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University of Cambridge
A 800-year-old rival to Oxford, still one of the world's supreme centres of research and learning
Active — The University of Cambridge was founded in 1209 by scholars who left Oxford, and is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the world. It remains a top-ranked global research university today, second only to Oxford in the English-speaking world's historic university pecking order.
The University of Cambridge was established in 1209, founded by a group of scholars who left Oxford after a dispute. It quickly grew into one of Europe's great medieval universities and, like its mother institution, adopted a collegiate structure of autonomous colleges gathered under a single university.
Cambridge's rise to global eminence was driven by its extraordinary record in science and mathematics. It produced Sir Isaac Newton, whose work shaped modern physics, and through the centuries has been associated with a remarkable share of the most important scientific breakthroughs in history, from understanding gravity to the discovery of DNA's structure.
Today Cambridge is a modern research powerhouse that consistently sits near the very top of the world rankings. It remains one of the most selective and influential universities anywhere, attracting students and researchers from across the globe.
Quick facts
- Founded
- 1209, by scholars from Oxford
- University type
- Collegiate public research university
- Colleges
- 31 autonomous colleges
- Ranking
- Top tier of global university rankings
- Alumni
- Sir Isaac Newton, numerous Nobel laureates
- Location
- Cambridge, England
- Notable
- Second-oldest university in the English-speaking world
Sources
- University of Cambridge - Wikipedia — Wikipedia (2026-09-05)
- History — University of Cambridge (2026-09-05)
Related: oxford university · harvard · yale · stanford