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On January 25, 1755, Moscow University was established by Elizabeth of Russia and founded by Mikhail Lomonosov on Saint Tatiana Day, the patron saint of students. From the article:
"History of Moscow University
In January 2005 Lomonosov Moscow State University celebrated its 250th anniversary, over 800 various events being held on the occasion. Founded in the XVIII century, the University has been constantly growing and encompassing new branches of learning and research.
All the history of the University is the evidence of the outstanding role its alumni have played promoting the ideas of freedom, common good, humanity, and truth.
Early history
M.V. Lomonosov
One of the oldest Russian institutions of higher education, Moscow University was established in 1755. In 1940 it was named after Academician Mikhail Lomonosov (1711 - 1765), an outstanding Russian scientist, who greatly contributed to the establishment of the university in Moscow.
Mikhail Lomonosov was one of the intellectual titans of XVIII century. The great Russian poet Alexander Pushkin described him as a person of formidable willpower and keen scientific mind, whose lifelong passion was learning. Lomonosov's interests ranged from history, rhetoric, art and poetry to mechanics, chemistry, mineralogy. His activity is a manifestation of the enormous potential of the Russian scientific community whose representatives occupied the leading positions in the world at the time. Peter I reformed Russia, which allowed the country reach the standards of the contemporary European powers in many spheres. Great importance was placed on education. In 1724 the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences, founded by Peter I, established a university and a grammar school to educate intellectuals and researchers the country needed; however, these educational establishments did not fulfill the task they took on. It was Michail Lomonosov who suggested, in his letter to Count Shuvalov, the idea of establishing a university in Moscow. An influential courtier and the favorite of Empress Elizaveta Petrovna, Count Shuvalov was a patron of the arts and science; he supported Lomonosov's plans for a new university and presented them to the Empress.
The decree about Moscow university
In 1755, on 25 January, St. Tatiana's Day according to the Russian Orthodox Church calendar, Empress Elizaveta Petrovna signed the decree that a university should be founded in Moscow. The opening ceremony took place on 26 April, when Elizaveta Petrovna's coronation day was celebrated. Since 1755 25 January and 26 April are marked by special events and festivities at Moscow University; the annual conference where students present results of their research work is traditionally held in April.
According to Lomonosov's plan, there were originally three faculties. First all the students acquired a comprehensive knowledge in the field of science and humanities at the Faculty of Philosophy; then they could specialize and continue at the Faculty of Philosophy or join either the Law Faculty or The Faculty of Medicine. Lectures were delivered either in Latin, the language of educated people at the time, or in Russian. Unlike European Universities, Moscow University did not have the Faculty of Theology, since Russia had special theological education establishments.
Moscow university first building
From the very beginning elitism was alien to the very spirit of the University community, which determined Moscow University's long-standing democratic tradition. The Decree Elizaveta Petrovna signed stated in its preamble that the university was to educate commoners; only serfs were not admitted. Lomonosov himself pointed out that in European universities it was the academic achievements of a student that mattered, not his social position or family background. In the late XVIII century there were only three noblemen among the 26 professors of Moscow University, most of the students were commoners too. The best students were sent to continue their education abroad, establishing the contacts with the international scientific community.
Originally tuition at Moscow University was free for all, later only poor students were exempt from tuition fees. The state funding did not cover all the University expenses; thus the administration had to find ways to raise additional funds. The University was partly funded by its patrons, such as the rich merchants of the Demidov and Stroganov families and some others, who donated laboratory equipment, books, various collections and established scholarships for University students. Many times University alumni supported their alma mater through hard times raising money by public subscriptions. To the University library professors traditionally bequeathed their private book collections, the largest among them were those collected by I.M.Snegirev, P.Ya.Petrov, T.N.Granovsky, S.M.Soloviev, F.I.Buslaev, N.K.Gudzy, I.G.Petrovsky and some others.
Moscow university building. 1786
Moscow University played an outstanding role in popularizing science and learning in Russia by making the lectures of its professors open to the public. Book publishing in Russia started in 1756, when a printing house and a bookshop were opened on campus; the printing of one of the first Russian newspapers “Moskovskie Vedomosti” (Moscow Gazette) started there. Since 1760 the first Moscow literary periodical “Poleznoe Uveselenie” (Useful Entertainment) was also printed at the University printing house. N.I.Novikov, one of the outstanding figures of the Enlightenment in Russia, was at the head of the University publishers from 1779 to 1789.
N.I. Novikov
For over a century, since 1756, the University library was the only one in Moscow opened for the general public.
Professors of Moscow University greatly contributed to establishing new cultural centres in Moscow and Russia, the grammar school and later a university in Kazan, The Academy of the Fine Arts in St. Petersburg, the Maly Theatre in Moscow, to name just a few. In XIX century the first scientific societies, uniting naturalists, historians and philologists, were founded at the University.
D.I. Fonvisin
XVIII century saw a number of outstanding figures among the students and professors of Moscow University: philosophers N.N.Popovsky, D.S. Anichkov, mathematicians V.K. Arshenevsky, M.I.Pankevitch, medical doctor S.Z.Zybelin, botanist P.D.Veniaminov, physicist P.I.Strakhov, soil scientists M.I.Afonin and N.E.Cherepanov, H. A. Chebotarev, historian and geographer, historian N.N. Bantysh-Kamenetsky, A.A.Barsov, S. Khalfin and E.I.Kostrov who were philologists and translators; lawyers S.E.Desnitsky and I.A.Tretiakov, well-known authors D.I. Fonvisin, M.M. Kheraskov, and N.I. Novikov, architects V.I.Bazhenov and I.E.Starov. Their work greatly contributed to Moscow University's becoming the leading educational, scientific and cultural centre in Russia and in the world.
XIX century
The Charter. 1804
Initially governed according to "The Imperial Decree on the Establishment of Moscow University", in 1804 Moscow University was granted a Charter and thus considerable independence. According to the Charter the Rector and Deans of the faculties were elected by the professors; the first Rector-elect became H.A.Chebotarev, Professor of History and Philology. The University governing body was the Board of Professors; they also awarded degrees. The publications approved by the Board and printed by the University publishing house were exempt from censorship. There were four divisions within Moscow University in the early XIX century: the Department of Moral and Political Science, the Department of Physics and Mathematics, the Department of Medicine, the Department of Philology. The course of university education took three years, after final examinations the best graduates were awarded Candidate's degrees. According to the 1804 Charter the University had control over curricula and school policies in the secondary and elementary schools of the central provinces of Russia, which contributed to continuity in the programs of educational institutions at all levels.
A.S. Pushkin
The invasion of the French Army led by Napoleon caused a wave of patriotism in University students, many of them joined the volunteer corps in 1812. M.I.Kutuzov, who led the Russian Army, specially mentioned selfless work of the University medical professors and students.
The University buildings were burned down during the French occupation; the library, the archives, the museum and all the equipment were destroyed. After the war it was the joint effort of all educated people in Russia that made the restoration of the University possible: books, ancient manuscripts, all kinds of collections, equipment and financial aid came from research laboratories and scientists, there were donations from private citizens too. Thus 7,500 books had been collected for the University library by 1815. In spite of the difficult conditions, the academic year at Moscow University started on 1 September, 1813; in 1820s the total number of students exceeded 500.
