the list of the oldest Universities in the world! Did you know this university was founded by a woman? Fatima al-Fihri used her family’s wealth to build a mosque. It was later developed into a renowned spiritual and educational centre of the Islamic Golden Age. It became a part of the modern state university system in 1963. The University of Al Quaraouiyine is known for its contributions to global Islamic education. The classes are focused on the Islamic religious and legal sciences. Today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site!

Established	859
QS Ranking 2025	Not ranked.
Top Courses	Arabic language and literatur
Notable Alumni	Leo Africanus (explorer), Ibn Khaldun (historian)

University of Bologna

The University of Bologna comes second in the list of the oldest universities in the world. What makes this university different from the University of Al Quaraouiyine? This University has been functioning for 900 years! It is even older than Cambridge and Oxford. The word ‘University’ comes from the word ‘Universitas Scholarium’, a term that was first used for the University of Bologna. At first, you were only able to study doctoral programmes. However, now, a diverse range of programs are available.

Established	1088
QS Ranking 2025	154
Top Courses	Law, Medicine, Engineering
Notable Alumni	Guglielmo Marconi (inventor), Enzo Ferrari (founder of Ferrari), Pier Paolo Pasolini (film director).

University of Oxford

Oxford University is one of the oldest universities in the world. It was established in the 12th century and is today a global centre for learning. It is a collegiate university, and its main operations are divided between 44 colleges where students work and live. Its oldest colleges include Merton College, University College, and the Balliol College. These colleges were established between 1249 and 1264.  The University continues to grow and has contributed significantly to several fields of study. Oxford is known for academic excellence.

Established	c. 1096
QS Ranking 2025	3
Top Courses	Humanities, Sciences, Medicine – A pioneer in various fields.
Notable Alumni	Stephen Hawking (physicist), Margaret Thatcher (former UK PM), J.R.R. Tolkien (author).

University of Salamanca

The University of Salamanca is one of the oldest universities in the world. It is the oldest university located in Spain that is functional. This is the institution where Christopher Columbus’s 15th century Indies expedition. The University was popular for education during the Renaissance. It is also known for its architecture, like the ornate plateresque façade. This was the first university to receive the formal title of a University. The institution pioneered in international law and human rights studies.

Established	1134
QS Ranking 2025	601-650
Top Courses	Humanities, Social Sciences, Law – Historically influential in law and philosophy.
Notable Alumni	Miguel de Cervantes (author), Hernán Cortés (conquistador), Adolfo Suárez (former Spanish PM).

University of Paris

The University of Paris, also known as ‘la Sorbonne’ is one of the oldest universities in the world. This educational institution was divided into 13 autonomous institutions in 1970. It was the medieval powerhouse for education. In the middle ages, it was known for its studies in philosophy and theology and introduced doctoral programs. 11 French presidents and 3 Popes have passed out from this university. The University is a symbol of intellectual prestige.

Established	c. 1150
QS Ranking 2025	NA
Top Courses	Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences – Home to many Nobel laureates.
Notable Alumni	Marie Curie (physicist), Jean-Paul Sartre (philosopher), Simone de Beauvoir (writer).

University of Cambridge

Did you know that the University of Cambridge was started by a group of scholars who left the University of Oxford due to conflicts? Thus, it became the second oldest university in the UK, and one of the oldest Universities in the world. Over the years, this University has had a friendly rivalry with Oxford. Cambridge University has made contributions to several fields. For example, Francis Crick completed his PHD at this University before discovering DNA and being awarded a Nobel Prize. Cambridge also has a collegiate system and is divided into 31 colleges. University students have contributed to science, technology,  literature, and the arts.

Established	1209
QS Ranking 2025	2
Top Courses	Science, Engineering, Humanities – Significant contributions to various disciplines.
Notable Alumni	Isaac Newton (physicist), Charles Darwin (biologist), Alan Turing (computer scientist).

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University of Padua

The University of Padua is also known as niversità di Padova or UNIPD. It is one of the oldest universities in the world that is functional. The University was started by students who had left the University of Bologna. The educational institution is popular for its contributions in early research of law, astronomy, philosophy, and medicine. This is a prestigious university that has several partnerships with other universities to assist with exchange programs. During the Renaissance period, it was the leading centre for medical education. 

Established	1222
QS Ranking 2025	219
Top Courses	Law, Medicine, Philosophy – Major contributions to Renaissance learning.
Notable Alumni	Nicolaus Copernicus (astronomer), Galileo Galilei (physicist), Elena Lucrezia Cornaro Piscopia (first woman to earn a PhD).

University of Naples Federico II

The emperor of the Holy Roman Empire (Frederick II) established this university. It is one of the oldest universities in the world and is located in the 3rd largest city in Italy. The University teaches a wide range of courses and has made several contributions in the field of natural sciences, philosophy, and law. It is considered one of the secular and state-funded universities in the world. Its an excellent university to pursue research. For example, the university hosted the first Apple IOS Developer Academy (2016).

