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General KnowledgeHard

Elite Universities: Stories and Secrets

Harvard founded in 1636 by John Harvard's bequest, over 120 Nobel laureates for Cambridge, the ENS created in 1794 by the Convention: test what you know about elite universities and their origins.

15

Questions

3

Minutes

Tip: Use keys 1-4 to answer quickly

The 15 quiz questions

Question 1 : In what exact year was Harvard University founded?

Possible answers:

  • 1635
  • 1636
  • 1637
  • 1638

Explanation: Harvard was founded in 1636, making it the oldest institution of higher education in the United States. It was named after John Harvard, a minister who bequeathed his library and half of his fortune to the institution.

Question 2 : What is the full official name of the most famous university in Paris's Latin Quarter, founded in the 13th century?

Possible answers:

  • Panthéon-Sorbonne University
  • Sorbonne University
  • University of Paris-Sorbonne
  • Paris Cité-Sorbonne University

Explanation: Sorbonne University has been the official name since 2018, resulting from the merger between Pierre and Marie Curie University and Paris-Sorbonne University. The name 'Sorbonne' comes from the college founded by Robert de Sorbon in the 13th century.

Question 3 : How many Nobel Prizes have been awarded to graduates or professors of the University of Cambridge?

Possible answers:

  • About 95
  • About 110
  • More than 120
  • More than 140

Explanation: The University of Cambridge holds the world record with more than 120 Nobel Prize winners associated with the institution. This exceptional achievement reflects the excellence of its scientific departments and its long research tradition.

Question 4 : Which Japanese university is nicknamed 'Todai' and was founded in 1877?

Possible answers:

  • Osaka University
  • University of Tokyo
  • Waseda University
  • Kyoto University

Explanation: The University of Tokyo, called 'Todai' as an abbreviation of its Japanese name, is the most prestigious university in Japan. Founded in 1877, it has trained the Japanese political and economic elite for over a century.

Question 5 : In what year was the École Normale Supérieure de Paris founded?

Possible answers:

  • 1792
  • 1793
  • 1794
  • 1795

Explanation: The ENS was created in 1794 during the French Revolution by the National Convention. Its mission was to train the future teachers of the Republic according to the revolutionary ideals of the time.

Question 6 : Which Australian university is named after the navigator who explored the Australian coasts?

Possible answers:

  • William Dampier University
  • Matthew Flinders University
  • James Cook University
  • Abel Tasman University

Explanation: James Cook University, founded in 1970, is named after the famous British navigator James Cook, who mapped the Australian coastlines in the 18th century. It is especially renowned for its marine and tropical research.

Question 7 : How many students does the Indira Gandhi National Open University in India have approximately?

Possible answers:

  • About 2.5 million
  • About 3 million
  • About 3.5 million
  • More than 4 million

Explanation: IGNOU is the largest university in the world, with more than 4 million enrolled students. This distance learning university, founded in 1985, is transforming access to higher education in India.

Question 8 : Which German university did Albert Einstein attend for his doctoral studies?

Possible answers:

  • Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich
  • University of Munich
  • Humboldt University of Berlin
  • University of Zurich

Explanation: Einstein earned his doctorate at the University of Zurich in 1905, the same year he published his groundbreaking papers on special relativity. He then worked at the Bern Patent Office while developing his theories.

Question 9 : In what year was the University of Cape Town in South Africa founded under its current name?

Possible answers:

  • 1916
  • 1917
  • 1918
  • 1919

Explanation: The University of Cape Town was established in 1829 as the South African College, then officially became the University of Cape Town in 1918. It is the oldest university in South Africa and remains one of the most prestigious on the continent.

Question 10 : Which Canadian university has the largest university campus in the world by area?

Possible answers:

  • McGill University
  • University of Toronto
  • University of Montreal
  • University of British Columbia

Explanation: The University of British Columbia has a 4.02 km² campus in Vancouver, making it one of the largest in the world. The campus also features botanical gardens and offers spectacular views of the mountains and the ocean.

Question 11 : How many universities exactly make up the University of California system?

Possible answers:

  • 9 universities
  • 10 universities
  • 11 universities
  • 12 universities

Explanation: The UC system includes 10 campuses: Berkeley, UCLA, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Irvine, Davis, Santa Cruz, Riverside and Merced. This public system is one of the most prestigious in the world for research.

Question 12 : Which British university was the first to officially admit women in 1878?

Possible answers:

  • University of London
  • University of Edinburgh
  • University of Cambridge
  • University of Oxford

Explanation: The University of London obtained in 1878 the royal charter allowing the official admission of women to university degrees. Note: Edinburgh had allowed since 1869 a group of 7 women (the "Edinburgh Seven") to enroll in medicine, but they could not graduate, London's priority therefore concerns the actual delivery of degrees.

Question 13 : In what year was the University of Salamanca, one of the oldest in Europe, founded?

Possible answers:

  • 1214
  • 1216
  • 1218
  • 1220

Explanation: The University of Salamanca was founded in 1218 by King Alfonso IX of León, making it the third oldest university in Europe still in operation. It played a crucial role in spreading Spanish culture across Latin America.

Question 14 : Which Russian university is nicknamed 'the Red University' due to the color of its buildings?

Possible answers:

  • Lomonosov Moscow State University
  • Saint Petersburg State University
  • Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology
  • Bauman Moscow State Technical University

Explanation: Lomonosov Moscow State University is famous for its distinctive red brick buildings. Founded in 1755, it remains the most prestigious university in Russia and has trained the country's intellectual elite for centuries.

Question 15 : How many international students does the University of Melbourne approximately welcome each year?

Possible answers:

  • About 16,000
  • About 18,000
  • About 20,000
  • About 22,000

Explanation: The University of Melbourne hosts around 20,000 international students, close to 40% of its total enrolment. This international diversity makes Melbourne one of the most cosmopolitan universities in Australia.

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