What is University: Definition and 1000 Discussions

A university (Latin: universitas, 'a whole') is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs.
The word university is derived from the Latin universitas magistrorum et scholarium, which roughly means "community of teachers and scholars".The first universities were created in Europe by Catholic Church monks. The University of Bologna (Università di Bologna), founded in 1088, is the first university in the sense of:

being a high degree-awarding institute;
having independence from the ecclesiastic schools, although conducted by both clergy and non-clergy;
using the word universitas (which was coined at its foundation);
issuing secular and non-secular degrees: grammar, rhetoric, logic, theology, canon law, notarial law.

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  1. H

    Schools Columbia University (New York City)

    Are there any Columbia grads out there willing to comment on what they liked (or didn't like) about Columbia (aside from cost and the difficulty of getting admitted)? My daughter will be a HS senior in the fall and considers Columbia her first choice (we visited a couple of weeks ago and she...
  2. S

    Schools Are Extracurricular Activities Crucial for Admission to Top Universities?

    Hi there, I'm a grade 11 student and I'm curious to know how important are ECs for admission to universities such as MIT & Cambridge? In grade 9, I wasn't particularly involved in any major activities out of school. I also had to deal with several family problems throughout grade 10 and now...
  3. G

    Schools University Acceleration: Skip Undergrad at UW? 16yo Self-Taught

    At the university of waterloo is it allowed to skip undergrad courses and go straight into graduate work? I am 16 and have taught myself a great deal of the information already and have no interest in sitting through courses again.
  4. A

    Schools Best University Physics Program

    I want to know which university has the best physics program, my main university goals are MIT and Caltech, but I want to know if there are any universities with a better undergraduate program for physics.
  5. I

    Schools MIT or University of Rochester for physics/math undergrad?

    I am a high school senior, and I have been accepted into MIT and the University of Rochester for undergrad. I plan to double major in physics and math, and go on to graduate school in one of these fields. I have 2 questions that I would like to ask here: 1) If I go to the University of...
  6. A

    Does 9th Grade Grades Affect University Admissions?

    I need to know if universities care about grade in the 9th grade, because I've been a little off this year (blame the raging hormones) and my average is really bad (76% in term 1, I still didn't get the marks of term 2) but I'm pretty sure I can get 85+ next year but I'm worried about what...
  7. J

    Schools University of Toronto EngSci VS Ryerson Aerospace Engineering

    Hi everyone, I'm sorry if this has been discussed before but I am in a real pickle here. I want to be an Aerospace Engineer and eventually an entrepreneur in the field (hopefully.lol). I have been accepted to both the UofT Engineering Science Program (which offers Aerospace as an...
  8. N

    Schools Math education before University?

    On average, I would like to know how deeply some of the more mathematically inclined university students have delved into higher mathematics before attending university. I am in the top 5 for marks in my courses, but having talked to others in the top 5 I discovered that they had been doing the...
  9. Gib Z

    Rant about University Mathematics

    Hello PFers. This may be not strictly the best forum to place this thread, but I thought my audience at General Discussion wouldn't be able to discuss this as well as the Math forum. If a Mod decides its more appropriate somewhere else, feel free to move it. Anyway, After 3 and a half years...
  10. X

    Schools I Feel Ill-Prepared for University Physics

    Heres my situation: I have taken an honors physics course at high school using an algebra/trig book (college physics). However we only covered Mechanics in the course, so I don't feel ready for university physics. I'm going to be an electrical engineering major, therefore, physics is crucial for...
  11. N

    Schools Questions about University of Waterloo (Help greatly appreciated )

    Questions about University of Waterloo (Help greatly appreciated!) Hey, so I'm new to the forums, I found it on google when searching up questions about Waterloo, only to find that the thread I was reading was 2 years old, and therefore i could not ask my own questions to the people who posted...
  12. K

    Schools Cousin wants to be a civil engineer but local university problems

    Hey my cousin wanted to be a civil engineer instead of an electrical. He got his electrical engineer at Carleton University http://www.carleton.ca/ . Anyway, when he asked them if any of his credits would transfer to civil engineer, they said "no" because and that he would have to do a civil...
  13. Who Am I

    Schools From undergrad to professor at a top tier university: how should I do it?

    My dream is to be successful as a researcher in some area of physics that I haven't decided on yet (I am going to start my Freshman year at the University of Arizona in September, so I don't have the experience to know which area I will find most enjoyable or find the most meaning in). I am...
  14. N

    Schools REU or Research at Home University?

    Hello all. I'm currently a junior at my University and have applied to many summer REUs. The trouble is, I've talked with my adviser and he thinks I might be better off staying at my home institution to do research because it will allow me to continue working with the same professor for my...
  15. C

    Schools Which university should I choose? (Ontario)

    So, I have to decide soon for which univeristy I'm going to attend for Fall 2010. Right now, my choice has been narrowed down to Waterloo and Toronto for their General Mathematics programs (General math co-op for UW). I have talked to people from both univeristies, but I want to hear the real...
  16. O

    Schools Which Universities Should I Aim For?

