Lana Oconnell
The first universities in Europe were established by Catholic monks, with the earliest institutions being founded as early as the 6th century. The University of Bologna, founded in 1088, is considered the first true university in the West, having issued secular and non-secular degrees and having independence from ecclesiastic schools. The University of Oxford, founded in the 12th century, is the third oldest university in the world and the University of Cambridge was established in 1209 by scholars leaving Oxford due to political conflicts. The University of Paris, founded between 1150 and 1170, became a model for other universities in northern Europe. The University of Salamanca, founded in 1134, is Spain's oldest institution. The University of Padua, founded in 1222, is one of the oldest medieval universities in Italy. The University of Siena, founded in 1240, is one of the oldest public universities in the world.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of students | Varied across universities, ranging from a few thousand to over 80,000 |
| Student demographics | Varied, including international students and scholars from foreign countries |
| Courses offered | Theology, law, medicine, arts, philosophy, grammar, logic, rhetoric, geometry, arithmetic, astronomy, music, history, physics, economics, business, engineering, political sciences, literature, media studies, education sciences, cultural heritage |
| Teaching staff | Professors, lecturers |
| Alumni | Vary based on the university, including popes, businessmen, politicians, astronauts, Nobel laureates, prime ministers, writers, scientists, theologians, philosophers, etc. |
| Founding body | Varied, including Catholic monks, kings, emperors, popes, and scholars |
| Founding date | Varied, with the earliest universities founded in the 9th to 13th centuries |
| Location | Varied, with a presence in Europe, Africa, Asia, North America, and the Middle East |
| Type of institution | Universities were generally independent and self-regulating, with some being public or private, secular or religious |
| Governance | Early universities were governed by corporations of students and masters, with masters having the power to lecture and examine. Later, universities gained independence and were governed by faculty or students. |
| Curriculum | The core curriculum was based on the seven liberal arts, with students then proceeding to study specialized subjects such as medicine, law, or theology. |
| Examinations | Final examinations were grueling, and many students failed. |
| Buildings and infrastructure | Early universities had no permanent buildings or significant corporate property. Later universities developed multiple campuses and cultural and scientific museums. |
| Social aspects | Student brawling and absentee professors were common issues. |
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What You'll Learn
The first students of the University of Bologna
The University of Bologna, established in 1088, is the oldest university in Europe and one of the oldest and most famous universities in the world. It is also the world's oldest university in continuous operation. The university is located in Bologna, Italy, and has a student body of around 87,760, of which 6,400 are international students.
The university was founded when students organised themselves to establish an official learning facility. The educational system developed when students hired instructors for informal educational sessions, distinguishing it from faculty or religious authority-founded universities. This period introduced the term 'Universitas', defining the student-masters community, which established the university as an institution that grants degrees. The University of Bologna has more than 200 degree programs, including 107 international programs with 89 English-taught courses. The university has influenced European education models and shaped contemporary university systems.
The University of Bologna has a rich history of student participation in university operations, which continues as a tradition in modern times. In the early 1950s, some students of the university were among the founders of the review "il Mulino", which became one of the most interesting reference points in Italy for political and cultural debate. This editorial work evolved, and in 1954, the "il Mulino" publishing house was founded, which today is one of the most relevant Italian publishers.
The University of Bologna has many notable alumni, including Laura Bassi, the first female university professor, Dante Alighieri, and three popes, numerous businessmen, and several Italian politicians.
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Students of the University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is one of the oldest universities in the world, with evidence of teaching as early as 1096. It is the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the world's second-oldest university in continuous operation. The foundation date of the university is unknown, but it is known that teaching existed at Oxford in some form in the 11th century. The historian Ranulf Higden wrote in the 1300s that the university was founded in the 9th century by Alfred the Great, but this is considered apocryphal.
Oxford grew quickly from 1167 when Henry II banned English students from attending the University of Paris following a quarrel with Thomas Becket. The first known foreign scholar, Emo of Friesland, arrived in 1190, setting in motion the university's tradition of developing international scholarly links. By 1201, the university was headed by a 'magister scholarum (head of an ecclesiastical school) Oxonie', and in 1209, the University of Cambridge was established by a group of scholars leaving Oxford due to political conflicts. The two English ancient universities share many traditions and are jointly referred to as Oxbridge.
Oxford's students initially associated based on geographical origins, dividing into two 'nations' representing the North and the South. In later centuries, geographical origins continued to influence affiliations when membership of a college or hall became customary. Members of religious orders, including Dominicans, Franciscans, Carmelites, and Augustinians, settled in Oxford in the mid-13th century and maintained houses or halls for students. Private benefactors also established colleges as self-contained scholarly communities. The first colleges, University, Balliol, and Merton, were established between 1249 and 1264, with Merton College becoming the model for such establishments.
Oxford has a long history of religious and political disputes involving scholars. In the 14th century, John Wyclif, a Master of Balliol, campaigned for a Bible in English, against the wishes of the papacy. In the 16th century, Henry VIII forced the university to accept his divorce from Catherine of Aragon, and the Anglican churchmen Cranmer, Latimer, and Ridley were later tried for heresy and burned at the stake in the city. The university was Royalist during the Civil War, and Charles I held a counter-Parliament in the University's Convocation House.
Oxford scholars in the late 15th century included William Grocyn, who contributed to the revival of Greek language studies, and John Colet. In the 17th century, Sir Christopher Wren was an undergraduate at Wadham College and was part of a group of experimental scientists, including Robert Boyle and Robert Hooke, who held regular meetings at Wadham. This group formed the nucleus that went on to found the Royal Society.