V.G.Belinsky
In the early XIX century Moscow University attracted free-thinking people; student groups lead by the Kritsky Brothers, N.P.Sungurov, V.G.Belinsky, A.I.Gertsen, N.P.Ogaryov, N.V. Stankevitch were well known. They united the young people who discussed the future of Russia. It was often a real battle of wits between the supporters of Western ideas and those who thought Russia had its own unique way of development. In 1840s public lectures, delivered by T.N.Granovsky, were attended by all Moscow intellectuals. Moscow University was a melting pot, where young people form the various strata of the society met and overcame their social prejudices; it was at the University that the traditions of fraternity were supported and cultivated. University alumni took the most advanced ideas with them when they left their alma mater.
The work of the University publishers was not limited to only scientific papers; they were the first to publish "Sonnets" by A.Mitskevich and I.C.Turgenev's prose.
A.I.Gertsen
Abolishing serfdom in Russia in 1861 was a turning point in the history of the country. In the history of Moscow University a period of reforms started too. The 1863 University Charter set new standards and requirements: the demand for highly qualified specialists in the field of industry, agriculture, commerce was growing; the country needed well-educated government officials, lawyers and military men. The new Charter widened the range of the subjects in the curriculum, which included more seminars and laboratory experiments. The number of professors and instructors increased, and the tradition of electing the Rector and Deans that had been discontinued for some time was re-established. There were four divisions within the University: the Faculty of History and Philology, the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics, the Law Faculty, the Faculty of Medicine. The total number of students was about 1500, most of them commoners.
Early XX Century
The Botanical Garden on the prospect Mira
In the early XX century Moscow University greatly contributed to the development of secondary education in Russia. Quite a number of new textbooks for secondary schools were compiled by the University professors. University alumni very often taught secondary schools, introducing the most advanced ideas and methods in their work.
In the late XIX century Moscow University contributed to the establishment of a number of museums in Moscow, such as the Polytechnic Museum, the Historical Museum, The Zoological Museum, The Anthropological Museum, The Museum of Fine Arts, the Botanical Gardens and the Zoological Gardens.
V.S.Soloviev
The 1863 Charter of Moscow University promoted learning and facilitated the development of education in Russia. But after the assassination of Alexander II in 1881 the government restricted the rights of universities, trying to put the curriculum under their own control; nevertheless, Moscow University remained the centre of science and culture, uniting by the early XX century such outstanding thinkers and philosophers as V.S.Soloviev, V.V.Rozanov, the Trubetskoi brothers, S.N.Bulgakov, P.A.Florensky. Both the professors and the students discussed current issues; many well-known political figures of the time were among the academics and the students.
The democratic spirit of Moscow University manifested itself during the first Russian revolution, in 1905 - 1907. The students were against the monarchy, the resolution of their meeting on 9 September 1905 demanded a republican system of government; many of them joined the fighters.
Not only students, but also professors of Moscow University kept up its deeply rooted democratic traditions. In 1911 the government unfairly dismissed a number of University professors and instructors, thus flouting the Charter; over 130 professors protested against that by resigning their positions at the University, among them world-known scientists, such as K.A.Timiriazev, P.N.Lebedev, N.D.Zelinsky, N.A.Umov, C.A.Chaplygin, V.I.Vernadsky. As the conflict between the government and the University continued, over a thousand students were expelled, some of them arrested. World war I that started soon led to a further decrease in the number of students.
P.A.Florensky
During the first 150 years of its history Moscow University played the leading role in the development of science and humanities in Russia, being the centre of learning and research. In the late XIX century and early XX century quite a number of Russian scientists and scholars worked there, among them mathematicians N.D.Brashman, N.Ye.Zhukovsky, N.V.Bugaev, C.A.Chaplygin; physicists and astronomers A.G.Stoletov, F.A.Bredikhin, A.A.Belopolsky, N.A.Umov, P.N.Lebedev, P.K.Sternberg; chemists V.V.Markovnikov, V.F.Luginin, I.A.Kablukov, N.D.Zelinsky, biologists and soil scientists K.F.Rulie, A.I.Filomafitsky, I.M.Setchenov, K.A.Timiriazev, A.N.Severtsov, M.A.Menzbir, A.N.Sabanin, D.N.Prianishnikov; medical doctors M.Ya.Mudrov, F.I.Inozemtsev, N.V.Sklifosovsky, G.A.Zakharin, A.A.Ostroumov, N.V.Filatov, F.F.Erisman, V.F.Snegirev; georgapher and anthropologist D.N.Anutchin; geologists G.Ye.Schurovsky, V.O.Kovalevsky, A.P.Pavlov; geochemist V.I.Vernadsky; historians T.G.Granovsky, N.I.Nadezhdin, M.T.Kachenovsky, M.P.Pogodin, I.D.Belyev, S.M.Soloviev, V.O.Klyuchevsky, V.I.Gerie, N.A.Rozhkov, M.N.Pokrovsky, Yu.V.Gotie; philologists N.S.Tikhonravov, F.I.Buslaev, N.I.Storozhenko, F.F.Fortunatov, F.Ye.Korsh, V.F.Miller, S.K.Shambinago, M.N.Speransky, M.M.Pokrovsky, V.N.Schepkin; lawyers B.N.Chicherin, K.D.Kavelin, M.M.Kovalevsky, P.I.Novgorodtsev; economists I.K.Babst, A.I.Chuprov, I.I.Yanzhul; philosophers Ye.N. and C.N. Trubetskoi and many others.
After 1917 Revolution
V.I.Vernadsky
The Russian revolution of 1917 changed the whole system of higher education. On the one hand, it became more democratic, in the sense that institutions of higher education started to receive all its funding form the government and students did not have to pay tuition fees, moreover, all of them received grants. From 1919 to 1936 a preparatory department for young people from the working class and peasant families was opened at Moscow University. Since 1919 the University was fully financed by the state. Quite a number of well-known scientists went on working at the University, D.N.Anutchin, N.Ye.Zhukovsky, N.D.Zelinsky, A.N. Severtsov, K.A. Timiryazev, S.A. Chaplygin among them.
At the same time, as the Revolution caused a split in the society in general, there was no unity within the University as well. Many students and professors, well-known scientists and scholars among them, found it difficult to accept the new situation and left. A destructive effect was produced in 1920s by the attempts to reorganize the University, making some faculties or departments into separate educational institutions in an attempt to train more students. Thus, the faculties of medicine, law, chemistry, geology, mineralogy and geography became separate institutes, independent of the University; similarly, in 1931 all the Humanities were joined in the Moscow Institute of Philosophy, Literature and History, which was reunited with the University only 10 years later.
N.V.Sklifosovsky
In the 1920s there were some attempts to introduce innovations in tuition as well. There were no lectures delivered by professors, instead, students were to study in teams, 3 to 5 people each, then taking their examinations in teams too. Studying in teams did not prove a success, and it has never been used again. In 1932 the University curriculum was changed again, as well as the system of higher education as a whole. In 1934 doctoral dissertations were defended at Moscow University for the first time after 1917.
N.Ye.Zhukovsky
The political repressions of the 1930s and 1950s produced an extremely negative effect on the development of scientific ideas, as Soviet scientists had virtually no contacts with their colleagues abroad. A number of scientists and scholars were being hounded or even sentenced for life imprisonment. Some branches of science and humanities were condemned on ideological grounds as alien to Communist ideas and virtually disappeared.
