Bologna is home to the University of Bologna, traditionally founded in 1088.
The University of Bologna is widely regarded as the world's oldest university in continuous operation. It developed from organized student communities that hired and supported teachers, rather than beginning as a single institution established by a ruler or church.
In its medieval period, Bologna was especially renowned for the study of law. Scholars examined Roman and canon law, and the university attracted students from many parts of Europe. The institution's student-centred origins helped shape some of its distinctive academic traditions.
The date 1088 is a traditional anniversary rather than a precise opening day. Other ancient universities, including Oxford and the University of Paris, also have medieval origins, but their commonly cited institutional histories begin later or are less precisely dated. Bologna remains a major Italian university city.