Saint Petersburg State University

Hallway in the Twelve Collegia building, St. Petersburg State University: one of the longest academic hallways in the world

It is disputed by the university administration whether Saint Petersburg State University or Moscow State University is the oldest higher education institution in Russia. While the latter was established in 1755, the former, which has been in continuous operation since 1819, claims to be the successor of the university established along with the Academic Gymnasium and the Saint Petersburg Academy of Sciences on January 24, 1724, by a decree of Peter the Great.

Between 1804 and 1819, Saint Petersburg University officially did not exist; the institution founded by Peter the Great, the Saint Petersburg Academy, had been disbanded, because the new 1803 charter of the Academy of Sciences stipulated that there should be no educational institutions affiliated with it.

The Petersburg Pedagogical Institute, renamed the Main Pedagogical Institute in 1814, was established in 1804 and occupied a part of the Twelve Collegia building.[10] On February 8, 1819 (O.S.), Alexander I of Russia reorganized the Main Pedagogical Institute into Saint Petersburg University, which at that time consisted of three faculties: Faculty of Philosophy and Law, Faculty of History and Philology and Faculty of Physics and Mathematics.[10] The Main Pedagogical Institute (where Dmitri Mendeleev studied) was restored in 1828 as an educational institution independent of Saint Petersburg University, and trained teachers until it was finally closed in 1859.[11]

In 1821, the university was renamed Saint Petersburg Imperial University.[10] In 1823, most of the university moved from the Twelve Collegia to the southern part of the city beyond the Fontanka. In 1824, a modified version of the charter of Moscow University was adopted as the first charter of the Saint Petersburg Imperial University. In 1829, there were 19 full professors and 169 full-time and part-time students at the university. In 1830, Tsar Nicholas returned the entire building of the Twelve Collegia to the university, and courses resumed there.

In 1835, a new Charter of the Imperial Universities of Russia was approved. It provided for the establishment of the Faculty of Law, the Faculty of History and Philology, and the Faculties of Physics and Mathematics, which were merged into the Faculty of Philosophy as the 1st and 2nd Departments, respectively.

In 1849, after the Spring of Nations, the Senate of the Russian Empire decreed the Rector should be appointed by the Minister of National Enlightenment rather than elected by the Assembly of the university. However, Pyotr Pletnyov was reappointed Rector and ultimately became the longest-serving rector of Saint Petersburg University (1840–1861).

The Faculty of Mathematics and Mechanics in Peterhof

Botanical garden of the University

In 1855, Oriental studies were separated from the Faculty of History and Philology, and the fourth faculty, Faculty of Oriental Languages, was formally inaugurated on August 27, 1855.[12]

In 1859–1861, female part-time students could attend lectures in the university. In 1861, there were 1,270 full-time and 167 part-time students in the university, of them 498 were in the Faculty of Law, the largest subdivision. But this subdivision had the cameral studies department, where students learnt safety, occupational health and environmental engineering management and science, including chemistry, biology, agronomy along with law and philosophy. Many Russian, Georgian etc. managers, engineers and scientists studied at the Faculty of law therefore. During 1861–1862, there was student unrest in the university, and it was temporarily closed twice during the year. The students were denied freedom of assembly and placed under police surveillance, and public lectures were forbidden. Many students were expelled. After the unrest, in 1865, only 524 students remained.

A decree of the Emperor Alexander II of Russia adopted on February 18, 1863, restored the right of the university assembly to elect the rector. It also formed the new faculty of the theory and history of art as part of the faculty of history and philology.[13]

In March 1869, student unrest shook the university again but on a smaller scale. By 1869, 2,588 students had graduated from the university.

In 1880, the Ministry of National Enlightenment forbade students to marry and married persons could not be admitted. In 1882, another student unrest took place in the university. In 1884, a new Charter of the Imperial Russian Universities was adopted, which granted the right to appoint the rector to the Minister of National Enlightenment again. On March 1, 1887 (O.S.), a group of the university students was arrested while planning an attempt on the life of Alexander III of Russia. As a result, new admission rules to gymnasiums and universities were approved by the Minister of National Enlightenment Ivan Delyanov in 1887, which barred persons of non-noble origin from admission to the university, unless they were extraordinarily talented.

By 1894, 9,212 students had graduated from the university. Among the renowned scholars of the second half of the 19th century, affiliated with the university were mathematician Pafnuty Chebyshev, physicist Heinrich Lenz, chemists Dmitri Mendeleev and Aleksandr Butlerov, embryologist Alexander Kovalevsky, physiologist Ivan Sechenov and pedologist Vasily Dokuchaev. On March 24, 1896 (O.S.), on the campus of the university, Alexander Popov publicly demonstrated transmission of radio waves for the first time in history.

