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England houses some of the oldest and most prestigious universities worldwide, renowned for their world-class education and research facilities. In this blog, we will show you the oldest university in England and several other very old prestigious institutes. We will provide a list of these old institutes and talk about each of them. Apart from being the oldest, these universities are some of the most prominent as well. They boast an outstanding global reputation and offer top-notch programs in a wide range of disciplines. See the list of the oldest universities in England below.
| Country | England |
| Capital | London |
| Area | 130,279 km² |
| Population | 56 Million |
| Number of Universities in England | 106 |
| Number of Universities in the UK | 130 |
| Oldest University in England | University of Oxford |
| Historical Significance | England became the epicentre of a global Industrial Revolution in the early 19th century and soon the world’s most industrialised nation. |
| Currency | Pound Sterling (GBP) |
This Blog Includes:
- 1. University of Oxford (1096)
- 2. University of Cambridge (1209)
- 3. University of Glasgow (1451)
- 4. University of Aberdeen (1495)
- 5. University of Edinburgh (1583)
- 6. University College London UCL (1826)
- 7. Durham University (1832)
- 8. University of London (1836)
- 9. University of Westminster (1839)
- 10. University of Birmingham (1900)
- FAQs
1. University of Oxford (1096)
Source: University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is the oldest university in England. One of the leading universities across the globe, the University of Oxford has evidence of teaching and learning from as early as the year 1096. This autonomous university at Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, offers about 350 different graduate degree programs and is organized into 6 permanent private halls and 39 independent colleges.
It boasts 4 academic divisions of Humanities, Medical Sciences, Social Sciences and Mathematical, Physical, and Life Sciences, which together comprise about 100 academic departments of study. Students from around the world frequently choose this university to pursue education because of its world-class education and faculty members.
| Institute | University of Oxford |
| QS World University Rankings 2024 | #3 |
| THE World University Rankings 2024 | #1 |
| Website | https://www.ox.ac.uk/ |
| Location | Wellington Square, Oxford OX1 2JD, United Kingdom |
| Famous Graduates | Albert Einstein, Margaret Thatcher, Adam Smith, Bill Clinton, Hugh Grant, Oscar Wilde, and Stephen Hawking |
Also Read: How to Get Admission in Oxford University from India
2. University of Cambridge (1209)
Source: University of Cambridge
The second oldest university in England on our list is the University of Cambridge. This prestigious institute has been offering first-class education since its inception in 1209. It provides more than 30 undergraduate courses and over 300 postgraduate courses. Located in the beautiful city of Cambridge, it has produced numerous highly successful personalities since its inception. It enrols over 20,000 students hailing from 140 countries.
| Institute | University of Cambridge |
| QS World University Rankings 2024 | #2 |
| THE World University Rankings 2024 | #5 |
| Website | https://www.cam.ac.uk/ |
| Location | The Old Schools, Trinity Ln, Cambridge CB2 1TN, United Kingdom |
| Famous Graduates | Charles Darwin, Sir Isaac Newton, Alan Turing, Francis Bacon, Joseph Stiglitz, William Harvey, and Sylvia Plath |
Also Read: University of Cambridge Notable Alumni
3. University of Glasgow (1451)
Source: University of Glasgow
Another prestigious institute on our list of the oldest university in England is the University of Glasgow, which was founded in 1451. Located in Glasgow, Scotland, this Russell Group university is renowned for its exceptional teaching standards and welcoming environment. The University of Glasgow houses around 29,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students. Thousands of students apply for admission to this prestigious institute due to its high-quality education standards and global reputation.
| Institute | University of Glasgow |
| QS World University Rankings 2024 | #=76 |
| THE World University Rankings 2024 | #=87 |
| Website | https://www.gla.ac.uk/ |
| Location | Glasgow G12 8QQ, United Kingdom |
| Famous Graduates | Adam Smith, Sir William Ramsay, John Logie Baird, Gerard Butler, John Smith, Thomas Muir, and Andrew Bonar Law |
4. University of Aberdeen (1495)
Source: University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen is another prominent institute on our list of the oldest university in England, founded in 1495. Situated in Aberdeen, Scotland, this highly regarded university boasts about 650 world-class courses. Just like the other institutes in the list, it has also generated various prominent personalities who carved out a name for themselves in their respective fields.
| Institute | University of Aberdeen |
| QS World University Rankings 2024 | #208 |
| THE World University Rankings 2024 | #201–250 |
| Website | https://www.abdn.ac.uk/ |
| Location | King’s College, Aberdeen AB24 3FX, United Kingdom |
| Famous Graduates | Iain Glen, Lord Addington, Sir George Paget Thomson, Alistair Darling, Tessa Jowell, and Lord Sutherland |
5. University of Edinburgh (1583)
Source: The University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh was founded in 1582 by the town council under the authority of a royal charter of King James VI and officially opened in 1583. Among the most prestigious institutes on our list of the oldest university in England, the University of Edinburgh is renowned for its world-class education facilities. It offers about 400 degrees across 60 different subjects, catering to the diverse interests of students.