University of Naples Federico II

Established	1224
QS Ranking 2025	328
Top Courses	Natural Sciences, Law, Philosophy – A leader in research.
Notable Alumni	Thomas Aquinas (philosopher), Giordano Bruno (astronomer), Enrico Fermi (physicist).

University of Siena

The University of Siena is one of the oldest universities in the world. Almost a third of the total population of the Siena studies at this university.  It became popular when the University of Bologna students left due to protest and chose to study here in 1321. The institution has made contributions to the Italian academia and is now renowned for its architecture. For example, its the school of Humanities and Philosophy called the Palazzo San Galgano that was constructed in the 13th century. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Established	1240
QS Ranking 2025	801-1000
Top Courses	Humanities, Law, Economics – Strong emphasis on liberal arts.
Notable Alumni	Pietro Ispano (Pope John XXI), Galgano Guidotti (saint), Roberto Benigni (actor).

University of Coimbra

The University of Coimbra is also one of the oldest universities in the world. What is unique about this university is that it has been relocated several times by demanding Kings. Its last relocation was in Coimbra, the 3d largest urban centre of the country and home to the Roman history. The University has seen several reforms and is now a UNESCO world heritage site. The University is known for its historical buildings, cultural traditions, and the open courtyard. At present, this institution is known for its scientific and technological research. The University also possess Portugal’s most powerful supercomputers.

Established	1290
QS Ranking 2025	431
Top Courses	Science, Law, Humanities – Strong emphasis on research and technology.
Notable Alumni	António de Oliveira Salazar (former Portuguese PM), Eça de Queirós (writer), Adriano Moreira (politician).

Al-Azhar University

Al-Azhar University is one of the oldest universities in the world. At first, this was a Madrasa having classes from primary to tertiary level.  Starting as the Islamic centre for learning it has progressed to a modern curriculum of secular subjects. It offers courses like economics, business, science, medicine, agriculture, and engineering. However, the school has seen political instability. For instance, during the 12th centurary, a new dynasty destroyed more than 100,000 texts. Only in 1961 was it able to gain a university status.

Established	970
QS Ranking 2025	NA
Top Courses	Islamic Studies, Medicine, Engineering – Offers both religious and secular subjects.
Notable Alumni	Sheikh Muhammad Abduh (Islamic scholar), Yusuf al-Qaradawi (theologian), Ahmed Zewail (Nobel laureate in chemistry).

University of Macerata

The University of Macerata is the oldest renowned university for humanities studies. It is located on top of a hill within medieval stone walls in the northeastern Italian countryside. Therefore, it is historically significant. It has seven faculties- economics, literature, philosophy, media studies, political science, law, and cultural heritage. You can find courses in English. Therefore, it is an accessible university for international students. 

Established	1290
QS Ranking 2025	NA
Top Courses	Humanities, Law, Cultural Studies – Strong emphasis on liberal arts.
Notable Alumni	Raffaele Mattioli (economist), Giuseppe Tucci (orientalist), Mario Monti (former Italian PM).

University of Valladolid

The University of Valladolid is not only one of the oldest universities in the world, but it is also one of the oldest universities in Spain. The University is popular for contributions in the area of philosophy, law, and theology. This is a public university that reaches in 4 cities- Palencia, Valladolid, Segovia, and Soria. Several cultural programmes are supported here. For example, several associations in music and theatre, like the youth symphonic orchestra, is popular. 

Established	1241
QS Ranking 2025	1201
Top Courses	Philosophy, Law, Theology – Significant contributions to Spanish academia.
Notable Alumni	Miguel Delibes (writer), José Zorrilla (poet), Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos (politician).

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University of Montpellier

The University of Montpellier is established in France and is counted as one of the oldest universities in the world. This is a prestigious university if you want to pursue courses in science and technology. For example, the university is renowned for advancing in the areas of botany, anatomy, and surgery. It is also an excellent university if you want to pursue environmental sciences and health research. After Pope Nicholas IV recongised this institution, it became popular for medical studies.  The institution is known for 14th-century arguments about the Black Death and Galen’s theories of miasma.

Established	1289
QS Ranking 2025	511-520 .
Top Courses	Medicine, Environmental Science, Anatomy – A leader in medical research.
Notable Alumni	François Rabelais (writer and physician), Auguste Comte (philosopher), François Arago (scientist).

University of Naples L’Orientale

The University of Naples L’Orientale is one of the oldest universities in the world in Europe that is dedicated to the study of Eastern languages and cultures. This educational institution was founded by a Jesuit priest, Matteo Rip, and started as a Chinese College, teaching asian languages and training missionaries. Later on, the curriculum also included African, Middle Eastern, and European studies. Mainly, this university has three departments- Africa, Asia, and Mediterranean; Literary, Linguistic and Comparative Studies; and Humanities and Social Sciences. The institution bridges East and West through education.

Established	1732
QS Ranking 2025	NA
Top Courses	Asian Studies, Linguistics, Humanities – Focuses on cultural and language studies.
Notable Alumni	Matteo Ricci (Jesuit missionary), Giuseppe Tucci (orientalist), Michelangelo Pistoletti (artist).

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