Founded in 1088, the University of Bologna is widely regarded as the oldest university in the world that has operated continuously since its establishment. It set an early model for university governance that influenced how institutions of higher learning developed across Europe.
Record no. MRB-2026-005682
Oldest University in Continuous Operation
Reference Record – Not Certified
This record is compiled from publicly available sources for reference. It has not been examined or certified by The Book of World Records.