The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is stacked with lore and most of that carries over into Hogwarts Legacy. While you’re exploring the grounds of Hogwarts and its surrounding areas, several other wizarding schools around the world exist and operate in training young witches and wizards. Today we’re taking a look at every global wizarding school from the Wizarding World universe and each school’s defining traits.
According to lore, there were a total of eleven wizarding schools around the world, all of which were registered with the International Confederation of Wizards. However, some wizarding schools have not yet been revealed so from the information we have so far, we’re taking a look at the eight major international ones that have already been named.
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Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Not much can be said about Hogwarts that hasn’t already been extensively detailed. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was established in the late 10th century by four founders: Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw and Salazar Slytherin. It’s the primary setting of the Harry Potter books and movies, as well as the setting of Hogwarts Legacy. It’s one of the most heavily protected wizarding schools in the world.
Headmaster Albus Dumbledorre described Hogwarts as “a stronghold of ancient magic”. Because of its history with powerful magic and secrets, Hogwarts became the target of several notable Dark Wizards including Gellert Grindelwald and the most infamous one, Voldemort. The school’s diverse range of classes and teachings has made it one of the most prestigious wizarding schools, as well as the origins of several great wizards across its history.
Beauxbatons Academy of Magic
Located in Pyrenees, France, Beauxbatons Academy of Magic is home to several witches and wizards across Europe. It was established sometime before the 1290s and had some noteworthy students over the years. Particularly, it was the school that Nicolas Flamel attended, the alchemist who is credited for discovering the Philosopher’s Stone.
One common misconception stemming from the movie Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire portrays Beauxbatons as an all-girls school. In reality (and also specifically mentioned in the books), boys are also included in the school. Beauxbatons also regularly competes in the Triwizard Tournament. In the last 1994 tournament, the school’s headmistress was Madame Maxime, a half-giantess.
Durmstrang Institute
One of the most secretive wizarding schools in the world, Durmstrang Institute is situated somewhere in the far north of Europe. Students might be aware of its location, but visitors receive memory-erasing charms to continue masking its whereabouts. Durmstrang has a pretty dark reputation, though, as it was taken over by Dark Wizards at least twice. In fact, the school’s curriculum actually featured classes in Dark Arts – and not the Defense Against type like Hogwarts.
Adding to its dark reputation, Durmstrang also did not accept Muggle-borns into the school. Like Hogwarts produced Voldemort, Durmstrang also educated its own notable Dark Wizard: Grindelwald, who would be later expelled from the school (I imagine you must be a certain kind of sinister to be expelled from Durmstrang). The school frequently competed in the Triwizard Tournament and taught Viktor Krum, one of the youngest star Quidditch players in the world.
Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Apart from Hogwarts, America’s Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry has the most amount of information available about it. The school was established in the early 17th century in Mount Greylock, Massachusetts. It has its roots in Native American culture. Most of the Native American wizarding community is exceptionally gifted in animal and plant magic. They could also perform magic without the use of a wand, though the wand was still adopted into the school’s teachings.
Ilvermorny is ranked as the one of the best wizarding schools in the world, matching and in some cases, even topping Hogwarts. It originally started off as just a small shack containing two teachers and two students, but grew to a large establishment over the centuries. Some notable students that have attended Ilvermorny include Porpentina and Queenie Goldstein from the Fantastic Beasts series, as well as Seraphina Picquery, a former president of the Magical Congress of the USA.
Uagadou
Situated in Uganda, Uagadou is Africa’s central wizarding school. It’s considered the largest wizarding school in the world, accepting students from all over Africa. Like the Native American roots of Ilvermorny, Uagadou’s students were specifically trained in magic without the use of wands. It’s said that students were gifted in Astronomy, Alchemy and Self-Transfiguration, training some of the most renowned astronomers and alchemists in history.
Uagadou was established sometime before the 11th century. The school is carved out of a mountainside and is constantly shrouded in mist, giving the illusion of floating structures. Throughout your Hogwarts Legacy journey, you may even meet a few characters that previously attended Uagadou.
Castelobruxo
Castelobruxo is the South American wizarding school situated deep within the Amazon rainforest. The school’s design is quite unique, described as a towering golden structure akin to a temple. A protective spell was cast over the school to make it appear like ordinary ruins to Muggles. Castelobruxo students are said to be gifted in Herbology and Magizoology, the study of magical animals. One notable student was Libatius Borage, one of the world’s most famous potioneers.
Despite its imposing appearance and dangerous location, it’s actually one of the few wizarding schools in the world that offered great exchange programmes for students arriving from European schools who hope learn more about the flora and fauna of the land. The school grounds are protected by Caipora, small trickster creatures that apparently cause as much as trouble as Peeves the ghost from Hogwarts.
Mahoutokoro
Located on the volcanic island of Minami Iwo Jima in Japan, Mahoutokoro is possibly one of the oldest wizarding schools since it’s described as “ancient”. Day students were flown back and forth to their homes every single day by giant storm petrels. Centuries ago, a group of Hogwarts students foolishly attempted to circle the world on their inadequate broomsticks, but were swept off-course and rescued by Mahoutokoro. These Hogwarts students introduced the school to Quidditch.
As is turns out, Mahoutokoro built a reputation for raising some of the best Quidditch teams and players in the world. When starting at the school, students are given special uniforms that grow as they grew and changed colour based on their academic achievements. Pink was the beginning colour, but it would turn gold if a student managed to get top grades in all subjects. Students that practiced Dark magic had their robes turn white, who would be disgraced and later expelled.
Koldovstoretz
The Russian wizarding school, Koldovstoretz, is one of the more mysterious schools with very little information known about it. It’s unknown when the school was actually established, though we do some have tidbits of info. Specifically, the students at the Russian wizarding school apparently play a version of Quidditch where instead of using broomsticks to fly, players use uprooted trees. We can imagine this must be a much rougher sport as well.
Hogwarts Legacy launches on 10 February 2023 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC. PS4 and Xbox One versions will release on 4 April 2023, followed by a Nintendo Switch version on 25 July 2023. Make sure you read our full review.