The Royal University

 "Worst thing that’ll happen to him is, in a year or two, he’ll discover beer – and toga parties – and girls who think student mages are “major hotties.” 

Located on the edge of the city on the northern back of the river Olorun it the Royal University, a great place of learning in Tortall and the pride and joy of Corus. It's largely an academic institute that includes schools for healing - which teach both magic and academics - and a school for mages. Entering the University requires that you pass the entrance examinations. Most people do so between the ages of 14 and 16. Many people get in by passing the entrance exams at 16 or older, by paying their fees, and by passing their classes.

Programs
Most programs end with a scholar's degree at about four years, provided that you passes examinations then. It is possible to then stay on for a master's degree for advanced scholarship should one wish to teach at the university level at the University or any other institute of learning.

A scholar’s degree is enough to get enable one to work teaching at royal schools or to obtain employment at libraries where scholarship is valued.

A two-year instructor’s degree is enough to enable you to obtain work as a tutor with the right recommendations.

Sometimes, instructors are swapped and students may do inter-school years abroad with the universities in Carthak and Udayapur.

There is also a system in place that provides grants of aid for promising students of reduced circumstances.

Classes and Instructors
-Mage instruction features instructors who graduated with honors from the University at Carthak and the City of the Gods.

-Musical instruction includes lessons for traveling musicians, court musicians, noble musicians, and young ladies seeking to improve their skills.

-Features schools of teaching, philosophy, geology, engineering, agriculture, music, magic, history, economics, noble arts (heraldry, swordsmanship for non-knights, calligraphy, needlework, etiquette), languages.

University Robes
Robe colors are pretty much the same through the university system (there’s one in Maren and Galla, but they don’t have very good departments for magical studies like the Tortallan one and the Carthaki one), as an accurate measure of someone’s ability.
 * White (Novice)
 * Yellow (Expert)
 * Red/Scarlet (Mastery)
 * Black (Advanced Mastery)

Additional Information
There are thousands of mages out there without degrees, but the parchment on the wall means they can charge higher prices and get magical workings that are uniform in quality. Most of those non-university mages learned from local mages, or even traveled from mage to mage to study. Some mages have their own schools, similar to Roger’s at court, but if someone wants to make it as a top dollar professional, university is the path they have to take.