The University of Cambridge (also known as Cambridge University, or simply Cambridge) is a public research university in Cambridge, England. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world, and the seventh-oldest globally.

The university grew out of an association of scholars in the city of Cambridge that was formed in 1209, early records suggest, by scholars leaving Oxford after a dispute with townsfolk. The two "ancient universities" have many common features and are often jointly referred to as Oxbridge. In addition to cultural and practical associations as a historic part of British society, they have a long history of rivalry with each other.

Academically Cambridge ranks as one of the top universities in the world: first in the world in both the 2010 and 2011 QS World University Rankings, sixth in the world in the 2010–2011 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, and fifth in the world (and first in Europe) in the 2010 Academic Ranking of World Universities. Cambridge regularly contends with Oxford for first place in UK league tables. In the most recently published ranking of UK universities, published by The Guardian newspaper, Cambridge was ranked first.

Graduates of the University have won a total of 61 Nobel Prizes, the most of any university in the world. Affiliates of the University have won a total of 88 Nobel Prizes as of 4 October 2010, the second most of any academic institution (after Columbia University)—the most recent one being Robert G. Edwards for the prize in physiology or medicine. Academic staff of the University won a total of 52 Nobel Prizes, second most of any academic institution (after Columbia University).[1] In 2009, the marketing consultancy World Brand Lab rated Cambridge University as the 50th most influential brand in the world, and the 4th most influential university brand, behind only Harvard, MIT and Stanford University, while in 2011, the Times Higher Education World Reputation Rankings ranked Cambridge as the 3rd most reputable university in the world, after Harvard and MIT.

Cambridge is a member of the Coimbra Group, the G5, the International Alliance of Research Universities, the League of European Research Universities and the Russell Group of research-led British universities. It forms part of the 'Golden Triangle' of British universities.