University of Oxford

The University of Oxford located in the city of Oxford, UK, and is the oldest university in the English-speaking world. It traces its origins back to the late twelfth century; its first chancellor was appointed in 1201 and the masters of its colleges were incorporated as a university in 1231.

Like most medieval universities, Oxford is a corporation of individual colleges, each of which appoints its own masters, admits its own students and fellows, and enjoys a great deal of independence. The oldest of these, Balliol College, was established in 1263; the second-oldest, Merton College, was established in 1264 A.D. Oxford also has a number of "Permanent Halls," some of which, over the years, have become colleges in their own right; the oldest of these is Blackfriars Hall, founded in 1221. Currently there are thirty-nine Colleges and seven Permanent Halls.