As of January 1, 1900 (O.S.), there were 2,099 students enrolled in the Faculty of Law, 1,149 students in the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics, 212 students in the Faculty of Oriental Languages and 171 students in the Faculty of History and Philology. In 1902, the first student dining hall in Russia was opened in the university.

Since about 1897, regular strikes and student unrest shook the university and spread to other institutions of higher education across Russia. During the Revolution of 1905, the charter of the Russian universities was amended once more; the autonomy of the universities was partially restored and the right to elect the rector was returned to the academic board for the first time since 1884. In 1905–1906, the university was temporarily closed due to student unrest. Its autonomy was revoked again in 1911. In the same year, the university was once again temporarily closed.

In 1914, with the start of the First World War, the university was renamed Petrograd Imperial University after its namesake city. During the War, the university was the important center of mobilization of Russian intellectual resources and scholarship for the victory.[14] In 1915, a branch of the university was opened in Perm, which later became Perm State University.

The Assembly of Petrograd Imperial University openly welcomed the February Revolution of 1917, which put an end to the Russian monarchy, and the university came to be known as Petrograd University. However, after the October Revolution of 1917, the university's staff and administration were initially vocally opposed to the Bolshevik takeover of power and reluctant to cooperate with the Narkompros. Later in 1917–1922, during the Russian Civil War, some of the staff suspected of counter-revolutionary sympathies suffered imprisonment (e.g., Lev Shcherba in 1919), execution, or exile abroad on the so-called Philosophers' ships in 1922 (e.g., Nikolai Lossky). Furthermore, the entire staff suffered from hunger and extreme poverty during those years.

In 1918, the university was renamed 1st Petrograd State University, and in 1919, the Narkompros merged it with the 2nd PSU (former Psychoneurological Institute) and 3rd PSU (former Bestuzhev Higher Courses for Women) into Petrograd State University. In 1919, the Faculty of Social Science was established by the Narkompros instead of the Faculty of History and Philology, Faculty of Oriental Languages and Faculty of Law. Nicholas Marr became the first Dean of the new faculty. Chemist Alexey Favorsky became the Dean of the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics. Rabfaks and free university courses were opened on the basis of the university to provide mass education.

In the fall of 1920, as observed by freshman student Alice Rosenbaum, enrollment was open and the majority of the students were anti-communist including, until removed, a few vocal opponents of the regime. Seeing they were educating "class enemies", a purge was conducted in 1922 based on the class background of the students, and all students, other than seniors, with a bourgeois background were expelled.[15]

In 1924, the university was renamed Leningrad State University after its namesake city. In order to suppress intellectual opposition to Soviet power, a number of historians working in the university, including Sergey Platonov, Yevgeny Tarle and Boris Grekov, were imprisoned in the so-called Academic Affair of 1929–1930 on fabricated charges of participating in a counter-revolutionary conspiracy aimed at overthrowing the government. Some other members of the staff were repressed in 1937–1938 during the Great Purge.

During the 1941–1944 Siege of Leningrad in World War II, many of the students and staff died from starvation, in battles or from repressions. However, the university operated continuously, and evacuated to Saratov in 1942–1944. A branch of the university was hosted in Yelabuga during the war. In 1944, the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Soviet Union awarded the university with the Order of Lenin on the occasion of its 125th anniversary and for its contribution to science and culture.

In 1948, the Council of Ministers named the university after Andrei Zhdanov, a recently deceased prominent communist official. This decision was revoked in 1989 during Perestroika.

In 1949–1950, several professors died in prison during the investigation of the Leningrad Affair fabricated by the central Soviet leadership, and the Minister of Education of the RSFSR, former rector Alexander Voznesensky, was executed.

In 1966, the Council of Ministers decided to build a new suburban campus in Petrodvorets for most of the mathematics and natural science faculties. The relocation of the faculties had been completed by the 1990s.

In 1969, the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Soviet Union awarded the university with the Order of the Red Banner of Labour.

In 1991, the university was renamed back to Saint Petersburg State University after its namesake city.

The SPbU Research Park unites teams from the resource centres acting within the framework of the main areas of the SPbU Strategic Plan. The users' tasks can be solved at several resource centres, either simultaneously or consecutively, as well as on a cross-disciplinary basis at one centre.