    I'm currently a final year student at high school, and I'm not sure what the best options for an undergraduate course are. I'm thinking about: Cambridge Oxford MIT Harvard Princeton if I go overseas, and Australian National University (to complete the PhB program)...
  17. Char. Limit

    Did I Just Get Accepted to Washington State University?

    Remember my "I Am A Failure" thread, where I was depressed about being rejected to a college? Well, this thread is the opposite. This thread serves but one purpose. For me to state to everyone I know and a lot of people I don't know that I just got accepted to Wazzu! I feel...
  18. M

    Schools Getting your Grad degree at same University as your Undergrad

    I'll look at faculty bio's and notice that not many have done their Grad work at the same University as their Undergrad. Why is this?
  19. I

    Schools University of Toronto Math/Physics Specialist program

    Hi, I'm a high school senior from Canada. I have applied to some well known Universities in the Us, namely: MIT, Princeton, Harvard, Stanford, and Dartmouth. But MIT has already rejected me and I think that I may end up going to UofT (I've already been accepted there). I am interested in...
  20. C

    Schools Essays for university applications

    what do they generally look for? i need to write about how one of my hobbies and what i learned from it. english is not my first language so any tips and strategy could be useful.
  21. K

    Schools Pg-dip in medical physics in university of Canterbury(New Zealand)

    Hi friends, recently i got offer for pg-dip in medical physics in university of canterbury (new zealand)..i am new to this medical physics field..already my qualifications are m.sc in physics.since i want to migrate to a fascinating field such as medical physics field.so i decided to apply for...
  22. R

    Schools National University of Singapore - Will going there limit my options?

    Hello all. As a Singaporean who has just received his 'A' level results, I am currently wondering if the NUS Physics faculty has a good reputation globally. An online search seemed to show that it stood around the mid region overall (ranked 30 or so). The question that bothers me is whether or...
  23. F

    Schools Do you have to take every single Physics/Math courses in a university available?

    Do you have to take every single Physics/Math courses in a university available if you are entering Theoretical Physics? Is Theoretical Physics the same as a Double Major for Maths and Physics? I am only a high school student, but I am taking AP Calculus BC and I will be doing Calculus III...
  24. Z

    Exploring Independent University of Moscow: Seeking Recommendations & Advice

    In short, I think I may want to spend either next semester or all of next year at the Independent University of Moscow, but I've only really decided this recently. I haven't spoken to my university, asked for recommendations yet, or filled out the application form, and all of this must be...
  25. U

    Clemson University Course Suggestions for Physics BA/Mathematical Sciences Minor

    I am currently enrolled as a 1st semester junior at clemson university (this is my freshman year though, just exempted a bunch of classes) and am a physics ba major. I've decided to minor in mathematical sciences and I was wanting to take higher level classes that would apply to advanced...
  26. R

    Schools Which Canadian university is best to study Physics at?

    Well, I need a bit of advice here. After long time struggling to decide whether at age 24 to switch careers or not, I've decided to do it and to apply for Physics programmes in Canada and the UK. The first offers have already been made and I the time to make a decision on where to go is drawing...
  27. L

    Schools How hard to get into is this particular school?( California Polytechnic University)

    Say compared to UCLA or Harvard, or compared to Cal State Northridge? And... Is California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo a UC or a CSU?
  28. S

    Schools University vs Departmental Power

    Hi, Does anyone know how much power general university grad school admissions offices tend to have versus the departmental ones? At one school I'm applying to, the departments make recommendations to the registrar's office, which actually sends out the formal acceptances. I just found out I...
  29. A

    Schools What are the top universities in Florida for studying physics?

    Hello- I'm a Florida resident and I intend to major in physics at a FL university starting next fall. So far I've been accepted to USF and UCF. I was surprisingly rejected from UF this past Friday. I think I was a great candidate but I understand that UF had a huge applicant pool so there...
  30. C

    Help with university choosing foreign student

    Hello, I am from Mexico, Sonora, a state south to Arizona and I am currently 6 months from finishing high school. The title only says that I need help choosing a university, I do, but I also need information about the diferent careers based on physics and mathematics. Nuclear physics and just...
  31. S

    Skipping grades to go to university?

    Well, I live in Quebec and for those who do not know the system I will provide you a little description: In Quebec, we graduate with an equivalency of an 11th grade. After 11th grade, you must earn a CEGEP degree (2 years is the usual length) which is kind of the equivalent of a postgraduate...
  32. H

    Schools University Papers: Find Physics Post Grad Papers

    This is not really a question on physics itself, but can someone give me a list to a site which shows a group of scientific post graduation papers? Physics if possible.
  33. C

    Schools How is the radiation dosimetry lab in Okstate state university?

    It's a kind of medical physics, is this lab good? http://physics.okstate.edu/yukihara/dosimetry/ I also found similar labs in duke etc. http://www.safety.duke.edu/radsafety/drdl/default.asp Is there any ranking available in medical physics or radiation dosimetry lab? Maybe I most...
  34. B

    Schools What is the best university ranking table in uk?