Despite all the problems, in the 1920s-30s the University did have a number of achievements both in the sphere of education and in research. By 1941 the total number of full-time students at Moscow University had grown to 5000 and over 30 University professors became full members of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR. New secondary school textbooks and manuals for university students were compiled at Moscow University. In 1940, while celebrating its 185th anniversary, Moscow University was named after its founder M.V.Lomonosov.
Moscow University during World War II
The Great Patriotic War against Nazi Germany was one of the most difficult periods in the history of Russia. The first group of University students and staff joined the army on the third day of fighting, mainly to serve as Army commanders and political staff officers. The division formed out of the University volunteers fought heroically defending Moscow.
Moscow University professors, students and staff were evacuated in 1941 to Ashkhabad, Turkmenia, then in 1942 to Sverdlovsk, returning to Moscow in 1943, after the German troops were defeated near the capital. Nevertheless those students who stayed in Moscow resumed their studies as early as February 1942. During the war over 3000 specialists were trained at the University; the University scientists continued their research; their contributions to applied science allowed improvements in aircraft development and navigation, in the accuracy of artillery fire etc. New explosives were invented, a study of uranium was carried out, a preparation causing blood coagulation was introduced into practice; University geologists discovered a tungsten deposit in Central Asia and new oil fields, University geographers supplied the Red Army with maps and charts. University scholars popularized the ideas of patriotism, and University lawyers made their contribution during the Nuremberg and Tokyo trials.
Over 5000 University students, instructors, professors and staff fought in the war, over 1000 were decorated, seven became Heroes of the Soviet Union. To honor over 3000 people Moscow University lost during the war a memorial was erected on campus in 1975.
The years after World War II
M.V.Keldysh
During the post-war period the leading role of Moscow University in the restoration and further development of the country was fully recognized. In the 1940s-50s there was a fivefold increase in the state funding; on the newly-built University campus on Vorobievy Gory (Sparrow Hills) all the lecture halls and laboratories received state-of-the-art equipment.
MSU history
The new campus was opened on September 1, 1953.
During the 1950s Thaw period the country became more open for contacts, which, together with better funding, allowed to widen the scope of research work conducted by the University scientists. A few problem-dedicated scientific laboratories and the Research Computing Center were established at the same time. The newly established University divisions included the Institute of Asian and African Languages, the Faculty of Psychology, the Faculty of Computing Mathematics and Cybernetics and the Faculty of Soil Science which became the first of its kind in the country. The total number of full-time students continued constantly growing; thus, it rose from 13,000 in 1953 to 31,000 in 2001. At the same time Moscow University became an international educational centre, with the Faculty for the Russian Language which has been teaching international students since 1959.
L.D.Landau
Since 1917 over 200,000 specialists have graduated from Moscow University and over 35,000 have been awarded doctoral degrees, which confirms the position of Moscow University as a leading centre of learning and science in this country.
A.N.Kolmogorov
In XX century quite a number of renowned scientists and scholars worked at Moscow University, among them mathematicians P.S.Alexandrov, V.V.Golubev, D.F.Yegorov, M.V.Keldysh, A.N.Kolmogorov, N.N.Luzin, I.G.Petrovsky, I.I.Privalov, V.V.Stepanov, O.Yu.Shmidt; physicists V.K.Arkadiev, L.A.Artsimovitch, N.N.Bogoliubov, S.I.Vavilov, V.I.Vexler, A.A.Vlasov, P.L.Kapitsa, I.V.Kurchatov, L.D.Landau, G.S.Landsberg, Ya.B.Zeldovitch, A.S.Predvoditelev, D.V.Skobeltsin, I.E.Tamm, R.V.Khokhlov; chemists A.A.Balandin, I.V.Berezin, S.I.Volfkovitch, Ya.I.Gerasimov, B.A.Kazansky, V.A.Kargin, A.N.Nesmeyanov, A.V.Novoselova, P.I.Rebinder, N.N.Semenov, A.N.Frumkin, N.M.Emanuel; geographers N.N.Baransky, A.A.Borzov, K.K.Markov, V.N.Sukachev, I.S.Schukin; geologists A.D.Arkhangelsky, N.V.Belov, A.A.Bogdanov, A.P.Vinogradov, Yu.A.Orlov, M.M.Filatov, biologists and soil scientists A.N.Belozersky, D.G.Vilensky, L.A.Zenkevitch, N.K.Koltsov, G.V.Nikolsky, A.I.Oparin, N.P.Remezov; historians A.V.Artsikhovsky, B.D.Grekov, A.A.Guber, N.M.Druzhinin, N.I.Konrad, M.V.Netchkina, A.M.Pankratova, S.D.Skazkin, M.N.Tikhomirov, L.V.Cherepnin; art critics V.N.Lazarev, A.A.Fedorov-Davidov; philologists D.D.Blagoi, S.M.Bondi, V.V.Vinogradov, N.K.Gudzi, R.M.Samarin, D.N.Ushakov; philosophers V.F.Asmus, V.P.Volgin, G.Ye.Glezerman, E.B.Ilienkov, B.M.Kedrov; lawyers M.N.Gernet, P.Ye.Orlovsky, A.N.Trainin, psychologists A.N.Leontiev, A.R.Luria, S.L.Rubinshtein; economists L.Ya.Berri, A.Ya.Boyarsky, V.S.Nemchinov, K.V.Ostrovitianov, S.K.Tatur, N.A.Tsagolov and many others.
The main building
Among those who teach and do research at MSU there are 2,500 higher doctoral degree holders and almost 6,000 holders of candidate degrees, the total number of professors and instructors being about 5,000; there are over 300 full members and correspondent members of he Russian Academy of Sciences and other academies.. About 4,500 scientists and scholars are currently involved in 350 research projects in various fields.
Besides its 39 faculties, Moscow University comprises 15 research institutes, 4 museums, 6 local branches in Russia and abroad, about 380 departments, the Science Park, the Botanical Gardens, The Library, the University Publishing House and a printing shop, a recreational centre and a boarding school for talented children.
A number of new faculties, departments and research laboratories have been recently established, new academic programs are being continuously introduced together with new curricula; there are over 140 distance learning programs. Research has recently started in 30 new interdisciplinary areas.
MSU as a research center
The University's scientific potential creates a unique opportunity for interdisciplinary research and pioneering work in various branches of science. The recent years have been marked by achievements in the fields of high-energy physics, superconductivity, laser technology, mathematics and mechanics, renewable energy sources, biochemistry and biotechnology. New problems to be studied by scholars often reveal themselves while they are working on various aspects of sociology, economics, history, psychology, philosophy and the history of culture. On average 800 doctoral and 200 higher doctoral degrees in various fields of science and humanities are awarded at MSU every year.
The 1st Humanities Building on the new campus
Moscow University is a major innovative center. The first Russian Science Park appeared at MSU; in the last three years about 70 small companies have been founded within the Park, they specialize in chemistry and innovative materials, biotechnology, pharmaceutics, ecology and environmental management, production of scientific equipment and instruments. The Park unites about 2,000 scientists who work to make scientific achievements into technological innovations, cooperating with business companies in the development of innovative technologies. It is in the Scientific Park that the links with leading Russian companies and potential employers of University graduates are established. Another area where links between academics and business have been successfully developing is corporation universities within Moscow University that are a model of innovative approach to tuition. Accomplished in 2006 - 2007 within the framework of the National Educational Project, the practical implementation of the approach resulted in 67 innovative Master’s Degree programs.