The SPbU Research Park operates according to the principle of equal access. This means the resource centres are open to any interested persons provided that common regulations are observed.

Research Park:

• 26 resource centres
• premises > 30,000 m2
• equipment — 7,5 bln roubles

St Petersburg University Research Library is one of the oldest and largest university libraries in Russia with a main collection dating back to 1783.

The Library today

The M. Gorky Scientific Library collection was founded over 230 years ago at St Petersburg University, which is the oldest university in Russia. Today, the Library is a large modern information centre with access to world scientific information. The central stacks of the Library are situated in the main building of St Petersburg University, the Twelve Collegiums. This is a monument of 18th century St Petersburg architecture constructed by Domenico Trezzini. The Library was accommodated in this building in 1891. The Library print collection runs to 6.8 million copies and almost 2 million titles. It is divided between a basic scientific collection and subject libraries of the University departments. The Library includes the Central Research Library and 21 subject libraries. It has 40 thousand current users, 30 thousand of them are students.

Historical reference

The M. Gorky Scientific Library of St Petersburg University is one of the oldest and largest university libraries in Russia. It also serves as a monument to national enlightenment, science and culture. By the richness and variety of its collection it ranks among the most prominent libraries of the world. The basic collection dates back to 1783, when Empress Catherine the Great presented the First Teachers Seminary with 1100 volumes from one of the private collections. Private donations have been supporting the Library throughout its whole history. Over 200 private collections of university professors and outstanding promoters of Russia science and culture are kept here. The collection of books acquired by the Library in the middle of the 19th century is most certainly of great historical and documentary importance. It includes books from: the collection of the Petersburg Censorship Committee (20 thousand books); the Committee of Foreign Censorship (about 10 thousand books); the archive and the library of the Liberal Society of Russian Philologists; and the library of the Bestuzhev Higher Courses for Women, which was the first higher education establishment for women in Russia. The collection of rarities which numbers 100 thousand books includes a collection of 15th to 20th century editions as well as incunabula, palaeotypes and books in old Cyrillic script. The collection of Oriental manuscripts (about 50 thousand manuscripts) kept in the Oriental Department of the Library is unique.

Research Library named after M. Gorky:

• over 7 mln print publications and manuscripts
• more than 40,000 rare manuscripts and 67,000 rare books
• 2.7 mln e-catalogue entries
• 82 mln electronic full-text sources
• about 600 000 titles of books and over 84,000 titles of journals accessible via digital subscription

One of SPbU's most important tasks is implementation of its own research support programmes. In 2013 and 2014, megagrant competitions were organised at SPbU, that resulting in the creation of 9 research laboratories headed by leading scholars from Russia and other countries.

Laboratories established within the framework of the Megagrant Programme:

• Laboratory "Center for Bioinformatics and Algorithmic Biotechnology" headed by Pavel Arkadyevich Pevzner
• Laboratory of Electronic and Spin Structure of Nanosystems headed by Evgeny Vladimirovich Chulkov
• Laboratory "Transnationalism and Migration Processes: Comparative and Institutional Analysis" headed by Peter Kivisto
• Laboratory "Economic Performance and the Environment" headed by Frederick van der Ploeg
• Laboratory "Internationalisation of Politically Connected Firms from Emerging Markets" headed by Lilac Nachum
• Laboratory "Catalysis by Transition Metal Clusters: Synthesis of Biologically Active Molecules and Pharmaceutical Building Blocks with Atomistic Precision " headed by Valentin Pavlovich Ananikov
• Research Laboratory for Analysis and Modeling of Social Processes. Political Islam / Islamism: Theory and Practice in Comparative and Historical Perspective headed by Alexander Dmitrievich Knysh
• Biomolecular NMR Laboratory at SPbU: Protein Structure, Dynamics, Function, and Role in Human Disease headed by Nikolai Ruslanovich Skrynnikov
• Laboratory of Amyloid Biology headed by Yury Olegovich Chernoff

The outstanding academic staff is a most valuable resource of the University. In keeping with the best traditions of the Russian education, our academics maintain, reinforce and enhance the scientific potential, develop and apply up-to-date educational technologies and create the required material assets.

Research and teaching staff:

• doctors of science — more than 1,400 employees
• candidates of science — more than 3,000 employees
• PhD — 51 employees
• academicians of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Russian Academy of Education — 19 employees
• corresponding members of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Russian Academy of Education — 27 employees

The successful implementation of SPbU science development strategy is evidenced by a broader range of applied research, a growing number of international scholars working at SPbU laboratories as well as by joint projects launched in cooperation with research groups from non-Russian academic centres. SPbU employees have their works published in top-rated journals and annually participate in most important international scientific conferences.

