University of Cambridge

Clare College Bridge, University of Cambridge
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Clare_Bridge_2003.jpg
Author: Ed g2s


The University of Cambridge is the second oldest university in the English-speaking world, after the University of Oxford. It is located in the town of Cambridge in England.

Like Oxford, Cambridge is regarded as one of the most prestigious universities in the world. Together, these two universities are referred to as Oxbridge, while the adjective pertaining to the University of Cambridge is Cantabrigian. Similar to Oxford, Cambridge is also a collegiate university, with its main functions divided between the central departments of the university and 31 colleges.

Cambridge town centre, with the University Church (right), Senate House of the University of Cambridge (left), and Gonville and Caius College (middle back)
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CambridgeTownCentre.jpg
Author: Andrew Dunn


The history of the University of Cambridge can be traced to a crime committed in 1209. Two scholars from the University of Oxford were convicted of the murder or manslaughter of a woman in Oxford, and were hanged by the townsfolk.

In protest of the hanging, the University of Oxford went into voluntary suspension. The academics dispersed into different locations, including to a school in the village of Cambridge. There, they formed the University of Cambridge.

Cambridge's status as a university was confirmed by a decree in 1233 by Pope Gregory IX. In 1290, Cambridge was recognised by Pope Nicholas IV, and since then, scholars from other universities in Europe has recognised it, visiting it to study and to give lectures.

Among the alumni of the University of Cambridge include the founding fathers of the city of Cambridge in Massachusetts, USA. The city of Cambridge was named after the university. It is today home to Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, two world-renowned centers of higher education that are on par with the University of Cambridge.

King's College Chapel, University of Cambridge
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:KingsCollegeChapel.jpg
Author: Christian Richardt

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