In 2006 Moscow University organized the first Festival of Science and Arts in Russia, similar to those traditionally held in many countries abroad. In 2007 the second Festival united around 100,000 participants and guests, becoming an all-Moscow event, while 2008 saw the Festival held all over Russia. Now it has become traditional, being held in early October every year.
Moscow University’s 250th anniversary was marked by putting a satellite into orbit; the satellite had been made by the University specialists and named “Tatiana” after the University patron saint. It allowed to discover new phenomena in the near-Earth space.
On September 17, 2009 the rocket launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome put into space the experimental research satellite named “Tatiana – II” whose mission was to observe and register transient phenomena in the upper atmosphere, thus helping to understand their nature. At the moment MSU specialists are planning to put a new and bigger satellite into orbit in 2011, marking M.V.Lomonosov’s 300th anniversary.
2008 saw a substantial increase in the MSU computing power, supplemented by 60-teraflop supercomputer ”Chebyshev” (joint project of MSU, RAS and T-Platforms Company) and 28-teraflop Blue Gene/P made by IBM. 2009 saw a substantial increase in the MSU computing power again, supplemented by 414-teraflop supercomputer ”Lomonosov”.
MSU Main Campus
From the engineering and operational point of view Moscow University campus is an extremely complex system, with its 1,000,000 m2 floor area in 1,000 buildings and structures, with its 8 dormitories housing over 12,000 students and 300 km of utility lines. Nevertheless, this system has to be modernized and developed for the University to meet the modern requirements both as a center of higher learning and a center of research. According to the plan, approved by the government in 1987, a number of new buildings are to be erected in the area adjacent to the campus on Vorobievy Gory. Under the project (architect G.N.Tsytovitch) new blocks for a few faculties and state-of-the-art research laboratories are to be constructed, together with a library building, a swimming pool, a stadium, a recreation centre, and some services. The Main Library Building was opened in January, 2005. The 1st Humanities Building opening ceremony on the new campus was held on September 1, 2007, the new block housing Faculties of History, Public Administration, Philosophy, Political Science. The new Medical Center has been erected on the new campus as well. The “old“ campus area has been developed too, the new Economics Building being opened in 2009.
Studying at MSU
As training highly qualified specialists has always been the main goal, the faculties and departments constantly revise their curricula and introduce new programs. A number of faculties offer 4-year Bachelor’s and 2-year Master’s Degree programs, together with traditional 5-year Specialist Degree programs. Currently the stress is on student's ability to work independently and meet employer's requirements, thus practical experience in the field being of foremost importance. More classes in the Liberal Arts have been recently included in the curricula for science students, lecturers in Arts and Social Sciences giving classes on the history and culture of Russia and other countries, philology, economics, law and art for students of different faculties. The University offers individual programs combining programs and classes at different faculties.
Keeping fit is often essential for satisfactory academic achievement, thus in their first two years undergraduates have two obligatory physical training sessions a week, later they may join one of sports clubs.
The Botanical Garden on prospect Mira
The curricula of all MSU faculties are based on the combination of academic instruction with student's research work and the combination of thorough theoretical knowledge with specific skills. Having acquired theoretical knowledge in the first and the second year, in their third year undergraduates choose an area to specialize in. At the same time they choose a field for their independent study, joining elective special seminars; the results of research are usually presented at the meetings of students' scientific societies or at scientific conferences, the most interesting results are published.
Normally, a degree program at MSU takes from 4 to 6 years to complete. At the end of the final semester the results of each student's independent research are submitted in the form of final paper, which is publicly presented by the student at the meeting of the department.
The Himical Building
The students in most MSU programs do not pay their tuition but 15% of students whose tuition is not covered by the government funding have to pay fees. Students whose academic performance is up to the standard receive grants. Accommodation in MSU dormitories is provided for those students who are not residents of Moscow.
According to the MSU Charter, The MSU Student Board is a form of student government, coordinating various aspects of campus life and activities. At the moment there are a number of various students’ public organizations at MSU.
MSU graduates work in institutes of higher learning, research institutes, in industry, governmental agencies, public organizations and private companies.
MSU has a long-standing tradition as a centre of retraining admitting up to 5,000 various specialists a year, highly-qualified professionals updating themselves on the latest achievements in various fields of science and humanities.
MSU Publishing House and Library System
As a centre of learning, MSU publishes a wide range of scientific literature and popular editions, thus the role of the University publishing house, which was established just a year later than the University itself, can not be overestimated. Since 1756 over 50,000 scientific and scholarly, as well as literary works have been printed, both in the original languages and in translation. Thus, in the XVIII century works by Diderot, Montaigne, Rousseau, Voltaire were published, while the XIX century publications served to popularize Russian scientists and scholars. In the XX century the University publishers printed more copies of Russian classical literature and textbooks than any other publishing house in the country.
Nowadays the University academics are among the most popular authors, about 150 books being yearly released: scientific and scholarly works, textbooks for high school, undergraduates and postgraduates, books on popular science and non-fiction, various reference materials, as well as 118 issues of Moscow University Bulletin ; some of them, namely, Moscow University Biological Sciences Bulletin, Moscow University Chemistry Bulletin, Moscow University Computational Mathematics and Cybernetics Bulletin, Moscow University Geology Bulletin, Moscow University Mathematics Bulletin, Moscow University Mechanics Bulletin , Moscow University Physics Bulletin, Moscow University Soil Science Bulletin are regularly translated into English and published in the USA by Allerton Press, Inc.
The University publishing house has received numerous awards from the Association of Russian publishers, having retained the highest position and setting the standards in the field of scientific publications.
MSU library system is one of the largest in Russia, with its 9,000,000 books, 2,000,000 of them in foreign languages, and the average number of readers 55,000, using 5,500,000 books a year.
MSU International Cooperation
MSU collaborates with the Eurasian University Association and has links with about 60 educational institutions, centers, unions, and universities in Europe, the USA, Japan, China and some other Asian countries, in Australia, Latin America, Arab countries. 5 MSU branch campuses have been opened in the former Soviet republics.
Since 1946, when the first international students were admitted, over 11,000 highly qualified specialists have been trained at MSU for 150 countries. Over 2,000 undergraduate and post-graduate students enroll every year, with over 400 students in the Russian / University intensive preparation programs.
Scientific and scholarly cooperation, academic and student exchange are part of university life. Receiving about 2,000 students and academics from abroad, the University sends out about the same number of its own professors, instructors and students to various countries all over the globe. Moscow University houses the UNESCO International Hydrologic School at MSU, the International Research Centre for Biochemical Technology, the International LASER Centre, the Center for International Education , courses and seminars on Russian as a foreign language.
Scientific and scholarly cooperation, academic and student exchange are part of university life. Receiving about 2,000 students and academics from abroad, the University sends out about the same number of its own professors, instructors and students to various countries all over the globe. Moscow University houses the UNESCO International Hydrologic School at MSU, the International Research Centre for Biochemical Technology, the International LASER Centre, the Center for International Education, courses and seminars on Russian as a foreign language."
