The UK has some of the oldest universities in the world. While that’s more important to some than others, it’s reassuring to know the university you’re considering has a long history of delivering education to the masses.
Published on: 19 Oct 2023
University of Oxford – 1096
The University of Oxford is the oldest university in the UK by far. While not quite as old as Ez-Zitouna, it has a fantastic reputation for delivering high-quality education to some of the most recognisable names in history.
Oxford is also one of our best universities, often vying for top spot with Cambridge. It always places in the top three in university league tables along with Cambridge and St Andrews. That makes it a very competitive university to get into!
Famous graduates: Albert Einstein, Adam Smith, Margaret Thatcher, J.R.R. Tolkien; Bill Clinton, Oscar Wilde, Hugh Grant and Stephen Hawking.
University of Cambridge – 1209
Our second oldest university arrived a little over 100 years later. The University of Cambridge was founded in 1209 and has been delivering first-class education ever since. Cambridge is home to cutting-edge research and some of the most influential thinkers we have.
The University of Cambridge competes constantly for top spot with Oxford, which is entertaining for everyone. Like Oxford, competition is high but the rewards for being educated there are huge.
Famous graduates: Charles Darwin, Alan Turing, Sir Isaac Newton, Francis Bacon, William Harvey, Joseph Stiglitz and Sylvia Plath.
University of St Andrews – 1413
The University of St Andrews in Scotland is also one of our more prestigious establishments, but also one of the oldest universities in the UK. Founded to provide class-leading further education, the university prides itself on being truly international, with around 40% of all students being from overseas.
The University of St Andrews is one of our best universities as well as our oldest, always ranking towards the top in league tables. It is viewed as an equal to Oxford and Cambridge but without some of the stigma attached to being an ‘Oxbridge’ graduate.
Famous graduates: Prince William the Duke of Cambridge, Catherine duch*ess of Cambridge, Benjamin Franklin, John Cleese and Ian McDiarmid.
University of Glasgow – 1451
The University of Glasgow is our fourth oldest university, having been founded in 1451. It’s another famous Scottish university with an illustrious history but equally illustrious present day.
The University of Glasgow is a Russell Group university and is known as exceptionally welcoming as much as for its teaching. With lots of international students and such friendly locals, you’re sure to enjoy your time here.
Famous graduates: Adam Smith, John Logie Baird, Sir William Ramsay, Gerard Butler, Thomas Muir, John Smith and Andrew Bonar Law.
University of Aberdeen – 1495
The next oldest university in the UK is another Scottish university, the University of Aberdeen. Founded back in 1495, as King’s College, the university is another highly regarded institution that delivers quality education.
It’s also positioned in the centre of a lovely city, which in turn is in the centre of whisky country. The weather may not always be great, but you’ll always have some amazing whisky to keep you warm!
Famous graduates: Iain Glen, Sir George Paget Thomson, Lord Addington, Tessa Jowell, Alistair Darling and Lord Sutherland.
University of Edinburgh – 1583
Another Scottish university is also one of the oldest universities in the world. The University of Edinburgh was founded in 1583 and has been providing enlightenment ever since. It’s another highly regarded university, usually placing in the top 10 of most league tables.
The buildings are in the centre of Edinburgh and provide as much interest for their architecture as they do for the teaching inside. The nightlife in Edinburgh isn’t bad, either.
Famous graduates: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Charles Darwin, Alexander Graham Bell, Robert Louis Stevenson, Sir James Matthew Barrie and Julius Nyerere.
University of Manchester – 1824
The University of Manchester brings us back to England and forward almost 300 years. The university is one of the favourites for international students and British students alike, thanks to the quality of education and the city itself. It’s an excellent university to consider if you have the opportunity.
Around 30% of students at Manchester are international and the city is amazingly diverse, which provides a great opportunity for learning about life and culture as much as your chosen subject.
Famous graduates: Benedict Cumberbatch, Phil Collins, Ade Edmondson, Ben Elton, Toby Jones, Meera Syal and Rik Mayall.
University College London UCL – 1826
Surprisingly, the first university in London is only the 8th oldest university in the UK. UCL was founded in 1826 and has grown to be one of the largest universities in the country with a very impressive campus in the centre of London.
The teaching is equally impressive as is the fact the college was the first school to admit women in 1878. UCL is a sought-after university for many reasons, so is hotly contested.
Famous graduates: Mahatma Gandhi, Alexander Graham Bell, David Attenborough, Christopher Nolan and Chris Martin.
Durham University – 1832
Durham University places 9th in our list of the oldest universities in the UK. It usually places much higher in league tables, though, which is why it’s one of the most sought-after universities as well as the oldest.
Durham University has a huge campus with a diverse student body and around 20% international students. Northumberland is also a beautiful part of the world with lovely scenery and very friendly locals.
Famous graduates: George Alagiah, Jonathan Edwards, Nasser Hussain, George Lazenby, Will Carling, Gabby Logan and Jeremy Vine.
Aberystwyth University – 1872
Aberystwyth University is our tenth oldest university in the UK and the first Welsh university to appear. It’s a well-established university that began as University College Wales before becoming a university.
Aberystwyth University is a highly regarded university for its education and for its facilities. The Student’s Union has won awards for its range of amenities, which is a great sign.
Famous graduates: Prince Charles, Melanie Walters, Tom Singh, Catherine Bishop, Carwyn Jones, HRH Muhriz Tuanku Munawir and Sharon Maguire.
We may not have the oldest university in the world, but we have our fair share of well-established institutions. Surprisingly, there’s only one university from London in there and that didn’t arrive for 800 years after the University of Oxford. The UK has some of the oldest universities in the world. While that’s more important to some than others, it’s reassuring to know the university you’re considering has a long history of delivering education to the masses.
The oldest university in the world is apparently Ez-Zitouna University in Tunis. It was founded in 737. While it didn’t become a university until 1956, it has been providing higher education since its inception.
While Great Britain may not have created the first university in the world, we definitely have some of the best! If you’re curious about the age of some of our most prestigious universities, here are the top 10 oldest universities in the UK.