In 2016 SPbU became the only Russian institution listed in the Nature Index 2016 Rising Stars, a prestigious scientific ranking (the Top 100 Institutions nomination).

There is a number of integration programmes offered by the University to help international students feel safe and fully included into the social and cultural life. Introduction week, International Students Club, language tandems, creative and sports associations, ESN events, buddy-programme are just a few of the opportunities to get engaged.

SPbU has 485 partner universities in 80 countries ranging from China, Germany, USA, France, Finland, Japan to the Republic of Korea, and Brazil. More than 25 international summer and winter schools are held at SPbU annually. SPbU is a member of a number of international associations and student exchange programmes: Erasmus Mundus, Erasmus+, Finnish-Russian Cross Border University, Finnish-Russian Student Exchange Program, Santander Universities, TEMPUS, and many others.

SPbU Partners[16]

Macquarie University, University of Queensland

FH Joanneum GmbH, University of Salzburg, University of Graz, Vienna University of Economics and Business, Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences

Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences

Universidad Austral, National University of La Plata

Yerevan State University, Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) University

Belarus State Economic University, Belarusian National Technical University, Belarus State University, Yanka Kupala State University of Grodno

Ghent University, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Universite Catholique de Louvain, Université Libre de Bruxelles, University of Antwerp, University of Liege, University School of Translation and Interpreting ISTI

New Bulgarian University, St. Clement of Ohrid University of Sofia

Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, COPPEAD Graduate School of Business, FGV-EAESP Escola de Administração de Empresas de São Paulo, Federal University of Minas Gerais, University of São Paulo

University of Brunei Darussalam

Aberystwyth University, University of Birmingham, University of Bradford, Digital Science, British Council, Durham University Business School, Keele University, Regents College London, University of Cambridge, University of Edinburgh, University of Central Lancashire, University of Warwick, London School of Economics

Eotvos Lorand University, University of Debrecen

Viet Nam National University Ho Chi Minh City, National Academy of Public Administration, Vietnam National University

Bielefeld University, Bochum University of Applies Sciences, Bucerius Law School, Clausthal University of Technology, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, EBS University of Business and Law, European University Viadrina, Fern Universität in Hagen, Institut für Soziologie, Foundation Lindau Nobelprizewinners Meetings, Free University of Berlin, Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW), Hochschule Wismar — University of Applied Sciences, technology, business and design, University of Applied Labour Studies of the Federal Employment Agency, Humboldt University of Berlin, University of Konstanz, Ilmenau University of Technology, International Business School Lippstadt, International University Schloss Reichartshausen, European Business School, Jacobs University Bremen, Jena University Hospital, Karlsruhe University of Arts and Design, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, University of Hannover, Leipzig University, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU Munich), Munich College for Translation and Interpreting, Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg, WHU — OTTO Beisheim School of Management, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Saarland University, TU Dortmund University, TU Darmstadt, TU Dresden, TU Munich (TUM), University of Applied Languages SDI Munchen, University of Applied Sciences Wurzburg — Schweinfurt, Julius-Maximilians University Wurzburg, University of Bonn, University of Bremen, University of Cologne, University of Erfurt, University of Goettingen, University of Greifswald, University of Hamburg, Hamburg University of Technology, University of Hohenheim, University of Kiel, University of Mannheim, University of Paderborn, University of Passau, University of Potsdam, University of Trier, University of Ulm

National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens University of Economics and Business, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University of West Attica, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, University of Patras, University of Crete, National Technical University of Athens N.T.U.A.

Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Georgia

Danish school of media and journalism, University of Copenhagen, University of Southern Denmark

Helwan University, Ain-Shams University

Academic Arabs Teachers Training Institute, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, University of Haifa, Interdisciplinary center Herzliya

Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses

University of Indonesia

Baghdad University

Sharif University of Technology, Tarbiat Modares University, University of Tehran

University of Iceland

Autonomous University of Madrid, Ramon LLULL University, ESADE Business School, Casa de Rusia, University of Alcala, University of Alicante, University of Barcelona, University of Cadiz, University of Granada, University of Oviedo, University of Santiago de Compostela, University of Seville, University of Lleida, Universitat de Valencia, ESIC Business and Marketing School