"History of Moscow University
In January 2005 Lomonosov Moscow State University celebrated its 250th anniversary, over 800 various events being held on the occasion. Founded in the XVIII century, the University has been constantly growing and encompassing new branches of learning and research.
All the history of the University is the evidence of the outstanding role its alumni have played promoting the ideas of freedom, common good, humanity, and truth.
Early history
M.V. Lomonosov
One of the oldest Russian institutions of higher education, Moscow University was established in 1755. In 1940 it was named after Academician Mikhail Lomonosov (1711 - 1765), an outstanding Russian scientist, who greatly contributed to the establishment of the university in Moscow.
Mikhail Lomonosov was one of the intellectual titans of XVIII century. The great Russian poet Alexander Pushkin described him as a person of formidable willpower and keen scientific mind, whose lifelong passion was learning. Lomonosov's interests ranged from history, rhetoric, art and poetry to mechanics, chemistry, mineralogy. His activity is a manifestation of the enormous potential of the Russian scientific community whose representatives occupied the leading positions in the world at the time. Peter I reformed Russia, which allowed the country reach the standards of the contemporary European powers in many spheres. Great importance was placed on education. In 1724 the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences, founded by Peter I, established a university and a grammar school to educate intellectuals and researchers the country needed; however, these educational establishments did not fulfill the task they took on. It was Michail Lomonosov who suggested, in his letter to Count Shuvalov, the idea of establishing a university in Moscow. An influential courtier and the favorite of Empress Elizaveta Petrovna, Count Shuvalov was a patron of the arts and science; he supported Lomonosov's plans for a new university and presented them to the Empress.
The decree about Moscow university
In 1755, on 25 January, St. Tatiana's Day according to the Russian Orthodox Church calendar, Empress Elizaveta Petrovna signed the decree that a university should be founded in Moscow. The opening ceremony took place on 26 April, when Elizaveta Petrovna's coronation day was celebrated. Since 1755 25 January and 26 April are marked by special events and festivities at Moscow University; the annual conference where students present results of their research work is traditionally held in April.
According to Lomonosov's plan, there were originally three faculties. First all the students acquired a comprehensive knowledge in the field of science and humanities at the Faculty of Philosophy; then they could specialize and continue at the Faculty of Philosophy or join either the Law Faculty or The Faculty of Medicine. Lectures were delivered either in Latin, the language of educated people at the time, or in Russian. Unlike European Universities, Moscow University did not have the Faculty of Theology, since Russia had special theological education establishments.
Moscow university first building
From the very beginning elitism was alien to the very spirit of the University community, which determined Moscow University's long-standing democratic tradition. The Decree Elizaveta Petrovna signed stated in its preamble that the university was to educate commoners; only serfs were not admitted. Lomonosov himself pointed out that in European universities it was the academic achievements of a student that mattered, not his social position or family background. In the late XVIII century there were only three noblemen among the 26 professors of Moscow University, most of the students were commoners too. The best students were sent to continue their education abroad, establishing the contacts with the international scientific community.
Originally tuition at Moscow University was free for all, later only poor students were exempt from tuition fees. The state funding did not cover all the University expenses; thus the administration had to find ways to raise additional funds. The University was partly funded by its patrons, such as the rich merchants of the Demidov and Stroganov families and some others, who donated laboratory equipment, books, various collections and established scholarships for University students. Many times University alumni supported their alma mater through hard times raising money by public subscriptions. To the University library professors traditionally bequeathed their private book collections, the largest among them were those collected by I.M.Snegirev, P.Ya.Petrov, T.N.Granovsky, S.M.Soloviev, F.I.Buslaev, N.K.Gudzy, I.G.Petrovsky and some others.
Moscow university building. 1786
Moscow University played an outstanding role in popularizing science and learning in Russia by making the lectures of its professors open to the public. Book publishing in Russia started in 1756, when a printing house and a bookshop were opened on campus; the printing of one of the first Russian newspapers “Moskovskie Vedomosti” (Moscow Gazette) started there. Since 1760 the first Moscow literary periodical “Poleznoe Uveselenie” (Useful Entertainment) was also printed at the University printing house. N.I.Novikov, one of the outstanding figures of the Enlightenment in Russia, was at the head of the University publishers from 1779 to 1789.
N.I. Novikov
For over a century, since 1756, the University library was the only one in Moscow opened for the general public.
Professors of Moscow University greatly contributed to establishing new cultural centres in Moscow and Russia, the grammar school and later a university in Kazan, The Academy of the Fine Arts in St. Petersburg, the Maly Theatre in Moscow, to name just a few. In XIX century the first scientific societies, uniting naturalists, historians and philologists, were founded at the University.
D.I. Fonvisin
XVIII century saw a number of outstanding figures among the students and professors of Moscow University: philosophers N.N.Popovsky, D.S. Anichkov, mathematicians V.K. Arshenevsky, M.I.Pankevitch, medical doctor S.Z.Zybelin, botanist P.D.Veniaminov, physicist P.I.Strakhov, soil scientists M.I.Afonin and N.E.Cherepanov, H. A. Chebotarev, historian and geographer, historian N.N. Bantysh-Kamenetsky, A.A.Barsov, S. Khalfin and E.I.Kostrov who were philologists and translators; lawyers S.E.Desnitsky and I.A.Tretiakov, well-known authors D.I. Fonvisin, M.M. Kheraskov, and N.I. Novikov, architects V.I.Bazhenov and I.E.Starov. Their work greatly contributed to Moscow University's becoming the leading educational, scientific and cultural centre in Russia and in the world.
XIX century
The Charter. 1804
Initially governed according to "The Imperial Decree on the Establishment of Moscow University", in 1804 Moscow University was granted a Charter and thus considerable independence. According to the Charter the Rector and Deans of the faculties were elected by the professors; the first Rector-elect became H.A.Chebotarev, Professor of History and Philology. The University governing body was the Board of Professors; they also awarded degrees. The publications approved by the Board and printed by the University publishing house were exempt from censorship. There were four divisions within Moscow University in the early XIX century: the Department of Moral and Political Science, the Department of Physics and Mathematics, the Department of Medicine, the Department of Philology. The course of university education took three years, after final examinations the best graduates were awarded Candidate's degrees. According to the 1804 Charter the University had control over curricula and school policies in the secondary and elementary schools of the central provinces of Russia, which contributed to continuity in the programs of educational institutions at all levels.
A.S. Pushkin
The invasion of the French Army led by Napoleon caused a wave of patriotism in University students, many of them joined the volunteer corps in 1812. M.I.Kutuzov, who led the Russian Army, specially mentioned selfless work of the University medical professors and students.
The University buildings were burned down during the French occupation; the library, the archives, the museum and all the equipment were destroyed. After the war it was the joint effort of all educated people in Russia that made the restoration of the University possible: books, ancient manuscripts, all kinds of collections, equipment and financial aid came from research laboratories and scientists, there were donations from private citizens too. Thus 7,500 books had been collected for the University library by 1815. In spite of the difficult conditions, the academic year at Moscow University started on 1 September, 1813; in 1820s the total number of students exceeded 500.