Today, Oxford is committed to globalization and sustainability, with almost half of its students and academic staff from outside the United Kingdom. It has a student community of nearly 24,300 and operates the largest university press in the world. It is one of the world's highest-ranked universities, with a rich history and a tradition of academic excellence.
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Students of the University of Paris
The University of Paris, often known as 'la Sorbonne', was established between 1160 and 1250 and is known to have been one of the first universities in Europe. The university was suspended from operating between 1793 and 1896 following the French Revolution.
In 1150, the future University of Paris was a student–teacher corporation operating as an annex of the cathedral school of Paris. The earliest historical reference to it is found in Matthew Paris's reference to the studies of his teacher (an abbot of St Albans) and his acceptance into "the fellowship of the elect Masters" there in about 1170. Lotario dei Conti di Segni, the future Pope Innocent III, completed his studies there in 1182 at the age of 21. The university had four faculties: Arts, Medicine, Law, and Theology. The Faculty of Arts was the lowest in rank but the largest, as students had to graduate there to be admitted to one of the higher faculties. The students were divided into four 'nationes' according to language or regional origin: France, Normandy, Picardy, and England. The English-German nation included students from Scandinavia and Eastern Europe.
The university was so well-regarded that many foreigners flocked to it. Popes Celestine II, Adrian IV, and Innocent III studied at Paris, and Alexander III sent his nephews there. Noted German and English students included Otto of Freisingen, Cardinal Conrad, Archbishop of Mainz, St. Thomas of Canterbury, and John of Salisbury.
Paris is still a popular study destination for international students. It is considered a convenient place to be a student, with access to everything from cultural life to the latest innovations, as well as historical and architectural assets. Paris is also home to some of the world's best universities, including the highest-ranking school in the city, Université PSL, which ranks 44th in the world. The American University of Paris provides a premiere American-style education that prepares international undergraduate and graduate students for future professional and academic success.
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Students of the University of Padua
The University of Padua, founded in 1222, is one of the oldest universities in Europe. It is known for its academic freedom and was formed when a group of students and professors left the University of Bologna in search of more academic freedom. The University of Padua has a large and vibrant international community of staff, students, and alumni. The student body was historically divided into groups known as "nations", which reflected their places of origin.
The University of Padua initially started as a school of law and medicine, with the first subjects taught being law and theology. The curriculum expanded rapidly, and by 1399 the institution had divided into two universities: Universitas Iuristarum for civil and canon law, and Universitas Artistarum, which taught astronomy, dialectic, philosophy, grammar, medicine, and rhetoric. The University of Padua is particularly renowned for its research in medicine, astronomy, philosophy, and law.
The University of Padua offers over 150 Italian-taught degree programs and 40 English-taught degree programs across various disciplines, including medicine, psychology, economics, political science, human and social sciences, cultural heritage, engineering, science, agriculture, and veterinary medicine. The university is consistently ranked among the best Italian universities and is recognised as the best university in Italy for teaching and research quality by the National Evaluation Agency for University System and Research.
The University of Padua has a rich history and is located in the city of Padua, the setting of William Shakespeare's famous play "The Taming of the Shrew." It manages nine museums, including a History of Physics museum, and established the Botanical Garden of Padova in 1545, which is one of the oldest academic gardens in the world.
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Students of the University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge, established in 1209, is one of the world's oldest universities. The university was founded when a group of scholars from the University of Oxford left due to political conflicts. The University of Cambridge has a rich history and is a self-governed community of scholars with around 23,247 students, out of which 5,340 are international students. The university is divided into several sites, which house various departments, including the School of Clinical Medicine, based in Addenbrooke's Hospital.
The University of Cambridge includes 31 semi-autonomous colleges and over 100 academic departments, faculties, and institutions organised into six schools. All students are required to have a college affiliation within the university, and undergraduate teaching is centred on weekly small-group supervisions in the colleges. The university's oldest college is Peterhouse, founded by the Bishop of Ely. Other notable buildings include King's College Chapel and the history faculty building designed by James Stirling. The university also has over 100 libraries.
The university's examination in mathematics, known as the Mathematical Tripos, was initially compulsory for all undergraduates studying for a Bachelor of Arts degree. The Cambridge Mathematical Tripos is highly competitive and has produced some of the most famous names in British science, including James Clerk Maxwell, Lord Kelvin, and Lord Rayleigh. However, some famous students, such as G. H. Hardy, disliked the Tripos system, feeling that students were too focused on exam marks rather than the subject itself.
For several centuries, the University of Cambridge was only open to male students. The first colleges for women were established in the late 19th and late 20th centuries, and women were accepted as full members of the university in 1948.
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Frequently asked questions
The earliest universities were attended by students from all parts of Europe. These students were often clerks and monks who had received education beyond the level of cathedral and monastic schools.
The core curriculum of the earliest universities was based on the seven liberal arts: grammar, logic, rhetoric, geometry, arithmetic, astronomy, and music. Students then proceeded to study under one of the professional faculties of medicine, law, and theology.
The earliest universities in Europe were established by Catholic monks. The University of Bologna, founded in 1088, is the first university in the sense of having independence from ecclesiastic schools and issuing secular and non-secular degrees.
The University of al-Qarawiyyin, University of Ez-Zitouna, and Al-Azhar University were founded as mosques in 859, 698 or 734, and 972 respectively. They became universities in 1963, 1956, and 1961.
The University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines was established in the 17th century.
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