Bocconi University, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, European University Institute, G. d'Annunzio University, Institute of Methodologies for Environmental Analysis CNR-IMAA, Luiss Libera University, Polytechnic University of Bari, Roma Tre University, Sapienza University of Rome, Scuola Normale Superiore Sant Anna di Pisa, St. Pio V University of Rome, University Carlo Cattaneo, University of Bari, The University of Macerata, University of Bologna, University of Calabria, University of Florence, University of Genoa, University of Milan, IULM University of Milan, University of Naples Federico II, University of Perugia, University of Pisa, University of Rome tor Vergata, University of Salerno, University of Teramo, University of Turin, University of Udine, University of Verona, University of Padua, Istituto di Cultura e Lingua Russa, University for Foreigners – Siena

University of Aden

Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty Management University, Institute of History of the State, Ch. Valikhanov Institute of History and Ethnology, Foundation Of The First President Of The Republic Of Kazakhstan — Elbasy, M. Auezov South Kazakhstan State University

Queen's University, Royal Roads University, University of King's College, University of Manitoba, McGill University, University of Montreal, York University, Schulich School of Business

University of Cyprus, Ministry of Education and Culture of Cyprus, University of Nicosia

Kyrgyz State Technical University after I. Razzakov

East China University of Political Science and Law, Beijing International Studies University (BISU), Ocean University of China, Capital Normal University, Sichuan University, Hanban, China Soong Ching Ling Foundation, Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Foreign Affairs University, China University of Political Science and Law, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Ching Yun University — Graduate Institute of Central Studies, Shanxi University, City University of Hong Kong, Fudan University, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin Engineering University, Heilongjiang University, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Huazhong University of science and technology, Institute of mountain hazards and environment, Jilin University, Nanjing University, National Chengchi University, National Taiwan University, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Beijing University, Beijing Normal University, Beijing Language and Culture University, Qindao Binhai University, Qingdao University, Renmin University of China, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, School of Economics, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, Southwest University of Political Science and Law, Sun Yat-Sen University, Tamkang University, Tianjin Normal University, Tsinghua University, Tsinghua University, School of Economics and Management, Wuhan University, Hei He University, Harbin Institute of Petroleum, Zhengzhou University, Chinese Culture University, National Chengchi University

Baltic International Academy, Baltic Psychology and Management University College, University of Latvia

Baltic Management Institute, European Humanities University, Vilnius University, Vilnius University of Applied Sciences, Vytautas Magnus university

Goce Delcev University

University of Malta

Anahuac University, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon, National autonomous university of Mexico

Moldova Slavic University

Tribhuvan University

Erasmus University Rotterdam, Haague Conference on Private International Law, Leiden University, Leiden University College The Hague, Maastricht University School of Business and Economics, Netherlands Institute of International Relations (Clingendael), Radboud University Nijmegen, The Hague University of Applied Sciences, University of Amsterdam, University of Groningen, Utrecht University College

Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, Norwegian School of Economics and Business, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, University of Bergen, University of Oslo, University of Stavanger, University of Tromsø, Volda University College, NORCE Norwegian Research Centre AS

Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan University of Technology, Jagiellonian University, Kozminski University, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Pedagogical University of Cracow, University of Bialystok, University of Opole, University of Silesia, University of Warsaw, University of Wroclaw, Warsaw School of Economics

Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, University of Beira Interior, University of Lisbon, University of Minho

Anyang University, University of Minho, Sungshin University, Gangneung–Wonju National University, Chonbuk National University, Chongju University, Chung-ang University, Chungbuk National University, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Kangnung National University, Kyongpook National University, Keimyung University, Korea University, Korean Foundation, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Seoul National University, Sookmyung Women's University, Sungkyunkwan University, Sunlin College, University of Incheon, Yonsei University, KIOSS — Korea Institute of Slavonic Studies,

State University of Novi Pazar, University of Nis, University of Belgrade

Business School of Natioanal University of Singapore, Singapore Management University

Commission of Destinction and Creativity

Comenius University in Bratislava, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, Matej Bel University, Pavol Jozef Safarik University in Kosice, University of Economics in Bratislava

University of Ljubljana

University of Khartoum

Bard College, Duke University, Florida State University, San Francisco University, Frederick Community College, Common Ground Research Networks, George Mason University, Seattle University, St Petersburg College of Florida, State University of New York, Stetson University College of Law, University of California, Berkley, University of Delaware, University of Miami, University of South California, University of South Carolina, Utah State University, Virginia Commonwealth University

Thammasat University

Anadolu University, Bogazici university, Ankara University, Ataturk University, Koc University, Marmara University, Istanbul University, Istanbul Okan University