V.G.Belinsky
In the early XIX century Moscow University attracted free-thinking people; student groups lead by the Kritsky Brothers, N.P.Sungurov, V.G.Belinsky, A.I.Gertsen, N.P.Ogaryov, N.V. Stankevitch were well known. They united the young people who discussed the future of Russia. It was often a real battle of wits between the supporters of Western ideas and those who thought Russia had its own unique way of development. In 1840s public lectures, delivered by T.N.Granovsky, were attended by all Moscow intellectuals. Moscow University was a melting pot, where young people form the various strata of the society met and overcame their social prejudices; it was at the University that the traditions of fraternity were supported and cultivated. University alumni took the most advanced ideas with them when they left their alma mater.
The work of the University publishers was not limited to only scientific papers; they were the first to publish "Sonnets" by A.Mitskevich and I.C.Turgenev's prose.
A.I.Gertsen
Abolishing serfdom in Russia in 1861 was a turning point in the history of the country. In the history of Moscow University a period of reforms started too. The 1863 University Charter set new standards and requirements: the demand for highly qualified specialists in the field of industry, agriculture, commerce was growing; the country needed well-educated government officials, lawyers and military men. The new Charter widened the range of the subjects in the curriculum, which included more seminars and laboratory experiments. The number of professors and instructors increased, and the tradition of electing the Rector and Deans that had been discontinued for some time was re-established. There were four divisions within the University: the Faculty of History and Philology, the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics, the Law Faculty, the Faculty of Medicine. The total number of students was about 1500, most of them commoners.
Early XX Century
The Botanical Garden on the prospect Mira
In the early XX century Moscow University greatly contributed to the development of secondary education in Russia. Quite a number of new textbooks for secondary schools were compiled by the University professors. University alumni very often taught secondary schools, introducing the most advanced ideas and methods in their work.
In the late XIX century Moscow University contributed to the establishment of a number of museums in Moscow, such as the Polytechnic Museum, the Historical Museum, The Zoological Museum, The Anthropological Museum, The Museum of Fine Arts, the Botanical Gardens and the Zoological Gardens.
V.S.Soloviev
The 1863 Charter of Moscow University promoted learning and facilitated the development of education in Russia. But after the assassination of Alexander II in 1881 the government restricted the rights of universities, trying to put the curriculum under their own control; nevertheless, Moscow University remained the centre of science and culture, uniting by the early XX century such outstanding thinkers and philosophers as V.S.Soloviev, V.V.Rozanov, the Trubetskoi brothers, S.N.Bulgakov, P.A.Florensky. Both the professors and the students discussed current issues; many well-known political figures of the time were among the academics and the students.
The democratic spirit of Moscow University manifested itself during the first Russian revolution, in 1905 - 1907. The students were against the monarchy, the resolution of their meeting on 9 September 1905 demanded a republican system of government; many of them joined the fighters.
Not only students, but also professors of Moscow University kept up its deeply rooted democratic traditions. In 1911 the government unfairly dismissed a number of University professors and instructors, thus flouting the Charter; over 130 professors protested against that by resigning their positions at the University, among them world-known scientists, such as K.A.Timiriazev, P.N.Lebedev, N.D.Zelinsky, N.A.Umov, C.A.Chaplygin, V.I.Vernadsky. As the conflict between the government and the University continued, over a thousand students were expelled, some of them arrested. World war I that started soon led to a further decrease in the number of students.
P.A.Florensky
During the first 150 years of its history Moscow University played the leading role in the development of science and humanities in Russia, being the centre of learning and research. In the late XIX century and early XX century quite a number of Russian scientists and scholars worked there, among them mathematicians N.D.Brashman, N.Ye.Zhukovsky, N.V.Bugaev, C.A.Chaplygin; physicists and astronomers A.G.Stoletov, F.A.Bredikhin, A.A.Belopolsky, N.A.Umov, P.N.Lebedev, P.K.Sternberg; chemists V.V.Markovnikov, V.F.Luginin, I.A.Kablukov, N.D.Zelinsky, biologists and soil scientists K.F.Rulie, A.I.Filomafitsky, I.M.Setchenov, K.A.Timiriazev, A.N.Severtsov, M.A.Menzbir, A.N.Sabanin, D.N.Prianishnikov; medical doctors M.Ya.Mudrov, F.I.Inozemtsev, N.V.Sklifosovsky, G.A.Zakharin, A.A.Ostroumov, N.V.Filatov, F.F.Erisman, V.F.Snegirev; georgapher and anthropologist D.N.Anutchin; geologists G.Ye.Schurovsky, V.O.Kovalevsky, A.P.Pavlov; geochemist V.I.Vernadsky; historians T.G.Granovsky, N.I.Nadezhdin, M.T.Kachenovsky, M.P.Pogodin, I.D.Belyev, S.M.Soloviev, V.O.Klyuchevsky, V.I.Gerie, N.A.Rozhkov, M.N.Pokrovsky, Yu.V.Gotie; philologists N.S.Tikhonravov, F.I.Buslaev, N.I.Storozhenko, F.F.Fortunatov, F.Ye.Korsh, V.F.Miller, S.K.Shambinago, M.N.Speransky, M.M.Pokrovsky, V.N.Schepkin; lawyers B.N.Chicherin, K.D.Kavelin, M.M.Kovalevsky, P.I.Novgorodtsev; economists I.K.Babst, A.I.Chuprov, I.I.Yanzhul; philosophers Ye.N. and C.N. Trubetskoi and many others.
After 1917 Revolution
V.I.Vernadsky
The Russian revolution of 1917 changed the whole system of higher education. On the one hand, it became more democratic, in the sense that institutions of higher education started to receive all its funding form the government and students did not have to pay tuition fees, moreover, all of them received grants. From 1919 to 1936 a preparatory department for young people from the working class and peasant families was opened at Moscow University. Since 1919 the University was fully financed by the state. Quite a number of well-known scientists went on working at the University, D.N.Anutchin, N.Ye.Zhukovsky, N.D.Zelinsky, A.N. Severtsov, K.A. Timiryazev, S.A. Chaplygin among them.
At the same time, as the Revolution caused a split in the society in general, there was no unity within the University as well. Many students and professors, well-known scientists and scholars among them, found it difficult to accept the new situation and left. A destructive effect was produced in 1920s by the attempts to reorganize the University, making some faculties or departments into separate educational institutions in an attempt to train more students. Thus, the faculties of medicine, law, chemistry, geology, mineralogy and geography became separate institutes, independent of the University; similarly, in 1931 all the Humanities were joined in the Moscow Institute of Philosophy, Literature and History, which was reunited with the University only 10 years later.
N.V.Sklifosovsky
In the 1920s there were some attempts to introduce innovations in tuition as well. There were no lectures delivered by professors, instead, students were to study in teams, 3 to 5 people each, then taking their examinations in teams too. Studying in teams did not prove a success, and it has never been used again. In 1932 the University curriculum was changed again, as well as the system of higher education as a whole. In 1934 doctoral dissertations were defended at Moscow University for the first time after 1917.
N.Ye.Zhukovsky
The political repressions of the 1930s and 1950s produced an extremely negative effect on the development of scientific ideas, as Soviet scientists had virtually no contacts with their colleagues abroad. A number of scientists and scholars were being hounded or even sentenced for life imprisonment. Some branches of science and humanities were condemned on ideological grounds as alien to Communist ideas and virtually disappeared.
