Interested in Studying in the UK? Then Let Us Explore the 10 Oldest Universities

The oldest Universities in the UK have been around for many centuries and even close to a millennium for some and there are plenty of reasons why prospective students wants to study at some of them: the teaching and research tradition; the immaculate reputation and historic heritage that these universities have in academics and the various scholarships and job opportunities for international students. In spite of their establishment which dates back to hundreds of years, they remain not only relevant but also are proven centers of excellence. I have compiled a list of the Ten (10) oldest Universities in the UK. Check out the list below:

1. University of Oxford
The University of Oxford was founded in the year 1096 and it currently holds the position as the Oldest University in the UK and in the English-speaking world. The University of Oxford is an institution well known for its prestigious international reputation, where one third of its students, including 17% of undergraduates, are international citizens, and come from over 150 countries.
The University also operates the largest University press in the world and is highly desired among students across the faculties of Science, Arts, Humanities, Medicine, Law and Engineering.

2. University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is the second oldest University in the UK and was established in 1209 by a group of scholars who were forced to leave the University of Oxford following disputes with the local townspeople. The University went on to be considered a pioneer in Science and Technology and its currently ranked among the top ten in the world.
The University of Cambridge is most prominently a University of public science whose background and influence have made it one of the world’s most prestigious Universities.

3. The University of St Andrews
The University of St Andrews was founded between 1410 - 1413 by an Augustinian community who wanted to study advanced topics. The University of St Andrews is a public University located in St Andrews, Scotland. It is the oldest among the four Universities in Scotland and also it is the third oldest University in the UK.
Today, over 11,000 students are enrolled at St Andrews, 80% of these are enrolled in the undergraduate program. Students from 145 Nationalities are on campus and 45 % of these students are international students from outside the UK.

4. University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is regarded as an ancient public research university that initially educated students from wealthy backgrounds. The University was founded in 1451 by papal charter from the then Pope Nicholas V as an addition to the city’s cathedral. In the UK, it is the fourth oldest University and first among Scotland’s ancient Universities. Today, more than 27,000 students from all over the globe enjoy the privilege of studying at one of the world’s top 100 Universities.

5. University of Aberdeen
The history of the University of Aberdeen dates back more than 500 years, originally founded in 1495 under the name “The King’s College of Aberdeen”. The current University of Aberdeen is the result of a merger in 1860 between the original King’s College and the newer Marischal College.
The University of Aberdeen has been ranked consistently among the Top 200 Universities of the world and Top 30 Universities within the UK. The University of Aberdeen has more than 14,000 students studying in the undergraduate, postgraduate programs which includes international students from 130 countries.

6. University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh was initially founded by the Edinburgh Town Council as a college of law before it was formally established as a college by a Royal Charter in the year 1582 and it first opened its doors to the public in 1583. With over 13,000 students from over 150 countries and 40,000 students in total, it is one of the 10 largest Universities in the UK and it is ranked 20th in the world by the 2020 QS World University Rankings.
Some of the smartest minds in scientific history studied here: father of the theory of evolution Charles Darwin, statistician Thomas Bayes, physicist James Clerk Maxwell, and many others.

7. University of Manchester
The roots of the University of Manchester can be traced back to the Manchester Mechanics Institute formed in 1824, later renamed the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST). The modern University of Manchester was officially launched in the year 2004 by the merger of the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) and the Victoria University of Manchester.
The University of Manchester is one of the largest single site Universities in the UK with 28% of the total population of 40,000 students from the international community thereby making the University of Manchester the largest international student community in the United Kingdom.

8. University College London
The University College London Is a public research University located in London, United Kingdom whose roots can be traced back to the London University in 1826 before the University established its independence and was formally named as University College London Under a new charter in the year 1976.
The University College London regularly claims top 20 spots in international university rankings and it is the first higher degree institution founded in London with a total enrolment of the third-largest University in the UK, and it also became the first British institution in 1878 to accept women into its programmes on equal terms with men.

9. Durham University
Durham University is a public research University founded by an Act of Parliament in the year 1832 and was granted a Royal Charter in the year 1837. Located in Durham, England, Durham University is consistently ranked as one of the best Universities in the UK and Internationally, Durham regularly finds its way into the top 100 ranked schools in the world.
The students represent over 130 countries with a total student population of 18,000, 30% of these students are from the international community.

10. Aberystwyth University
Aberystwyth University was originally founded in 1872 as the University College of Wales. In 1894, it became a founding constituent college of the University of Wales. When the University of Wales changed its structure in 2007, Aberystwyth University became independent again. Aberystwyth University is a public research university and It provides learning opportunities for students with various degree programs in different fields.

I hope this list has been helpful and you now know the Ten (10) oldest Universities to study at in the UK. If you find this information helpful, share with a friend & tag someone who may be interested.

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