Bukhara State Medical Institute, Samarkand State University, Ferghana State University, Tashkent State Institute of Oriental Studies

Kyiv National Linguistic University, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv

University of Montevideo

Hanken school of economics, Lahti University of Applied Sciences, Lappeenranta University of Technology, Saimaa University of Applied Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, University of Helsinki, University of Jyväskylä, University of Tampere, University of Turku, University of Vaasa

Aix Marseille University, Institut des Sciences Sociales, Economiques et Politiques, University of Cergy-Pontoise, University of Poitiers, EBS European Business School Paris, École de management de Normandie, École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, École Hautes Etudes Internationales — Ecole Hautes Etudes Politiques - HEIP, The European Physical Society (EPS), Emlyon Business School, ESC Rennes School of Business, EDHEC Business School, HEC Paris, Group KEDGE Business School, Grande école du commerce NEGOCIA, HEC School of Management, Paris, Joseph Fourier University, Paris-Sorbonne University, Sorbonne University, Pierre Mendès-France University, Grenoble, Polytechnic Institute LaSalle Beauvais, Rennes 2 University, Sciences Po Lille, Sciences Po Paris, Sciences-Po Toulouse, Skema Business School, Université du Maine, University of Bordeaux 4, University of Bordeaux, University of Burgundy, Universite de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, University of Caen Lower Normandy, University of Franche-Comté, University of Lille 1, University of Savoy (Chambéry), University of Strasbourg

Charles University, Masaryk University, Palacky University of Olomouc, Tomas Bata University, University of Bardubice, University of Economics in Prague, University of Ostrava, Czech Academy of Sciences, University of West Bohemia in Pilsen

Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santo Tomás University

University of Geneva, University of Bern, University of Fribourg, University of Lausanne, University of Zurich, European Organization for nuclear Research CERN

Linnaeus University, Lund University, Osterlens folk high school, Stockholm School of Economics, Stockholm University, Uppsala University, Akadeemia Nord

Estonian Institute, Estonian School of Diplomacy, Tallinn University, University of Tartu

Tshwane University of Technology, University of Venda

Hiroshima City University, Hiroshima University, Hokkaido University, Shinshu University, Keio University, Kindai University, Kobe University, Kyoto Sangyo University, Kyoto University, Kyushu University, Nagoya University of Commerce and Business, Nagoya University of Foreign Studies, Niigata University, Osaka City University, Osaka University, Saitama University, Sophia University, Sapporo Medical University, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, University of Tsukuba, University of Aizu, University of Tokyo, Waseda University, Yamanashi Gakuin University, University of Kanazawa

St Petersburg University prepares its alumni for the opportunities and challenges of the global labour market and living in a diverse, multi-cultural society. The University has long-term cooperation agreements with IBM, Unilever, PepsiCo, McKinsey, Google, Carl Zeiss, Microsoft, Leica, Sun Microsystems, Intel, Adobe and many other leading international companies. In 2018, SPbU became the best university in Russia in Employer-Student connections according to QS Graduate Employability Rankings.

International cooperation with universities worldwide provides our academic staff and students with access to numerous research and study opportunities. Students and researchers benefit from international cooperation, that enables them to share experience and keep abreast of the latest advancements in global science. Ties between scientific communities are the strongest in the world and SPbU takes pride in being a part of that.

The Institute is a project of St Petersburg University that aims to improve intercultural communication, disseminate Russian language and culture, and inform foreign youth about education and research in SPbU.

Over 30 scholarships and over 400 winners. The total sum of the scholarships is up to 15,000 rubles.

Students and aspirantura students of SPbU can get scholarships allocated from the University's endowment fund to support education and research. The University also has joint scholarship programmes with the business sector and private funds.

Each year, over 5,000 students take part in the sports competitions at SPbU. 300 students are members of 19 SPbU's teams in 15 sports.

15 students of SPbU are the members of the Russian National teams.

Among SPbU's students, there are 3 masters of sports of international class and 15 master of sports of Russia. SPbU's teams have 31 Candidates of Sports, while 72 students have the athletic titles.

SPbU collaborates with the Rugby Union of St Petersburg, Union of Grass Hokey of the Russian Federation, Climbing Union of St Petersburg, and Rowing Centre.

Although tests are different, there is something for everybody at SPbU. All year round, SPbU offers jazz evenings, balls, photo exhibitions, festivals, performances, concerts, and sports events to name but a few. Each year sees over 400 events, with thousands of students involved. Some of them act as organizers, participants, or volunteers.