Despite all the problems, in the 1920s-30s the University did have a number of achievements both in the sphere of education and in research. By 1941 the total number of full-time students at Moscow University had grown to 5000 and over 30 University professors became full members of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR. New secondary school textbooks and manuals for university students were compiled at Moscow University. In 1940, while celebrating its 185th anniversary, Moscow University was named after its founder M.V.Lomonosov.
Moscow University during World War II
The Great Patriotic War against Nazi Germany was one of the most difficult periods in the history of Russia. The first group of University students and staff joined the army on the third day of fighting, mainly to serve as Army commanders and political staff officers. The division formed out of the University volunteers fought heroically defending Moscow.
Moscow University professors, students and staff were evacuated in 1941 to Ashkhabad, Turkmenia, then in 1942 to Sverdlovsk, returning to Moscow in 1943, after the German troops were defeated near the capital. Nevertheless those students who stayed in Moscow resumed their studies as early as February 1942. During the war over 3000 specialists were trained at the University; the University scientists continued their research; their contributions to applied science allowed improvements in aircraft development and navigation, in the accuracy of artillery fire etc. New explosives were invented, a study of uranium was carried out, a preparation causing blood coagulation was introduced into practice; University geologists discovered a tungsten deposit in Central Asia and new oil fields, University geographers supplied the Red Army with maps and charts. University scholars popularized the ideas of patriotism, and University lawyers made their contribution during the Nuremberg and Tokyo trials.
Over 5000 University students, instructors, professors and staff fought in the war, over 1000 were decorated, seven became Heroes of the Soviet Union. To honor over 3000 people Moscow University lost during the war a memorial was erected on campus in 1975.
The years after World War II
M.V.Keldysh
During the post-war period the leading role of Moscow University in the restoration and further development of the country was fully recognized. In the 1940s-50s there was a fivefold increase in the state funding; on the newly-built University campus on Vorobievy Gory (Sparrow Hills) all the lecture halls and laboratories received state-of-the-art equipment.
MSU history
The new campus was opened on September 1, 1953.
During the 1950s Thaw period the country became more open for contacts, which, together with better funding, allowed to widen the scope of research work conducted by the University scientists. A few problem-dedicated scientific laboratories and the Research Computing Center were established at the same time. The newly established University divisions included the Institute of Asian and African Languages, the Faculty of Psychology, the Faculty of Computing Mathematics and Cybernetics and the Faculty of Soil Science which became the first of its kind in the country. The total number of full-time students continued constantly growing; thus, it rose from 13,000 in 1953 to 31,000 in 2001. At the same time Moscow University became an international educational centre, with the Faculty for the Russian Language which has been teaching international students since 1959.
L.D.Landau
Since 1917 over 200,000 specialists have graduated from Moscow University and over 35,000 have been awarded doctoral degrees, which confirms the position of Moscow University as a leading centre of learning and science in this country.
A.N.Kolmogorov
In XX century quite a number of renowned scientists and scholars worked at Moscow University, among them mathematicians P.S.Alexandrov, V.V.Golubev, D.F.Yegorov, M.V.Keldysh, A.N.Kolmogorov, N.N.Luzin, I.G.Petrovsky, I.I.Privalov, V.V.Stepanov, O.Yu.Shmidt; physicists V.K.Arkadiev, L.A.Artsimovitch, N.N.Bogoliubov, S.I.Vavilov, V.I.Vexler, A.A.Vlasov, P.L.Kapitsa, I.V.Kurchatov, L.D.Landau, G.S.Landsberg, Ya.B.Zeldovitch, A.S.Predvoditelev, D.V.Skobeltsin, I.E.Tamm, R.V.Khokhlov; chemists A.A.Balandin, I.V.Berezin, S.I.Volfkovitch, Ya.I.Gerasimov, B.A.Kazansky, V.A.Kargin, A.N.Nesmeyanov, A.V.Novoselova, P.I.Rebinder, N.N.Semenov, A.N.Frumkin, N.M.Emanuel; geographers N.N.Baransky, A.A.Borzov, K.K.Markov, V.N.Sukachev, I.S.Schukin; geologists A.D.Arkhangelsky, N.V.Belov, A.A.Bogdanov, A.P.Vinogradov, Yu.A.Orlov, M.M.Filatov, biologists and soil scientists A.N.Belozersky, D.G.Vilensky, L.A.Zenkevitch, N.K.Koltsov, G.V.Nikolsky, A.I.Oparin, N.P.Remezov; historians A.V.Artsikhovsky, B.D.Grekov, A.A.Guber, N.M.Druzhinin, N.I.Konrad, M.V.Netchkina, A.M.Pankratova, S.D.Skazkin, M.N.Tikhomirov, L.V.Cherepnin; art critics V.N.Lazarev, A.A.Fedorov-Davidov; philologists D.D.Blagoi, S.M.Bondi, V.V.Vinogradov, N.K.Gudzi, R.M.Samarin, D.N.Ushakov; philosophers V.F.Asmus, V.P.Volgin, G.Ye.Glezerman, E.B.Ilienkov, B.M.Kedrov; lawyers M.N.Gernet, P.Ye.Orlovsky, A.N.Trainin, psychologists A.N.Leontiev, A.R.Luria, S.L.Rubinshtein; economists L.Ya.Berri, A.Ya.Boyarsky, V.S.Nemchinov, K.V.Ostrovitianov, S.K.Tatur, N.A.Tsagolov and many others.
The main building
Among those who teach and do research at MSU there are 2,500 higher doctoral degree holders and almost 6,000 holders of candidate degrees, the total number of professors and instructors being about 5,000; there are over 300 full members and correspondent members of he Russian Academy of Sciences and other academies.. About 4,500 scientists and scholars are currently involved in 350 research projects in various fields.
Besides its 39 faculties, Moscow University comprises 15 research institutes, 4 museums, 6 local branches in Russia and abroad, about 380 departments, the Science Park, the Botanical Gardens, The Library, the University Publishing House and a printing shop, a recreational centre and a boarding school for talented children.
A number of new faculties, departments and research laboratories have been recently established, new academic programs are being continuously introduced together with new curricula; there are over 140 distance learning programs. Research has recently started in 30 new interdisciplinary areas.
MSU as a research center
The University's scientific potential creates a unique opportunity for interdisciplinary research and pioneering work in various branches of science. The recent years have been marked by achievements in the fields of high-energy physics, superconductivity, laser technology, mathematics and mechanics, renewable energy sources, biochemistry and biotechnology. New problems to be studied by scholars often reveal themselves while they are working on various aspects of sociology, economics, history, psychology, philosophy and the history of culture. On average 800 doctoral and 200 higher doctoral degrees in various fields of science and humanities are awarded at MSU every year.
The 1st Humanities Building on the new campus
Moscow University is a major innovative center. The first Russian Science Park appeared at MSU; in the last three years about 70 small companies have been founded within the Park, they specialize in chemistry and innovative materials, biotechnology, pharmaceutics, ecology and environmental management, production of scientific equipment and instruments. The Park unites about 2,000 scientists who work to make scientific achievements into technological innovations, cooperating with business companies in the development of innovative technologies. It is in the Scientific Park that the links with leading Russian companies and potential employers of University graduates are established. Another area where links between academics and business have been successfully developing is corporation universities within Moscow University that are a model of innovative approach to tuition. Accomplished in 2006 - 2007 within the framework of the National Educational Project, the practical implementation of the approach resulted in 67 innovative Master’s Degree programs.
