Saint Petersburg State University

Saint Petersburg State University (SPbU) is a public research university in Saint Petersburg, Russia. It was founded in 1724 by Peter the Great, making it one of the oldest universities in Russia. From the beginning, the university focused on fundamental research in science and engineering.

The university has 24 different departments and institutes, including the Academic Gymnasium, the Medical College, and the College of Physical Culture and Sports. It has two main campuses, one located on Vasilievsky Island and the other in Peterhof. During the Soviet period, it was known as Leningrad State University. In 1948, it was renamed after Andrei Zhdanov, but this name was removed in 1989. The name "Leningrad" was changed back to "Saint Petersburg" in 1992.

History

Saint Petersburg State University, one of the oldest universities in Russia, was founded in 1724 by Peter the Great. It has grown to include 24 different departments and institutes.

The university began as part of the Academic Gymnasium and the Saint Petersburg Academy of Sciences. Over the years, it has changed names many times, reflecting the history of Russia. It was known as Saint Petersburg Imperial University, Petrograd Imperial University, and Leningrad State University before returning to its current name in 1991.

Throughout its history, the university has faced many challenges, including wars and political changes. Despite these difficulties, it has continued to educate students and support research in many fields. Notable alumni include Russian presidents Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev, who both studied law at the university.

Admissions

Getting into Saint Petersburg State University is very difficult. Students in Russia need to take a big test called the Unified State Exam to apply. In 2023, people wanting to join the university had an average score of 90 out of 100 on this test. That year, over 100,000 students from Russia tried to get in, but only about 4,600 were chosen. International students from 100 countries also applied for special scholarships, but only 1,000 of them were accepted. So, only about 4% of all applicants, both from Russia and other countries, got to study at the university.

Organization

The university is a public institution in Russia, run by the government. It has 24 different schools and departments, each with its own groups of teachers and students.

Students start their studies in September each year. Classes usually last one and a half hours. The school year is split into two parts, with tests and exams at the end of each part.

The university has two main areas where students learn and work. One is on Vasilievsky Island in the city center, and the other is in a place called Peterhof, a bit farther away. Many different subjects are taught in these areas, from biology to music and more. There are also special places for sports and physical activities.

International collaboration

The university is part of a group called the University of the Arctic. This group includes over 200 schools and organizations that work together to study and teach about the Arctic region. However, this teamwork stopped after the Russo-Ukrainian War began in 2022.

Rankings

Saint Petersburg State University is one of the top schools in the world. In 2022, it was placed 35th in a ranking called The Three University Missions Ranking. Other big rankings put the university between spots 242 and 800 depending on the list. These rankings show how well the university does compared to others around the globe.

Notable alumni and faculty

For a more comprehensive list, see List of Saint Petersburg State University people.

Politics

Saint Petersburg State University is well known for its influence in politics. Many leaders have studied there, including:

• Vladimir Putin, who served as president and prime minister of Russia
• Dalia Grybauskaite, president of Lithuania
• Levon Ter-Petrosyan, president of Armenia
• Dmitry Medvedev, president and prime minister of Russia
• Vladimir Lenin, leader of Soviet Russia and the Soviet Union

Nobel laureates

Nine graduates of the university have won Nobel Prizes for their work in different fields:

• Ilya Mechnikov, for Physiology or Medicine in 1908
• Ivan Pavlov, for Physiology or Medicine in 1904
• Nikolay Semyonov, for Chemistry in 1956
• Lev Landau, for Physics in 1962
• Wassily Leontief, for Economics in 1973
• Joseph Brodsky, for Literature in 1987
• Alexey Ekimov, for Chemistry in 2023

Science and mathematics

The university has many famous scientists and mathematicians among its graduates, such as:

• Dmitri Mendeleev, who created the first version of the periodic table
• Mikhail Lomonosov, a scientist known for his many discoveries
• Stanislav Smirnov, who won the Fields Medal in 2010

Literature and the arts

Artists and writers also studied at the university, including:

• Alexander Blok, a famous poet
• Igor Stravinsky, a well-known composer
• Ivan Turgenev, a writer

Other notable alumni include Olympic champions and creators of important technology.

Rectors

Saint Petersburg State University has had many leaders over its long history. Some of the leaders include Yevdokim Zyablovskiy, Pyotr Pletnyov, Izmail Sreznevsky, Aleksandr Voskresensky, Heinrich Lenz, Karl Kessler, Andrey Beketov, Ivan Borgman, David Grimm, Sergei Zhebelev, Mikhail Artamonov, Aleksandr Aleksandrov, Lyudmila Verbitskaya, and Nikolay Kropachev. Each of these leaders helped guide the university through different times and changes.