During the 13th-14th centuries there was an educational institution,
studium, in Parma, but it was closed in 1387 by
Gian Galeazzo Visconti, Duke of Milan. The university was opened in 1412 by
Niccolò III d'Este, and, although no papal bull was issued, degrees were granted. In 1420,
Filippo Maria Visconti closed it again. Although there were several attempts to revive the university, which functioned only as a "paper university", granting degrees without teaching. In 1601, the university was finally reopened by
Ranuccio I Farnese, and the papal bull was given. It was a joint institution with a
Society of Jesus, and a third of staff were teachers from a local Jesuit school, who taught in a separate building and by
Jesuit curriculum. There were usually about 27–32 teachers and 300–400 students in the 17th century. Logic, natural history, mathematics and theology were taught by Jesuits and law and medicine by civil teachers. Among the most important Jesuits who taught in Parma should be mentioned
Giovanni Battista Riccioli, and
Daniello Bartoli. In 1768,
Ferdinand I expelled Jesuits and the curriculum was modernized. Student protests resulted in closure of the university by
Marie Louise, Duchess of Parma, in 1831; only in 1854 did
Louise Marie Thérèse of Artois re-open it. The university then comprised faculties of theology, law, medicine, physics and mathematics, philosophy, and literature, as well as schools of obstetrics, pharmacy, and veterinary medicine. After the
Risorgimento, the government of newly united Italy divided the universities of the country into two grades. In 1862, the University of Parma was declared grade B, its financing was reduced, and the quality of education degraded. It was equalized with grade A universities only in 1887. ==Notable people==