University students are active people, and they are often ready to help others for nothing. For example, the students of St Petersburg University get together toys for orphanages, conduct performances and master classes for cancer-stricken children, visit veterans of the Great Patriotic War - and provide all-round assistance to those who really need it. However, social volunteering is not the only direction. The students of the University take part in various major events - the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, the St Petersburg International Legal Forum, the St Petersburg International Cultural Forum, etc. The university students also help to hold holidays at St Petersburg University, take part in the adaptation programme for students from other countries - and can get an excellent practice of a foreign language and intercultural communication.

Each summer, about 400 students can go to the resort Horizon near the Black Sea.

The resort is open to students all year round.

During the academic year, over 1,500 students are involved in weekend trips that focus on various topics at Leningrad region.

SPbU has countless student unions. Among them are arts unions, research groups, and student teams to name but a few.

SPbU has 9 student teams: 5 in pedagogics, 2 in building and construction, in archeology, and search element. Total body of students is 150. Apart from their main responsibilities, they always act as volunteers.

As a student at SPbU, you can join singing, dancing, or theatre studios, folklore ensemble or choir. They get involved in numerous campaigns run each year; some of them are nationally and internationally recognised.

The University aims to promote debate and discussion. The Debating Club, that was set up by students, has regular debates and workshops to help you excel in public speaking. Although it was opened only three years ago, it has over 1,500 members, among which are students from SPbU, Moscow, Kazan, Kiev, and Astana.

The Career Club is a career society to help students gain knowledge and expertise, skills and connections for successful career. The Club provides a meeting point for the leading companies from St Petersburg, including entrepreneurs and experts in various fields. During three years, the Club has held over 50 events, with over 3,000 participants.

SPbU International Student Club is a member-run club of international students to support the rights and represent, support and enhance the learning environment of international students.

The Club organizes educational and entertainment events for international and Russian students, including exhibitions, international concerts, language club, orientation weeks, and cinema.

The Club aims to:

• analyse the needs of international students in education, research, management, cultural and social spheres;
• support SPbU administration in discussing social, psychological, and communication adaptation of international students;
• develop measures to improve the living conditions of international students.

All international students can join the Club.

The Club management structure is the Club Conference, Club Council, and Chairperson of the Club Council. The Club Council comprises 11 Club members who are international students who gain the majority of votes during the Club Conference, including Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson's votes.

The competition of integrated projects for students and aspirantura students “SPbU Start-Up”

The participants present their projects to the jury panel. The team that presents the most original project receives 250,000 rubles.

Tournament in natural sciences

Interdisciplinary international team tournament in applied sciences (physics, chemistry, engineering). Each year sees more and more students from different parts of the world.

Student team championship in competitive programming

Team competition in algorithmic programming.

Annual competition (award) for SPbU's students in economics “Crystal Awards”

Students submit a portfolio of their achievements for the year. The jury that consists of the academic staff selects the best students in the following categories: Student of the Year, Typical Caser, For Contribution to the Arts, Party-Maker, Young Scientist, Sportsman of the Year, Student's Record Book of Your Dream, Hero of Our Time, and Mass Media of the Year.

Annual competition of research papers “Brain away”

The event is a series of workshops from professional sociologists and a competition between the teams.

Russian competition of student works in political communications PolitPRpro

At the end of March, Higher School of Journalism and Mass Communications at St Petersburg University holds the 9th Russian competition in political communications PolitPRpro. Those who solve the cases in the most efficient way reach the final round and compete for gold. The jury consists of the Russia's leading political technologists, representatives from the political parties, and professors of St Petersburg University.

Mass media perspective competition

For over 10 years, the University has held the competition at the end of November. Its aim is to make students in Journalism and Public Relations focus on urgent social problems and come up with ideas as to how to solve them by using cutting-edge communication technologies.

Russian competition in journalism, PR, and advertising for school students “Literary Debut”

Each year, the competition has four categories: a competition of the school mass media, tele-journalism, photojournalism, and PR-projects. At the selection round, you can take part in the Olympiad and in all categories. The last round of the Olympiad in Journalism and finals are held in different days, so you can take part in various events.

Best professional practice

The awarding ceremony of the summer practice competition is the most rewarding event for students of the Higher School of Journalism and Mass Communications at St Petersburg University. The students are awarded the prizes by famous public figures, political and social leaders, directors of the communications agencies, many of them are the University's graduates. The nominations include all fields of study at the Higher School of Journalism and Mass Communications: periodical press and network mass media, radio and TV, advertising and public relations, international journalism, media design, and photojournalism. There are some nominations for those students who have practice module after the first years of study or work in the applications commission at SPbU. The grand-prix is awarded to the students who have gained the highest results of their practice module in journalism, advertising, and public relations.