| Institute | University of Edinburgh |
| QS World University Rankings 2024 | #22 |
| THE World University Rankings 2024 | #=30 |
| Website | https://www.ed.ac.uk/ |
| Location | Old College, South Bridge, Edinburgh EH8 9YL, United Kingdom |
| Famous Graduates | Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Alexander Graham Bell, Charles Darwin, Sir James Matthew Barrie, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Julius Nyerere |
Also Read: The University of Edinburgh Scholarships
6. University College London UCL (1826)
Source: University College London
The University College London (UCL) is another top-notch institute on our list of oldest university in England. Founded in 1826, it has generated numerous prominent personalities since. It is located in Gower St, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom, boasting an impressive campus. With over 400 undergraduate degree programmes and 42,000 students from 150 different nations, it is a truly global university. It is also worth noting that it was the first school to admit women in 1878.
| Institute | University College London (UCL) |
| QS World University Rankings 2024 | #9 |
| THE World University Rankings 2024 | #22 |
| Website | https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ |
| Location | Gower St, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom |
| Famous Graduates | Mahatma Gandhi, David Attenborough, Alexander Graham Bell, Christopher Nolan, and Chris Martin |
7. Durham University (1832)
Source: Durham University
Durham University was established in 1832 by an Act of Parliament and incorporated by royal charter in 1837. Located in Durham, England, it is among the most sought-after universities in the world. It boasts a huge campus with about 20% international students, creating a very diverse environment. Moreover, it offers 300+ undergraduate and taught postgraduate courses in a diverse range of fields.
| Institute | Durham University |
| QS World University Rankings 2024 | #78 |
| THE World University Rankings 2024 | #174 |
| Website | https://www.durham.ac.uk/ |
| Location | The Palatine Centre, University, Stockton Rd, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom |
| Famous Graduates | George Alagiah, Nasser Hussain, Jonathan Edwards, George Lazenby, Gabby Logan, Will Carling, and Jeremy Vine |
8. University of London (1836)
Source: University of London
The University of London is a federal public research university in London, England, United Kingdom. Established in 1836 to promote access to higher education, it is one of the most highly recorded universities in England and globally. It has about 48,000 distance-learning external students and nearly 219,410 campus-based internal students.
| Institute | University of London |
| QS World University Rankings 2024 | NA |
| THE World University Rankings 2024 | NA |
| Website | https://www.london.ac.uk/ |
| Location | Senate House, Malet St, London WC1E 7HU, United Kingdom |
| Famous Graduates | Charles K. Kao, Rolph Payet, Derek Walcott, and Nelson Mandela |
Also Read: 6 Things to Know About Student Life in London
9. University of Westminster (1839)
Source: University of Westminster
The University of Westminster is a public institute in London, United Kingdom. Established in 1838 as the Royal Polytechnic Institution, it was the first polytechnic to set up in London. Among the oldest on our list of the oldest university in England, the Polytechnic formally got a Royal Charter in August 1839 and became the University of Westminster in 1992. It houses more than 19,000 students from over 160 countries, making it a truly diverse university.
| Institute | University of Westminster |
| QS World University Rankings 2024 | #711-720 |
| THE World University Rankings 2024 | #801–1000 |
| Website | https://www.westminster.ac.uk/ |
| Location | 309 Regent St., London W1B 2HW, United Kingdom |
| Famous Graduates | Charlie Brooker, Vivienne Westwood, Alexander Fleming, Roger Waters, Christopher Bailey, and David Gascoyne. |
10. University of Birmingham (1900)
Source: University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a public research institute in Birmingham, England. It got its royal charter as a successor to Queen’s College, Birmingham, and Mason Science College in 1900. It currently enrols 35,000 students hailing from over 150 different countries on campus, making it one of the most diverse institutes on our list of oldest university in England.
Established on 31 May 1900, the University of Birmingham represented a new Higher Education model. It was England’s first civic university, where students from all backgrounds were admitted on an equal basis. Over 100 years on, the Birmingham campus has grown to 672 acres, and it also now has a campus in Dubai.
| Institute | University of Birmingham |
| QS World University Rankings 2024 | #84 |
| THE World University Rankings 2024 | #101 |
| Website | https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/ |
| Location | Birmingham, United Kingdom |
| Famous Graduates | Tim Curry, Christine McVie, Matthew Goode, Simon Le Bon, Victoria Wood, and Tom Riley. |
Relevant Reads:
FAQs
Answer: The University of Oxford is the oldest university in England, founded in 1096.
Answer: The University of Oxford (1096) is older than the University of Cambridge (1209).
Answer: The University College London UCL (1826) was the first university in London.
So, this was all about the oldest university in England. Many Indian students dream of pursuing education in foreign nations due to the exposure and career growth they offer. Consider joining a free counselling session with Leverage Edu if you plan to study abroad.
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