建立于1209年,剑桥大学（有时被简称为剑桥）是除了牛津大学以外，英国历史最悠久的大学。 根据记载，剑桥大学成立于1209年，最早是由一批为躲避殴斗而从牛津大学逃离来的学者们建立的。剑桥大学和牛津大学这两所历史悠久的大学因为具有许多共同特点，常常被合称为“牛桥”。作为英国社会历史的一部分，剑桥大学和牛津大学在文化以及实践方面有着许多合作，但除此之外，这两所学校之间同样存在着旷日持久的竞争。

Academically，Cambridge is consistently ranked in the world's top five universities and the leading university in Europe by numerous media and academic rankings. The University's alumni include 85 Nobel Laureates as of 2009.The University is a member of the Russell Group of research-led British universities. The history of the University of Cambridge could trace its origin to a crime committed in 1209. Although not always a reliable source, the detail given in contemporaneous writings lends them credence.

从学术成就上来说，在众多媒体和学术机构的排名中，剑桥大学稳居全球排名前五位，同时它也是欧洲各所大学的领头羊。截止至2009年，剑桥大学一共培养了85位诺贝尔奖得主。剑桥大学还是英国名 校联盟“罗素大学集团”的成员。剑桥大学的历史可追溯到1209年的一起刑事案件上。尽管信息来源并不十分可靠，但从相关资料来看，这一说法还是有一定可信度的。

Two Oxford scholars were convicted of the murder or manslaughter of a woman and were hanged by the town authorities with the assent of King John. In protest at the hanging, the University of Oxford went into voluntary suspension，and scholars migrated to a number of other locations, including the pre-existing school at Cambridge (Cambridge had been recorded as a "school" rather than as a university when John Grim held the office of Master there in 1201). These exiled Oxford scholars (post-graduate researchers by present day terminology) started Cambridge’s life as a university in 1209.

牛津大学的两名学者因被控蓄意谋杀一名妇女，在获得当时的国王约翰的许可后，被牛津当局处以绞刑。为了抗议这一行为，牛津大学开始了罢课，许多学者开始移居其他地方，其中就包括了剑桥学校即剑桥大学的前身。（1201年约翰格林担任校长时，剑桥仅仅被称为一所“学校”，而非“大学”）。这些流亡的牛津学者，在1209年将剑桥学校变成了剑桥大学，赋予了其新的生命力。用今天的标准来看，他们就是一批硕士研究生。

Cambridge is a collegiat university, meaning that it is made up of self-governing and independent colleges, each with its own property and income. Most colleges bring together academics and students from a broad range of disciplines.

这所学校是一所学院式大学，由独立管理和独立发展的学院构成，每所学院都拥有自己独立的财产和收入，招收来自各专业的学生。

Sustaining a world-class university demands investment in new facilities, new areas of study, and most importantly, in people; continued fundraising efforts and innovative partnerships will be vital. The University celebrated its 800th anniversary in 2009, marking the legacy of eight centuries and determined to remain among the world's greatest universities.

要想维持世界一流大学的水准，需要不断地对设备、研究领域，特别是人力资源方面进行投资。因此，持续为剑桥大学募集资金，开拓新的合作关系就变得尤为重要了。2009年是剑桥大学建校800周年，在向世界展示了它在8个世纪里所取得的成就之后，剑桥大学决心继续为保持世界一流大学水平而不断努力。