The Twelve Collegia Building

The university is a federal state institution of higher education managed by the government of the Russian Federation. It has 24 faculties and institutes which are further subdivided into departments, and other main structural subdivisions, including the Sports Department, Rectorate, Gorky Scientific Library, Academic Gymnasium, publishing house, and clinic.

The superior body of self-government of the university is its Assembly, which elects the Rector and the Academic Board of the University for a five-year term. The Assembly of the University consists of the members of the Academic Board of the University and the staff delegated by the general assemblies of the main structural subdivisions according to quotas set by the Academic Board of the University. The general administration of the university is vested in the Academic Board, which consists of the Rector, who presides over it, as well as the President of the University, vice rectors and representatives of the main structural subdivisions.

Likewise, the general administration of a faculty is vested in its respective academic board elected by the faculty assembly for five years. The procedure of election and department quotas are decided by the faculty-level academic board itself. The dean, who leads the faculty and presides over its academic board, is elected for five years by the faculty academic board.

The academic year in St. Petersburg State University according to the Routine Regulations normally starts on September 1. One lesson normally lasts an hour and a half (two academic hours). As in other higher education institutions in Russia, the academic year is divided into two semesters. The first semester (term) ends by late December, the second starts in mid-February and lasts until late May. Each term is followed by a series of preliminary tests (in the last week of December/May) and exams (in January/June).

Saint Petersburg State University. View from the Saint Isaac's Cathedral.

The university has two main campuses: on Vasilievsky Island in the historic city center and in Peterhof (formerly Petrodvorets), a southwestern suburb, which can be reached by railway from the city's Baltiysky Rail Terminal. The main building of the university, Twelve Collegia, is on Vasilievsky Island and includes the Library, the Faculty of Biology and the Institute of Earth Sciences. The Faculty of Philology and the Faculty of Oriental Studies share the nearby 18th-century Petrine Baroque building on Universitetskaya Embankment of the Bolshaya Neva, designed by Domenico Trezzini and originally built as the Palace of Peter II of Russia. The New Gostiny Dvor designed by Giacomo Quarenghi and built in the 19th century in that part of the island is occupied by the Institute of History, Institute of Philosophy. The Faculty of Psychology is in front of it on Admiral Makarov Embankment of the Malaya Neva. The Graduate School of Management, School of Journalism and Mass Communications, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry and Medical Technologies, Faculty of Law and Faculty of Military Studies are on Vasilievsky Island, but farther to the west. Four other social science faculties are east of the city center on the southern bank of the Neva: the Faculty of Economics is not far from the Chernyshevskaya metro station, while the Faculty of Sociology, Faculty of Political Science and the School of International Relations occupy historical buildings of Smolny Convent.

The new suburban campus consists of the Faculty of Applied Mathematics and Control Processes, Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Mechanics, and Faculty of Physics, which are in modern buildings in Peterhof. Nearby the Peterhof campus there is a beautiful park area called Sergievka. In the Sergievka park there are buildings of the Faculty of Biology. One of the Sergievka's park sights is a carved from a boulder head of a hero.

SPbSU is made up of 24 specialized faculties, which are:

• Faculty of Applied Mathematics and Control Processes (*rus | *eng)
• Faculty of Biology (*rus)
• Institute of Chemistry
• Faculty of Dentistry and Medical Technology (*rus)
• Faculty of Economics (*rus)
• Institute of Earth Sciences (*rus)
• Institute of History (*rus)
• School of International Relations (*rus)
• Faculty of Law
• Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences (*rus | *eng)
• Faculty of Mathematics and Mechanics (*rus | *eng)
• Faculty of Medicine (*rus)
• Faculty of Oriental Studies (*rus | *eng)
• Faculty of Arts (*rus | *eng)
• Faculty of Philology (*rus | *eng)
• Institute of Philosophy (*rus | *eng)
• Faculty of Physics (*rus | *eng)
• Faculty of Political Science (*rus) (*rus | *eng)
• Faculty of Psychology (*rus | *eng)
• Faculty of Sociology (*rus)
• Graduate School of Management
• Military Faculty (*rus)
• School of Journalism and Mass Communications (*rus | *eng)
  • Faculty of Applied Communications
  • Faculty of Journalism

There is also a Department of Physical Culture and Sports. (*rus)