<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
<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
when was the first university established in the world
when was the first university established in the world
1088
1088