    Hey all So far I've found three main university ranking tables but there are few difference for an example Hertfordshire uni for physics according to guardian 16 while according to Times online it's 40 and according complete uni guide it's 43.so i am confused .I know that it can be some...
  35. C

    Who uses University Physics by Young?

    Is it just me or is this book complete ****? I've only read the second chapter on velocity and acceleration but it's horrible. The examples use algebraic formulas and are nothing like the assigned problems. I remember one the questions asks to find the initial velocity and initial position of a...
  36. P

    Schools Maths/Mathsphysics course in German-speaking university?

    Hi everyone, I'm in second year of a maths/mathsphysics degree (four years) and want to go on an exchange next year to a German-speaking country. My university has given me the job of picking the university. Most German universities seem to just do a pure maths or maths-computer science degree...
  37. C

    Schools Simon Fraser University for Undergrad Math

    Hiya, I'm currently applying to Canadian universities for an undergrad degree in Mathematics (Combined with Computer Science somehow). My first choice would be University of Toronto, but that costs beyond what I am able and willing to pay for an undergraduate degree as an international...
  38. P

    Schools Graduating at home university - career disadvantages?

    Hi, I am a Physics student who is studying in a German university. My current term is the fifth and I am going to obtain my Bachelor degree in the summer. My Bachelor thesis will be in nonlinear dynamics, I've started doing some literature research and computer experiments already, and I like...
  39. J

    Schools Is the schedule at a 4 year University anything like this:

    This is the schedule at a 2 year college by the way for about 19 units: Monday Chemistry from 11:30am - 1:20pm, Math from 4:00pm - 6:15pm , Astronomy from 7pm - 9:20pm Wednesday Chemistry from 8:30am - 1:20pm, Math from 4:00pm - 6:15pm , Astronomy from 7pm - 9:20pm Friday Computer Science...
  40. J

    Schools Fear of studying engineering with W's preventing transfer to University

    The circumstances are: There are about (guessing) 8 W's on transcript And the guidance counselor , or one of the many guidance counselors, did say that a student is likely to be unable to get into any 4 year University with "alot of W's on transcript" (The guidance counselors never say how...
  41. M

    Expert System Thesis: International Student at a Canadian University

    Hello All , I'm an international student , studying at a Canadian university . I'm doing my Master's degree in computer science which was not my major in my country . My major was education and computer . I've studied 42% computer and the rest was education . However , I'm wiling to do my...
  42. N

    Interlibrary loan at your university

    I was wondering if anyone of you were able to access your interlibrary loan at the university that you attended long after you graduated from the university that you attended; I was able to access to the books at my library but not the interlibrary loan service at my university. I asked why...
  43. K

    Schools Do letter of recommendations when applying to university matter?

    Do the professors or whoever it is that chooses to accept who gets into unviersity or not even take into consideration the letter of recomendation? My friends suggested i get a letter of recomendation from my current math teacher if i don't think I'm going to get high enough marks for my chosen...
  44. S

    Schools Approaching professors at another university

    I am an undergraduate student and I started looking for summer research opportunities. There are no opportunities at my own university and only a single REU (one of the most selective ones in the country, no hope of getting in) on the topic I am interested in. That's why I thought I might ask...
  45. Chewy0087

    Schools Preparing for University: Advice & Tips

    Hey there again, I'm looking for some advice on preparing for university, I've applied and luckily received offers, and the current work we're doing in school is very manageable so I intend to look further ahead, so my question is, what can I do to prepare best for university? Perhaps...
  46. J

    Job Skills Engineering at a Colorado or California University?

    (For engineering)? Seriously considering attending out of state in Colorado, and wondering if it would be better to attend a university in Colorado, or one in California. For hiring purposes, is California a better state for schools? Granted, this is in regards to attending a university that is...
  47. J

    Schools How much does it cost to attend a university in California or Colorado

    In California, How much money per year does it cost to go to a university, say the university of Sacramento-CA? (Or the out of tuition fees per year at a university in Colorado?) Does it cost more than $11,000 per year? And how much money does FAFSA provide to a student who meets the GPA...
  48. D

    Finding the Best University for 16-Year-Old in Greece

    please if you may! I am searching for a good university , if i could use the term "best" and i don't really know where to search so I am writing in forums to get an answer ! i m 16 and i really need to know your oppinions! i live in greece and i know english and french!so what would you suggest??:)
  49. G

    Studying Great Books Physics University?

    "Great Books" Physics University? Is there a "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Books" " physics undergrad and/or grad university? Viz., is there a physics department that reads the original works—e.g., the Principia when studying Newtonian mechanics, Einstein's 1905 papers when studying...
  50. W

    Schools Applying to University College Utrecht [UCU]

    I am an international student (from India) and I wish to apply to the University College Utrecht, Netherlands for a BSc in Physics. The high school diploma that I have obtained is offered by the Central Board of Secondary Education in India. My application will be for admission in the Fall 2010...
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