Wikipedia article: List of oldest universities in continuous operation

Question: when was the first university established in the world
Short answer: 1088 (
Answer: Year University Location Notes Original Current 1088 ( charter granted 1158 ) University of Bologna Kingdom of Italy, Holy Roman Empire Bologna, Italy 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. 1096 -- 1167 ( charter granted in 1248 ) University of Oxford Kingdom of England Oxford, United Kingdom 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. 1134 ( charter granted in 1218 ) University of Salamanca Kingdom of León Salamanca, Spain 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. 1209 ( charter granted in 1231 ) University of Cambridge Kingdom of England Cambridge, United Kingdom 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. 1222 ( probably older ) University of Padua Lombard League Padua, Italy Founded by scholars and professors after leaving Bologna. 1224 ( 1258 ) University of Naples Federico II Kingdom of Sicily Naples, Italy 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. 1290 University of Coimbra Kingdom of Portugal Coimbra, Portugal 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. 1290 University of Macerata Papal States Macerata, Italy 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. By 1293 University of Valladolid Crown of Castile Valladolid, Spain Founded in the late 13th century ( first documentary evidence 1293 ), probably by the city. 1293 Complutense University of Madrid Crown of Castile Madrid, Spain 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. 1303 Sapienza University of Rome Papal States Rome, Italy Founded by Pope Boniface VIII, but became a state university in 1935. 1308 University of Perugia Papal States Perugia, Italy Attested by the Bull of Pope Clement V. 1321 University of Florence Republic of Florence Florence, Italy 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. 1343 University of Pisa Republic of Pisa Pisa, Italy 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. 1348 Charles University of Prague Kingdom of Bohemia Prague, Czech Republic 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. 1357 University of Siena Republic of Siena Siena, Italy 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. 1361 University of Pavia Domain of the House of Visconti Pavia, Italy Closed for short periods during the Italian Wars, Napoleonic wars, and Revolutions of 1848. 1364 Jagiellonian University Kingdom of Poland Kraków, Poland 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. 1365 University of Vienna Holy Roman Empire Vienna, Austria Modelled on the University of Paris. 1386 Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg Holy Roman Empire Heidelberg, Germany Founded by Rupert I, Elector Palatine. The oldest in contemporary Germany and third oldest Germanophone university. 1391 University of Ferrara House of Este Ferrara, Italy Founded by Marquis Alberto d'Este. 1404 University of Turin Duchy of Savoy Turin, Italy Founded by the prince `` Louis of Piedmont '' during the reign of Amadeus VIII. 1409 University of Leipzig Holy Roman Empire Leipzig, Germany Founded when German - speaking staff left Prague due to the Jan Hus crisis. 1413 University of St. Andrews Kingdom of Scotland St. Andrews, United Kingdom A school of higher studies was founded in 1410 and became a full university by the issue of a Papal bull in 1413. 1419 University of Rostock Holy Roman Empire Rostock, Germany 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 ). 1434 University of Catania Kingdom of Sicily Catania, Italy The oldest in Sicily. Founded by Alfonso V of Aragon. 1450 University of Barcelona Crown of Aragon Barcelona, Spain 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. 1451 University of Glasgow Kingdom of Scotland Glasgow, United Kingdom Founded by a Papal bull. 1456 University of Greifswald Holy Roman Empire Greifswald, Germany 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 ). 1457 Albert Ludwigs University of Freiburg Holy Roman Empire Freiburg, Germany Temporarily transferred to Constance in 1686 -- 98 and 1713 -- 15. 1460 University of Basel Holy Roman Empire Basel, Switzerland Founded in 1460 ( Schola Basiliensis ), the University of Basel is the oldest university in Switzerland. 1472 Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich Holy Roman Empire Munich, Germany 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. 1477 Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen Holy Roman Empire Tübingen, Germany 1477 Uppsala University Kingdom of Sweden within the Kalmar Union Uppsala, Sweden 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. 1479 University of Copenhagen Kingdom of Denmark within the Kalmar Union Copenhagen, Denmark The University of Copenhagen is the oldest university in Denmark, and the second oldest in Scandinavia after Uppsala University in Sweden 1481 University of Genoa Republic of Genoa Genoa, Italy Founded in 1481 ( Genuense Athenaeum ). 1495 University of Aberdeen Kingdom of Scotland Aberdeen, United Kingdom King 's College was founded by a Papal bull in 1495 and then Marischal College in 1593; they merged in 1860. 1495 University of Santiago de Compostela Galicia, Crown of Castile Santiago de Compostela, Spain 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. 1499 University of Valencia Crown of Aragon Valencia, Spain