In 2006 Moscow University organized the first Festival of Science and Arts in Russia, similar to those traditionally held in many countries abroad. In 2007 the second Festival united around 100,000 participants and guests, becoming an all-Moscow event, while 2008 saw the Festival held all over Russia. Now it has become traditional, being held in early October every year.
Moscow University’s 250th anniversary was marked by putting a satellite into orbit; the satellite had been made by the University specialists and named “Tatiana” after the University patron saint. It allowed to discover new phenomena in the near-Earth space.
On September 17, 2009 the rocket launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome put into space the experimental research satellite named “Tatiana – II” whose mission was to observe and register transient phenomena in the upper atmosphere, thus helping to understand their nature. At the moment MSU specialists are planning to put a new and bigger satellite into orbit in 2011, marking M.V.Lomonosov’s 300th anniversary.
2008 saw a substantial increase in the MSU computing power, supplemented by 60-teraflop supercomputer ”Chebyshev” (joint project of MSU, RAS and T-Platforms Company) and 28-teraflop Blue Gene/P made by IBM. 2009 saw a substantial increase in the MSU computing power again, supplemented by 414-teraflop supercomputer ”Lomonosov”.
MSU Main Campus
From the engineering and operational point of view Moscow University campus is an extremely complex system, with its 1,000,000 m2 floor area in 1,000 buildings and structures, with its 8 dormitories housing over 12,000 students and 300 km of utility lines. Nevertheless, this system has to be modernized and developed for the University to meet the modern requirements both as a center of higher learning and a center of research. According to the plan, approved by the government in 1987, a number of new buildings are to be erected in the area adjacent to the campus on Vorobievy Gory. Under the project (architect G.N.Tsytovitch) new blocks for a few faculties and state-of-the-art research laboratories are to be constructed, together with a library building, a swimming pool, a stadium, a recreation centre, and some services. The Main Library Building was opened in January, 2005. The 1st Humanities Building opening ceremony on the new campus was held on September 1, 2007, the new block housing Faculties of History, Public Administration, Philosophy, Political Science. The new Medical Center has been erected on the new campus as well. The “old“ campus area has been developed too, the new Economics Building being opened in 2009.
Studying at MSU
As training highly qualified specialists has always been the main goal, the faculties and departments constantly revise their curricula and introduce new programs. A number of faculties offer 4-year Bachelor’s and 2-year Master’s Degree programs, together with traditional 5-year Specialist Degree programs. Currently the stress is on student's ability to work independently and meet employer's requirements, thus practical experience in the field being of foremost importance. More classes in the Liberal Arts have been recently included in the curricula for science students, lecturers in Arts and Social Sciences giving classes on the history and culture of Russia and other countries, philology, economics, law and art for students of different faculties. The University offers individual programs combining programs and classes at different faculties.
Keeping fit is often essential for satisfactory academic achievement, thus in their first two years undergraduates have two obligatory physical training sessions a week, later they may join one of sports clubs.
The Botanical Garden on prospect Mira
The curricula of all MSU faculties are based on the combination of academic instruction with student's research work and the combination of thorough theoretical knowledge with specific skills. Having acquired theoretical knowledge in the first and the second year, in their third year undergraduates choose an area to specialize in. At the same time they choose a field for their independent study, joining elective special seminars; the results of research are usually presented at the meetings of students' scientific societies or at scientific conferences, the most interesting results are published.
Normally, a degree program at MSU takes from 4 to 6 years to complete. At the end of the final semester the results of each student's independent research are submitted in the form of final paper, which is publicly presented by the student at the meeting of the department.
The Himical Building
The students in most MSU programs do not pay their tuition but 15% of students whose tuition is not covered by the government funding have to pay fees. Students whose academic performance is up to the standard receive grants. Accommodation in MSU dormitories is provided for those students who are not residents of Moscow.
According to the MSU Charter, The MSU Student Board is a form of student government, coordinating various aspects of campus life and activities. At the moment there are a number of various students’ public organizations at MSU.
MSU graduates work in institutes of higher learning, research institutes, in industry, governmental agencies, public organizations and private companies.
MSU has a long-standing tradition as a centre of retraining admitting up to 5,000 various specialists a year, highly-qualified professionals updating themselves on the latest achievements in various fields of science and humanities.
MSU Publishing House and Library System
As a centre of learning, MSU publishes a wide range of scientific literature and popular editions, thus the role of the University publishing house, which was established just a year later than the University itself, can not be overestimated. Since 1756 over 50,000 scientific and scholarly, as well as literary works have been printed, both in the original languages and in translation. Thus, in the XVIII century works by Diderot, Montaigne, Rousseau, Voltaire were published, while the XIX century publications served to popularize Russian scientists and scholars. In the XX century the University publishers printed more copies of Russian classical literature and textbooks than any other publishing house in the country.
Nowadays the University academics are among the most popular authors, about 150 books being yearly released: scientific and scholarly works, textbooks for high school, undergraduates and postgraduates, books on popular science and non-fiction, various reference materials, as well as 118 issues of Moscow University Bulletin ; some of them, namely, Moscow University Biological Sciences Bulletin, Moscow University Chemistry Bulletin, Moscow University Computational Mathematics and Cybernetics Bulletin, Moscow University Geology Bulletin, Moscow University Mathematics Bulletin, Moscow University Mechanics Bulletin , Moscow University Physics Bulletin, Moscow University Soil Science Bulletin are regularly translated into English and published in the USA by Allerton Press, Inc.
The University publishing house has received numerous awards from the Association of Russian publishers, having retained the highest position and setting the standards in the field of scientific publications.
MSU library system is one of the largest in Russia, with its 9,000,000 books, 2,000,000 of them in foreign languages, and the average number of readers 55,000, using 5,500,000 books a year.
MSU International Cooperation
MSU collaborates with the Eurasian University Association and has links with about 60 educational institutions, centers, unions, and universities in Europe, the USA, Japan, China and some other Asian countries, in Australia, Latin America, Arab countries. 5 MSU branch campuses have been opened in the former Soviet republics.
Since 1946, when the first international students were admitted, over 11,000 highly qualified specialists have been trained at MSU for 150 countries. Over 2,000 undergraduate and post-graduate students enroll every year, with over 400 students in the Russian / University intensive preparation programs.
Scientific and scholarly cooperation, academic and student exchange are part of university life. Receiving about 2,000 students and academics from abroad, the University sends out about the same number of its own professors, instructors and students to various countries all over the globe. Moscow University houses the UNESCO International Hydrologic School at MSU, the International Research Centre for Biochemical Technology, the International LASER Centre, the Center for International Education , courses and seminars on Russian as a foreign language.
Scientific and scholarly cooperation, academic and student exchange are part of university life. Receiving about 2,000 students and academics from abroad, the University sends out about the same number of its own professors, instructors and students to various countries all over the globe. Moscow University houses the UNESCO International Hydrologic School at MSU, the International Research Centre for Biochemical Technology, the International LASER Centre, the Center for International Education, courses and seminars on Russian as a foreign language."
History of Moscow University
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