Oldest Universities in the World
Name↕ | Location↕ | Current name↕ | Year↕ | Notes↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Current | Current | Original | — | — |
Algeria(Algiers) | Algeria(Algiers) | French Algeria(Algiers) | University of Algiers | 1,909 |
Angola(Luanda) | Angola(Luanda) | Portuguese Angola(Luanda) | Agostinho Neto University | 1,962 |
Benin(Abomey-Calavi) | Benin(Abomey-Calavi) | Republic of Dahomey(Abomey-Calavi) | University of Abomey-Calavi | 1,970 |
Botswana(Gaborone, Francistown, Maun) | Botswana(Gaborone, Francistown, Maun) | University of Botswana | 1964 (as part of the University of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland; university 1982) | |
Burkina Faso(Ouagadougou) | Burkina Faso(Ouagadougou) | Republic of Upper Volta(Ouagadougou) | University of Ouagadougou | 1,974 |
Burundi(Bujumbura) | Burundi(Bujumbura) | Kingdom of Burundi(Bujumbura) | University of Burundi | 1,964 |
Cameroon(Yaoundé) | Cameroon(Yaoundé) | Federal Republic of Cameroon(Yaoundé) | University of Yaoundé | 1,962 |
Cape Verde(Praia) | Cape Verde(Praia) | Jean Piaget University of Cape Verde | 2001 | As a result of the merger of the two previously existing higher education establishments (ISE and ISECMAR) |
Central African Republic(Bangui) | Central African Republic(Bangui) | University of Bangui | 1969 | |
Chad(N'Djamena) | Chad(N'Djamena) | University of N'Djamena | 1971 | Originally the University of Chad, renamed the University of N'Djamena 1994. |
Comoros(Moroni) | Comoros(Moroni) | University of the Comoros | 2003 | |
DR Congo(Kinshasa) | DR Congo(Kinshasa) | Belgian Congo(Kinshasa) | University of Kinshasa | 1,954 |
Congo(Brazzaville) | Congo(Brazzaville) | People's Republic of the Congo(Brazzaville) | Marien Ngouabi University | 1,971 |
Djibouti(Djibouti City) | Djibouti(Djibouti City) | University of Djibouti | 2006 | |
Egypt(Giza) | Egypt(Giza) | Khedivate of Egypt(Cairo) | Cairo University | 1,908 |
Equatorial Guinea(Malabo) | Equatorial Guinea(Malabo) | National University of Equatorial Guinea | 1995 | |
Eritrea(Mai Nefhi) | Eritrea(Mai Nefhi) | Eritrea Institute of Technology | 2003 | Founded following the closure of the University of Asmara, which had been established as a college in 1958 |
Eswatini(Kwaluseni) | Eswatini(Kwaluseni) | Swaziland(Kwaluseni) | University of Eswatini | 1964 (as part of the University of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland; university 1982) |
Ethiopia(Addis Ababa) | Ethiopia(Addis Ababa) | Ethiopian Empire(Addis Ababa) | University of Addis Ababa | 1950 (as college offering degree courses; university 1962) |
Gabon(Libreville) | Gabon(Libreville) | Omar Bongo University | 1970 | Founded as the National University of Gabon and took current name in 1978 |
Gambia(Serekunda) | Gambia(Serekunda) | University of the Gambia | 1999 | |
Ghana(Accra) | Ghana(Accra) | Gold Coast(Accra) | University of Ghana | 1948 (as affiliate college of the University of London; university 1961) |
Guinea(Conakry) | Guinea(Conakry) | Gamal Abdel Nasser University of Conakry | 1962 | |
Guinea-Bissau(Bissau) | Guinea-Bissau(Bissau) | Universidade Colinas de Boé | 2003 | |
Universidade Amílcar Cabral | Universidade Amílcar Cabral | 2003 | — | |
Ivory Coast(Abidjan) | Ivory Coast(Abidjan) | Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny | 1964 (as main campus of the University of Abidjan; university 1996) | |
Kenya(Nairobi) | Kenya(Nairobi) | Colony and Protectorate of Kenya (Nairobi) | University of Nairobi | 1961 (as affiliate college of the University of London; college 1956; university 1970) |
Lesotho(Roma) | Lesotho(Roma) | National University of Lesotho | 1964 (as part of the University of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland; college 1945; university 1975 | |
Liberia(Monrovia) | Liberia(Monrovia) | University of Liberia | 1951 (college 1863) | Building on Liberia College founded in 1863 |
Libya(Benghazi & Tripoli) | Libya(Benghazi & Tripoli) | Kingdom of Libya(Benghazi) | University of Libya | 1,956 |
Madagascar(Antananarivo) | Madagascar(Antananarivo) | Colony of Madagascar and Dependencies(Antananarivo) | University of Antananarivo | 1961 (as university; institute for advanced studies 1955) |
Malawi(Zomba, Blantyre & Lilongwe) | Malawi(Zomba, Blantyre & Lilongwe) | University of Malawi | 1965 | |
Mali(Bamako) | Mali(Bamako) | University of Bamako | 1996 | |
Mauritania(Nouakchott) | Mauritania(Nouakchott) | University of Nouakchott Al Aasriya | 1981 | |
Mauritius(Moka) | Mauritius(Moka) | British Mauritius(Moka) | University of Mauritius | 1,965 |
Morocco(Fez) | Morocco(Fez) | Idrisid dynasty(Fez) | University of Al Quaraouiyine | 1965 (as university; madrasa 859) |
Morocco(Rabat) | Morocco(Rabat) | Mohammed V University | 1957 | Founded as University of Rabat |
Mozambique(Maputo) | Mozambique(Maputo) | Portuguese Mozambique(Lourenço Marques) | Eduardo Mondlane University | 1,962 |
Namibia(Windhoek) | Namibia(Windhoek) | University of Namibia | 1992 |
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