The University of Cambridge (often Cambridge University), located in Cambridge, England, is the fourth oldest university in the world. The name is sometimes abbreviated as Cantab. in post-nominals, a shortened form of Cantabrigiensis (an adjective derived from Cantabrigia, the Latinised form of Cambridge).
The University grew out of an association of scholars in the city of Cambridge that was formed, early records suggest, in 1209 by scholars leaving Oxford after a dispute with local townsfolk there. The universities of Oxford and Cambridge are often jointly referred to as “Oxbridge”. In addition to cultural and practical associations as a historic part of British society, the two universities also have a long history of rivalry with each other.
Academically, Cambridge is consistently ranked in the world’s top 5 universities. It has produced 83 Nobel Laureates to date, more than any other university in the world according to some counts. (more…)