<Li> Australia (from the 19th century) </Li> <Li> Asia and Africa (from the 19th or 20th century), with the exception of the Philippines, where the University of Santo Tomas was established in the 17th century . </Li> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Year </Th> <Th> University </Th> <Th_colspan="2"> Location </Th> <Th> Notes </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Original </Th> <Th> Current </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1088 (charter granted 1158) </Td> <Td> University of Bologna </Td> <Td> Kingdom of Italy, Holy Roman Empire </Td> <Td> Bologna, Italy </Td> <Td> The oldest university in the world . A 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 Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa the "Authentica habita", which settled the rules, rights and privileges of universities . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1096--1167 (charter granted in 1248) </Td> <Td> University of Oxford </Td> <Td> Kingdom of England </Td> <Td> Oxford, United Kingdom </Td> <Td> The oldest university in the English - speaking world: Oxford claims its founding ("...teaching existed...in some form ...") as early as 1096, and not later than 1167 . Rashdall takes 1167 as the date when Oxford became a studium generale . In 1254, Pope Innocent IV granted Oxford a university charter by papal bull ("Querentes in agro"). Teaching was suspended in 1209 (due to the town's execution of two scholars) and in 1355 (due to the St. Scholastica Day riot), but was continuous during the English Civil War (1642--1651), when the University was Royalist . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1134 (charter granted in 1218) </Td> <Td> University of Salamanca </Td> <Td> Kingdom of León </Td> <Td> Salamanca, Spain </Td> <Td> The oldest university in the Hispanic world . The university claims to have been founded by Alfonso IX of León in 1218 (although James Trager's People's Chronology sets its foundation date as 1134), making it the third or fourth oldest university in continuous operation . It was the first European university to receive the title of "University" as such, which was granted by the King of Castile and León, Alfonso X, and the Pope in 1254 . After being 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 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1209 (charter granted in 1231) </Td> <Td> University of Cambridge </Td> <Td> Kingdom of England </Td> <Td> Cambridge, United Kingdom </Td> <Td> Founded by scholars leaving Oxford after a dispute caused by the execution of two scholars in 1209 . Its royal charter was granted in 1231 . The University takes 1209 as its official anniversary . Inspired the establishment of Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, with the first college in the United States, Harvard University named after one of Cambridge University's alumni, John Harvard . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1222 (probably older) </Td> <Td> University of Padua </Td> <Td> Lombard League </Td> <Td> Padua, Italy </Td> <Td> Founded by scholars and professors after leaving Bologna . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1224 (1258) </Td> <Td> University of Naples Federico II </Td> <Td> Kingdom of Sicily </Td> <Td> Naples, Italy </Td> <Td> 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 . It is considered to be the oldest public and state university in the world . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1290 </Td> <Td> University of Coimbra </Td> <Td> Kingdom of Portugal </Td> <Td> Coimbra, Portugal </Td> <Td> It began its existence in Lisbon with the name Studium Generale (Estudo Geral). Scientiae thesaurus mirabilis ("the admirable treasure of knowledge"), the royal charter announcing the institution of the University, was dated 1 March 1290, although efforts had been made since at least 1288 to create this first university in Portugal . Papal confirmation was also given in 1290 (on 9 August of that year), during the papacy of Pope Nicholas IV . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1290 </Td> <Td> University of Macerata </Td> <Td> Papal States </Td> <Td> Macerata, Italy </Td> <Td> Founded in 1290, possibly as a private law school rather than a university . Unknown whether this was in continuous operation, but there is evidence for a school (without degree awarding powers) in 1518 . After petitions from the commune to the Pope from 1534, bull establishing a studium generale issued in 1540 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> By 1293 </Td> <Td> University of Valladolid </Td> <Td> Crown of Castile </Td> <Td> Valladolid, Spain </Td> <Td> Founded in the late 13th century (first documentary evidence 1293), probably by the city . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1293 </Td> <Td> Complutense University of Madrid </Td> <Td> Crown of Castile </Td> <Td> Madrid, Spain </Td> <Td> The University of Alcalá was founded by King Sancho IV of Castile as Studium Generale in 1293 in Alcalá de Henares . It was granted a 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 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, its present name . On the other side, the Universidad de Alcalá was restored in Alcalá de Henares in 1977 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1303 </Td> <Td> Sapienza University of Rome </Td> <Td> Papal States </Td> <Td> Rome, Italy </Td> <Td> Founded by Pope Boniface VIII, but became a state university in 1935 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1308 </Td> <Td> University of Perugia </Td> <Td> Papal States </Td> <Td> Perugia, Italy </Td> <Td> Attested by the Bull of Pope Clement V . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1321 </Td> <Td> University of Florence </Td> <Td> Republic of Florence </Td> <Td> Florence, Italy </Td> <Td> 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 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1343 </Td> <Td> University of Pisa </Td> <Td> Republic of Pisa </Td> <Td> Pisa, Italy </Td> <Td> It was formally founded on 3 September 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 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1348 </Td> <Td> Charles University of Prague </Td> <Td> Kingdom of Bohemia </Td> <Td> Prague, Czech Republic </Td> <Td> 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 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1357 </Td> <Td> University of Siena </Td> <Td> Republic of Siena </Td> <Td> Siena, Italy </Td> <Td> Claims to have been founded in 1240 by the Commune of Siena, although Rashdall dates the proclamation of the Studium to 1246, when Frederick II tried to place a ban on scholars travelling to Bologna . Was granted some exemptions from taxes by Pope Innocent II in 1252, but closed shortly after when the scholars returned to Bologna . Attempted revivals in 1275 and (fed by further short - lived migrations of scholars from Bologna) in 1321 and 1338 were unsuccessful . Gained an Imperial Bull in 1357 "granting it de novo the' privileges of a Studium Generale ."', but was not firmly established until "(i) n 1408 a fresh grant of privileges was obtained from Pope Gregory XII". Closed temporarily in 1808--1815 when Napoleonic forces occupied Tuscany . On 7 November 2015 the University celebrated its 775th anniversary . