Saint Petersburg State University

With a history dating back to 1724, the University is the oldest institution of higher education in Russia. Today, SPbU successfully combines tradition and innovation, being one of the leading international centres of education, science and culture.

It is ranked among the top 300 universities around the world and in second place in Eastern Europe and Central Asia according to the QS Rankings. The University is also ranked in second place in Russia in the QS Graduate Employability Ranking. It is the best in Russia for Employer-Student connections.

As a dynamic institution, it designs multidisciplinary academic programmes that combine fundamental theoretical problems with real-world, practical application.

Famous Graduates

The discoveries and achievements of the University professors and graduates have shaped the history of both international and Russian science and technology. The University is proud to be home to 9 Nobel prize winners – in Physiology, Medicine, Chemistry, Physics, Economics, Literature – as well as Fields Medal (Mathematics) and Shaw Prize winners. Moreover, two presidents of the Russian Federation and six government leaders graduated from the University.

International Students

Each year, more than 3,000 international students from 100 countries enroll in the University. They are offered a choice from: 10 double degree programmes; 20 master’s programmes taught in English, German, Spanish, French and Italian; as well as 385 programmes of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels taught in Russian. According to Rossotrudnichestvo (the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation), in 2019 the University became the most popular university in Russia among foreign applicants.

International Cooperation

The University maintains strong partnerships with 500+ universities in 65 countries worldwide. It is an active member of international academic mobility programmes including Erasmus, Finnish-Russian Cross Border University, Coimbra Group, and European University Foundation (Campus Europae). The University makes it easy to connect with the whole world by offering the opportunity to participate in Alumni clubs in 16 counties. There are representative offices functioning in China, the Republic of Korea, Spain, the USA and Turkey. Also The University is to open a branch in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. It will offer academic programmes in philology, biomedicine, regional studies, and economics.

Global careers

The University’s academic programmes are relevant for the challenges and opportunities of the global labour market. University alumni are able to take on competitive positions in a multicultural work environment. The University has 2,000 long-term cooperation agreements including with IBM, Unilever, PepsiCo, McKinsey, Google, Carl Zeiss, Microsoft, Leica, Intel, Adobe, Huawei, and many other leading international companies. The University partner organisations offer internships for students and take part in the development and assessment of academic programmes.

Research

University scientists conduct research in almost all fields of knowledge, provide expertise and consulting, and enjoy close ties with Russian and international partners. The research findings are published in high-impact international journals.

Priority research areas:

nanotechnology and materials science
biomedicine and human health
information systems and technology
ecology and nature management
social research and technologies
human resource management and technologies.

The University has cutting-edge research facilities – the state-of-the art Research Park with 24 resource centres, where the most advanced research equipment is concentrated.

Students have an opportunity to annually receive research grants, including the Russian Federation Presidential grant. They can carry out research in numerous laboratories and make use of the University’s vast scientific collections.

Student life

University life is vibrant and diverse. Every year, the University holds over 300 student events, celebrations, conferences, and competitions. Students are invited to practice up to 21 types of sport at 30 University venues. There are also numerous opportunities to take part in creative student clubs, join the international students association, participate in University volunteering projects and much more!

Faculties and Institutes

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)