In the medieval period there were more than two thousand student in Bologna, many of whom were without any private means. It became necessary to defend them from the speculation of landlords (which is still a problem today with more than sixty thousand students). Several patrician families and high prelates left money for the foundation of University Colleges. In the thirteenth century the Avignon College was founded for eight students from the diocese of Avignon who wanted to study in Bologna. In the fourteenth century the Brescian College was founded. The renowned Spanish College also dates from this period. As stipulated in the will of CardinaI Egidio Albornoz, this was destined for 24 Spanish students of noble origin together with two chaplains (the College later became not only an important cultural centre but also an important economic centre owning real estate and properly. Even today a student who obtains his degree from the Spanish College is still entitled in his own country to special consideration in the course of his academic career). Other colleges arose after this, such as the College of Reggio Emilia and the Gregorian College in the fourteenth century. Some of the colleges dating from these early foundations still exist today, such as the Spanish College, the Flemish College, the Morgagni College, the Forni College, the Poets' College and the Irnerius College. We can add to these many centres established in Bologna by academic institutions of the United States, such as the Johns Hopkins University, which has its own centre and courses, Indiana University, Brown University, Wisconsin University, Dickinson College and others.