The First University in the World | Rankings, History, and More!

About the University of Al Quaraouiyine

In 1963, the organization integrated into Morocco’s current system of public universities. The Islamic religious and legal sciences are the main focus of education at Al Quaraouiyine University, with a strong emphasis on Maliki law and Classical Arabic grammar/linguistics. Both men and women are welcome to attend the university. Established along with a madrasa, the university is a particular kind of religious school or college for studying Islam. Read on to learn more about the The first university in the world.

Who Founded the First University in the World?

The university in Fez, Morocco, was established in 859 A.D. by Tunisian-born Fatima al-Fihri, making it the oldest higher education institution on the planet and the first to be founded by a woman and a Muslim. Fatima established the university with the help of the money she inherited from her wealthy merchant father. 

Originally a madrasa, affiliated school, and mosque, it evolved into a center for higher learning. Additionally, it established a system for giving degrees in various subjects, including rhetoric, grammar, and religious studies, based on several levels of study. The institution initially concentrated on teaching religion, but it quickly broadened its areas of study to include logic, medicine, mathematics, and astronomy, among many others.

History

Fatima al-Fihri, the daughter of a prosperous merchant, Mohammed Al-Fihri, established Al-Qarawiyyin along with a related school, or madrasa, in 859. Early in the ninth century, the Al-Fihri family moved to Fes from Kairouan, Tunisia (thus the name of the mosque), where they joined a group of other Kairouan migrants who had settled in the city’s western area.

Fatima and her sister Mariam, who had advanced degrees, received sizable inheritances from their father. Fatima resolved to use her entire inheritance to build a mosque that would be fit for her neighborhood.

The medieval madrasa is referred to as a ‘university’ in some publications, even competing with Al-Azhar in Cairo ‘for the title of world’s oldest institution’ in one Rough Guide book. Some academics have suggested that these universities may have drawn inspiration from the madrasas of Islamic Spain and the Emirate of Sicily after observing some similarities between these madrasas and European-medieval universities.

Why study at Al Quaraouiyine University?

Here’s why you should pursue education at Al Quaraouiyine:

• Fatima al-Fihri established the al-Qarawiyyin mosque in 859 with a companion school or madrasa. It later rose to prominence as one of the significant spiritual and educational hubs of the ancient Muslim world.
• In 1963, it was included in Morocco’s current system of public universities.
• According to UNESCO and Guinness World Records, it is the oldest continuously running educational institution worldwide, the first to confer degrees. Many commonly refer to it as the oldest university.
• The Qairaouan Mosque in Tunisia, the oldest mosque in the Maghreb and the origin of the Maliki rite of Islam, inspired the name of Al-Qarawiyyin.
• Al-Qarawiyyin University’s curriculum focuses on the Islamic religious and legal sciences, with specific strengths in Maliki law and classical Arabic grammar/linguistics. However, students can also take classes in non-Islamic disciplines, including French, English, and even IT.
• The traditional form of instruction involves pupils sitting in a semicircle (halqa) around a sheik who directs them to read certain passages of a text, quizzes them on specific grammar, legal, or philosophical concepts, and clarifies challenging concepts.

Ranking

Here is the ranking for the first university in the world according to EduRank:

• In the world- 9429 of 14,131
• In Africa- 436 of 1,104
• In Morocco-16  of 38
• In Fez- 2 of 5

Student Life

Here’s how student life at the university helped the students to reach their aims and objectives.

Develop your self-esteem- Students can enhance their self-esteem when they pursue their co-curricular hobbies. It’s fantastic to have extracurricular activities that recognize your unique contributions to society and the globe in other ways in addition to academic performance, which may be a source of confirmation and satisfaction.

Develop your social networks- Participating in cocurricular activities allows students to interact with others. It results in the opportunity to make new friends, learn how to interact with others, and become a member of a community. It’s usually beneficial to establish long-lasting friendships with people who share your interests in the culture, language, and religion.

Create a portfolio of your experience- A potential employer may find your knowledge of just about any part of college life pertinent. For instance, if you earn leadership experience working with your classmates, record what you accomplished so you can look back on it.

Have fun and make people feel good- Students frequently choose co-curricular activities because they are pleasurable and personally fulfilling. Another effective strategy for reducing the strain of cramming exams and completing deadlines is to have some fun. 

Keep up with local, regional, and global events and activities- Alqarawiyyeen University proudly embraces and reflects multiculturalism. You will observe this in extracurricular activities, groups, and events in addition to the classroom. 

The establishment of relationships with and participation in local, national, and international organizations and events is encouraged among students. Students who have access to these resources can learn about various cultures and get ready to live, work, and prosper in a vibrantly diverse world. We want to contribute and have an influence.

Tuition Fees

BA, Arabic Literature, and Islamic Studies

Type	Amount (in USD)	Description	Condition
Annual tuition	$17,100	Annual	3 quarters
Full-time students	$1,425	Per class	12 units ( 4 classes/quarter)
Part-time students	$1,550	Per class	Maximum 4 classes/quarter
Continuing education	$1,550	Per class	Maximum 4 classes/quarter
Summer classes	$1,550	Per class	Maximum 4 classes/quarter
Registration fees	$100	Per quarter	For all students

Key Takeaways

• It is the oldest university in the world and the first to be formed by a Muslim woman, Fatima al-Fihri. She was born in Tunisia and founded the university in Fez, Morocco, in 859 A.D.
• It was incorporated into Morocco’s current network of public universities in 1963.
• It is the world’s oldest continually operating educational institution and the first to provide degrees, according to UNESCO and Guinness World Records. One can refer to it as the oldest university or the first university in the world.
• According to EduRank the university ranks 9th in Morocco.

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FAQs

Q1. Which is Asia’s first university?

Answer- Asia’s first institution still in operation is the University of Santo Tomas (UST). The third Archbishop of Manila, Miguel de Benavides, formed the organization by taking efforts.

Q2. Which is the number one university?

Answer- Harvard University is the oldest in the United States of America and boasts the biggest endowment of any university in the entire world.

Q3. Which country is rich in studies?

Answer- Countries like the United Nations, the United Kingdom, and Canada are rich in education.