The University of Cambridge was formed in 1209, and its status was enhanced by a charter in 1231 from Henry III. A papal bull in 1233 from Gregory IX gave graduates from Cambridge the right to teach everywhere in Christendom.
Cambridge ranks first in the world in both the 2010 and 2011 QS World University Rankings. Graduates of the university have won a total of 65 Nobel Prizes, the most of any university in the world.