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1361 </Td> <Td> University of Pavia </Td> <Td> Domain of the House of Visconti </Td> <Td> Pavia, Italy </Td> <Td> Closed for short periods during the Italian Wars, Napoleonic wars, and Revolutions of 1848 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1364 </Td> <Td> Jagiellonian University </Td> <Td> Kingdom of Poland </Td> <Td> Kraków, Poland </Td> <Td> 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 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1365 </Td> <Td> University of Vienna </Td> <Td> Holy Roman Empire </Td> <Td> Vienna, Austria </Td> <Td> Modelled on the University of Paris . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1386 </Td> <Td> Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg </Td> <Td> Holy Roman Empire </Td> <Td> Heidelberg, Germany </Td> <Td> Founded by Rupert I, Elector Palatine . The oldest in contemporary Germany and third oldest Germanophone university . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1391 </Td> <Td> University of Ferrara </Td> <Td> House of Este </Td> <Td> Ferrara, Italy </Td> <Td> Founded by Marquis Alberto d'Este . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1404 </Td> <Td> University of Turin </Td> <Td> Duchy of Savoy </Td> <Td> Turin, Italy </Td> <Td> Founded by the prince "Louis of Piedmont" during the reign of Amadeus VIII . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1409 </Td> <Td> University of Leipzig </Td> <Td> Holy Roman Empire </Td> <Td> Leipzig, Germany </Td> <Td> Founded when German - speaking staff left Prague due to the Jan Hus crisis . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1413 </Td> <Td> University of St. Andrews </Td> <Td> Kingdom of Scotland </Td> <Td> St. Andrews, United Kingdom </Td> <Td> A school of higher studies was founded in 1410 and became a full university by the issue of a Papal bull in 1413 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1419 </Td> <Td> University of Rostock </Td> <Td> Holy Roman Empire </Td> <Td> Rostock, Germany </Td> <Td> 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". The university closed in 1523, but would appear to have reopened by 1551, when there are records of a number of professors being appointed, including Johannes Aurifaber, David Chytraeus, and Johann Draconites (de). </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1434 </Td> <Td> University of Catania </Td> <Td> Kingdom of Sicily </Td> <Td> Catania, Italy </Td> <Td> The oldest in Sicily . Founded by Alfonso V of Aragon . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1450 </Td> <Td> University of Barcelona </Td> <Td> Crown of Aragon </Td> <Td> Barcelona, Spain </Td> <Td> 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 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1451 </Td> <Td> University of Glasgow </Td> <Td> Kingdom of Scotland </Td> <Td> Glasgow, United Kingdom </Td> <Td> Founded by a Papal bull . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1456 </Td> <Td> University of Greifswald </Td> <Td> Holy Roman Empire </Td> <Td> Greifswald, Germany </Td> <Td> 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). </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1457 </Td> <Td> Albert Ludwigs University of Freiburg </Td> <Td> Holy Roman Empire </Td> <Td> Freiburg, Germany </Td> <Td> Temporarily transferred to Constance in 1686--98 and 1713--15 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1460 </Td> <Td> University of Basel </Td> <Td> Holy Roman Empire </Td> <Td> Basel, Switzerland </Td> <Td> Founded in 1460 (Schola Basiliensis), the University of Basel is the oldest university in Switzerland . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1472 </Td> <Td> Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich </Td> <Td> Holy Roman Empire </Td> <Td> Munich, Germany </Td> <Td> Founded in Ingolstadt in 1472; with a Papal Bull obtained in 1459 from Pope Pius II by Louis the Rich, transferred to Landshut in 1800, moved to Munich in 1826 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1477 </Td> <Td> Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen </Td> <Td> Holy Roman Empire </Td> <Td> Tübingen, Germany </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1477 </Td> <Td> Uppsala University </Td> <Td> Kingdom of Sweden within the Kalmar Union </Td> <Td> Uppsala, Sweden </Td> <Td> 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 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1479 </Td> <Td> University of Copenhagen </Td> <Td> Kingdom of Denmark within the Kalmar Union </Td> <Td> Copenhagen, Denmark </Td> <Td> The University of Copenhagen is the oldest university in Denmark, and the second oldest in Scandinavia after Uppsala University in Sweden </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1481 </Td> <Td> University of Genoa </Td> <Td> Republic of Genoa </Td> <Td> Genoa, Italy </Td> <Td> Founded in 1481 (Genuense Athenaeum). </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1495 </Td> <Td> University of Aberdeen </Td> <Td> Kingdom of Scotland </Td> <Td> Aberdeen, United Kingdom </Td> <Td> King's College was founded by a Papal bull in 1495 and then Marischal College in 1593; they merged in 1860 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1495 </Td> <Td> University of Santiago de Compostela </Td> <Td> Galicia, Crown of Castile </Td> <Td> Santiago de Compostela, Spain </Td> <Td> 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 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1499 </Td> <Td> University of Valencia </Td> <Td> Crown of Aragon </Td> <Td> Valencia, Spain </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> Year </Th> <Th> University </Th> <Th_colspan="2"> Location </Th> <Th> Notes </Th> </Tr>

When was the first university established in the world