The University of Cambridge is the second oldest university in Great Britain after Oxford and one of the oldest European universities. It was founded in 1209 with faculty and students who fled Oxford after a quarrel with the locals. In 1167, because of the expulsion of foreigners from the University of Paris, which followed a reform initiated by Henry II Plantagenet, who did not allow students from England to study at the Sorbonne, forced most students to leave France and settle in Oxford. The historian Gerard of Wales was the first to lecture there in 1188, and the first foreign student was “Emo of Friesland. At the head of the university has always been, and still is, the chancellor, appointed by consent of the monarch by the community of students and professors of Cambridge. The non-native students, natives of other countries, were divided into – Northern, who came from Scotland, and Southern, residents of Ireland. Then students from different countries studied at this university, so they developed friendly relations with each other. In the Middle Ages, this university also educated future clergymen from poor families.

Donations from individuals to the university
Monastic orders such as the Dominicans, Carmelites, Franciscans, and Augustinians traditionally sponsored and supported student residences. At the same time, the sponsorship of private benefactors led to the opening of colleges that were separate student communities. One of the first donations was made by John I de Balliol, who was the father of the King of Scotland, and Balliol College was named after him.

The most famous and beautiful building in Cambridge is the college’s Royal Cathedral. It has been under construction for almost a century since 1446, and has become an architectural landmark of the city. In this cathedral, every New Year’s Eve the boys’ choir performs, which is shown on television in many countries of the world.

Useful Information about the University
Cambridge University was recognized in 1318 by Pope John XXII. Students had to study for many years to get their diploma, and after that they had to teach at the university for at least two more years. In 1869 the first college for girls was founded called Girton. The university includes – a central department, 31 colleges and there are also 100 departments, schools and faculties. Today it has 18,000 students, including international students. To enter the university you must be interviewed and have a certificate of proficiency in English. It costs from 9,000 to 20,000 pounds to study at the university. Its chancellor today is the Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and Vice-Chancellor Professor Alison Richard. The university offers degrees in both the sciences and the humanities. The University scientists have won more than 80 Nobel prizes over the last 100 years (physics, chemistry, medicine, economics, literature, etc.).

Since 2006 the list of Slavic languages taught in addition to Russian and Polish has been expanded to include Ukrainian. Due to government funding cuts in 2007 the university needs additional private funding. And the university alumni or other organizations could also become contributors. In the same year, scientists of the university created its coat of arms using phosphorescent molecules.

And after visiting the university you can go for a rest in a small settlement in the mountains of Castle Hill, which is a kind of open-air museum.