Universities in the United States ca n’t compete with the length of service of those in other part of the world . Harvard University , founded in 1636 , claim it ’s " thefirst collegein the American Colony , ” while the College of William and Mary , whosealumniincludeGeorge Washington , Thomas Jefferson , andJames Monroe , was founded in 1693 and says it ’s the first college to become a university . But school in Asia , Europe , and northern Africa have these American college thump by centuries .
While many of the longest - lived origination have gone through multiple replacement over the twelvemonth , the following remain among the oldest universities still function .
Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences // Iran
This aesculapian school in Khuzestan Province , Iran , was establish around 200 BCE by Shapur I , the Sassanian king .
University of Al-Karaouine // Morocco
found in 859 CE in the city of Fes , the school isrecognizedby Guinness World Records as the domain ’s oldest continuously control , arcdegree - yield university . ( Ahvaz Jundishapur University has not been maneuver continuously . )
Al-Azhar University // Egypt
This introduction in Cairo spread out its doors in 975 CE .
University of Bologna // Italy
The old university in Europe was founded in 1088 .
University of Paris // France
The precise year of the university ’s founding is unsure , but it was sometime around 1150 . Teaching was suspended in 1229 and the university split into 13 different universities in 1970 .
University of Oxford // England
The real university ’s founding twelvemonth is unknown , but records show that teaching has taken spot since 1096 . Oxford is the oldest university in the English - speaking cosmos .
University of Modena and Reggio Emilia // Italy
This institution in Modena was plant in 1175 , but has become in and out of operation . In 1338 , the medieval university structure was replaced by three public lectureship that did not award degrees . The university was reestablish in the early 1680s .
University of Cambridge // England
Cambridge is , as you might suspect , the secondly - quondam university in the English - speaking world . It was found in 1209 .
University of Salamanca // Spain
WhenChristopher Columbuswas trying to derive royal support for bump a western route to the Indies , he confront his case to geographer at this very university . Founded in 1218 , the University of Salamanca was actually the 2nd one established in Spain . The first , Palencia , no longer exists .
University of Montpellier // France
The University of Montpellier has been around since 1220 , but was suppressed in 1793 due to theFrench Revolution . It opened again in the other 19th C .
Read More account About the World ’s Oldest Things :
A version of this story was print in 2008 ; it has been updated for 2024 .
Related Tags
