Dear First-Year Students,

A new and profoundly important chapter, rich with opportunity, is now beginning in your lives. By joining the community of St. Petersburg State University, you are becoming part of a large family and will shortly begin your studies at one of Russia’s and the world’s leading universities.

Throughout its history, SPbU has attracted and nurtured the finest minds. Today, our graduates lead the country, make groundbreaking discoveries, receive international awards, become Olympic champions, and distinguish themselves as outstanding public figures.

Over its more than three centuries of history, the University has made a substantial contribution to intellectual and cultural progress, combining fundamental research with applied developments, and traditions with innovations. Today, it is here that the unique shared-access centre — the SPbU Research Park — operates, enabling groundbreaking discoveries of global significance.

It is hard to believe, but the collections of the M. Gorky Scientific Library of SPbU currently encompass over 7,000,000 printed books and manuscripts, including rare editions existing in a single original. Furthermore, the University’s museums safeguard approximately 3,000,000 artefacts. The entire heritage of St. Petersburg State University is now open to you, as you have become part of the SPbU community!

SPbU confidently maintains the high standards established by its distinguished scholars, faculty, and, undoubtedly, by you — our students. Each year, over 120,000 candidates from every region of Russia and more than 140 countries worldwide apply to study at the University. Yet, only approximately 10,000 of the most accomplished applicants are admitted as our students and postgraduate researchers. Now, you proudly count yourselves among their number!
I am confident that by gaining admission to the University, you have taken a significant step towards realising your aspirations. The knowledge acquired during your studies will serve as the foundation for your future professional achievements, while the new friends who will accompany you on life’s journey shall provide enduring support and inspiration!

Ahead of you lie truly fortunate years, filled with new encounters, discoveries, and triumphs. It is my hope that this student’s guide will serve to make your student life yet more vibrant and fulfilling.

I encourage you to dream boldly, to pursue ambitious goals, and to embrace every opportunity that awaits you. May your journey be both rewarding and enlightening!

A Welcome from Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of SPbU

1724
1742
1758
1821
1830
1834
1868

1878
1895
1909
1941
1991
2009
2014

2016
2017
2019
2020
2021
2024

Ilya Ilich Mechnikov

1908

Nikolai Nikolaevich Semenov

1956

Lev Davidovich Landau

1962

Alexander Mikhailovich Prokhorov

1964

Wassily Leontief

1973

Leonid Kantorovich

1975

Joseph Brodsky

1987

St. Petersburg State University (SPbU) is one of the largest scientific and educational centers in Europe and the world. Today, over 24,000 students are studying here, with more than 15 major laboratories and 23 resource centers that are part of the country’s leading Research Park. The University boasts a rich history — SPbU is rightfully called the first university of Russia.

Since 2009, SPbU has had a special status that allows it to:

• Carry out additional exams for all main educational programmes

• Independently set its own educational standards

• Assign its own academic degrees

• Issue its own diplomas with number of unique features

Alumni — Nobel Prize Laureates

Ivan Petrovich Pavlov

1904

Chronology of Events

SPbU in leading rankings:

SPbU is a university with a rich history. You can learn about the key events that occurred over almost three centuries in a special section on the website.

Alexey Ivanovich Ekimov

2023

Institutes

Faculties

Gymnasium and colleges

St Petersburg University implements a waste sorting program. Everyone can contribute to preserving the ecological balance and the more opportunities for this, the better. Sorted waste is sent for recycling — the most rational way of handling it.

What can be recycled:

Green Campus