The correct answer is: B. 1163 AD
Oxford University is a collegiate research university in Oxford, England. There is evidence of teaching as early as 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the world’s second-oldest university in continuous operation.
The university grew rapidly from 1167 when Henry II banned English students from attending the University of Paris. After disputes between students and Oxford townsfolk in 1209, some academics fled north-east to Cambridge where they established what became the University of Cambridge. The two “ancient universities” are frequently jointly referred to as “Oxbridge”.
Oxford is organized into a variety of academic divisions which are responsible for postgraduate and undergraduate teaching. The university does not have a main campus, but rather many buildings and facilities scattered throughout the city centre. Oxford is governed by a central administration and by self-governing colleges. The university is a member of the Coimbra Group, the League of European Research Universities, and the Russell Group.
Oxford has educated many notable alumni, including 28 British prime ministers and many heads of state and government around the world. As of October 2020, it had 28 Nobel laureates, 3 Fields Medalists, and 6 Turing Award winners among its former students and staff. It is also the alma mater of 72 living billionaires, the most of any university.
The university is a major tourist attraction, with over 10 million visitors annually. It is also a major centre for research, with over 30,000 staff and a total annual budget of over £2 billion.
Option A: 1139 AD is incorrect. The first recorded reference to Oxford University is in 1096, but it is likely that teaching was taking place there before then.
Option B: 1163 AD is the correct answer. The university was founded in 1167 when Henry II banned English students from attending the University of Paris.
Option C: 215 BC is incorrect. Oxford University was not founded until the 12th century.
Option D: 55 BC is incorrect. Oxford University was not founded until the 12th century.