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U.S. universities pale in comparison to the ancient roots of institutions elsewhere. Harvard University, established in 1636, asserts its status as "the first higher education institution in the American colonies," while the College of William and Mary, whose notable graduates include George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Monroe, was founded in 1693 and claims to be the first college to transition into a university. However, institutions in Asia, Europe, and northern Africa predate these American schools by several centuries.
Despite undergoing numerous transformations over the centuries, these enduring institutions remain some of the oldest universities still in operation.
Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences // Iran
A depiction of Abu Ali al-Husain ibn Abdallah ibn Sina, also known as Avicenna, the celebrated Iranian physician and philosopher (980-1037). | Stefano Bianchetti/Corbis via Getty ImagesEstablished around 200 BCE by Shapur I, the Sassanian king, this medical school is located in Khuzestan Province, Iran.
University of Al-Karaouine // Morocco
Established in 859 CE in Fes, this institution is acknowledged by Guinness World Records as the oldest continuously operating, degree-awarding university in the world. (Ahvaz Jundishapur University has not maintained continuous operation.)
Al-Azhar University // Egypt
The Mosque of Al-Azhar, erected between 969 and 972 and associated with Al-Azhar University, is considered one of the most esteemed centers of learning in the Islamic world. | Art Media/Print Collector/Getty ImagesThis Cairo-based institution began its operations in 975 CE.
University of Bologna // Italy
Established in 1088, this institution holds the title of the oldest university in Europe.
University of Paris // France
Amalric of Bena teaching, circa 1200, at the University of Paris. | Art Media/Print Collector/Getty ImagesWhile the precise founding year remains unclear, it is believed to have been around 1150. Instruction was halted in 1229, and the university was divided into 13 separate institutions in 1970.
University of Oxford // England
While the exact founding year remains uncertain, evidence indicates that teaching activities have been ongoing since 1096. Oxford holds the distinction of being the oldest university in the English-speaking world.
University of Modena and Reggio Emilia // Italy
The present-day campus of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia. | Wikimedia Commons // Public DomainEstablished in 1175, this institution in Modena has experienced periods of operation and closure. In 1338, its medieval structure was replaced by three public lectureships that did not confer degrees. It was revived in the early 1680s.
University of Cambridge // England
As one might expect, Cambridge is the second-oldest university in the English-speaking world, having been established in 1209.
University of Salamanca // Spain
Sculptures on a building at the University of Salamanca. | Xurxo Lobato/GettyImagesWhen Christopher Columbus sought royal backing for his quest to discover a western passage to the Indies, he presented his proposal to geographers at this university. Established in 1218, the University of Salamanca is actually the second-oldest in Spain, as the first, Palencia, no longer operates.
University of Montpellier // France
The University of Montpellier, founded in 1220, was temporarily shut down in 1793 due to the French Revolution. It resumed operations in the early 19th century.
