Saint-Petersburg State University

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http://eng.spbu.ru/

St. Petersburg State University

Founded in 1724, St. Petersburg State University is the oldest institution of higher education in Russia.?  During the 285 years of its existence? University secured the right to be acknowledged as one of the best institutions of higher education in Russia: its rich history, modern large-scale research activities, development and innovations make University ahead of the curve in the field of Russian science.

At present, there are more than 32,000 students in University, receiving education in more than 323 specialties in 20 faculties. University’s staff comprises almost 14,000 people, including nearly 6,000 teachers (1,000 Doctors of Science, over 2,000 Candidates of Science, 42 Academicians of state academies) who represent 289 academic departments. The University has everything to enjoy studies, hobbies and research: the richest Research Library named after Maksim Gorky, research institutes, museums, the big University publishing house, the University choir of students, graduates and teachers, clubs (from rugby and orienteering to the Ingria ? search party), etc.?

In November 2009, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed a law granting? St. Petersburg State University the special status of “a unique scientific and education complex, an oldest institution of higher education in Russia being of a great importance to the development of the Russian society”. The right of giving its own diplomas with the official symbols of the Russian Federation has also been granted to University.

University Education Programs:

Specialists are trained in 71 specialties, Bachelors – in 41 fields of study, Masters – in 30 fields of study. St. Petersburg State University provides education on a budgetary (state-financed) and contractual (fee-paying) basis.

Forms of education: full-time, part-time and extramural.?

Postgraduate education: postgraduate and doctoral programs.

Postgraduate programs: specialists with degrees or Masters are admitted on a competitive basis. Admission to doctoral programs is held for persons with the degree of Candidate of Science.

 University Faculties:

  •     Academic Gymnasium
  •    Faculty of Biology & Soil Science
  •    Faculty of Asian and African Studies
  •    Graduate School of Management
  •    Faculty of Geography & Geo-Ecology
  •    Faculty of Geology
  •    Faculty of Journalism
  •    Faculty of History
  •    Faculty of Mathematics & Mechanics
  •    Faculty of Medicine
  •    Faculty of International Relations
  •    Faculty of Applied Mathematics
  •    Faculty of Psychology
  •    Faculty of Sociology
  •    Faculty of Physics
  •    Faculty of Philology
  •    Faculty of Philosophy and Political Science
  •    Faculty of Chemistry
  •    Faculty of Economy
  •    Faculty of Law
  •    Military faculty
  •     Department of Sports and Physical Culture

Brief Historical Background:

The decree of Peter the Great on establishing a university in St. Petersburg was approved by the Senate of the Russian Empire on January 28, 1724.

The basic document legalising the University and Gymnasium practices were The Regulations of the Imperial Academy of Sciences and Arts in St. Petersburg adopted by the Empress Elizabeth of Russia in1747. The first Rector of the University was appointed then, too: it was Gerhardt Friedrich Müller, a renowned historian and ethnologist (1705-1783). On the whole, 60 persons have ever held the post of the University head (Rector or Director).?

In 1758-1765, St. Petersburg Academic University and Gymnasium were headed by Mikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov (1711-1765). His multiple activities as Rector have resulted in student composition democratisation and establishment of much closer relations with foreign universities and science academies, for example, with the universities of Germany and France and Paris Academy of Sciences.

After Lomonosov’s death in 1765, the University and Gymnasium were transformed into the Academy College. In1783, the Duchess Ekaterina Romanovna Dashkova (1745-1810) was appointed Director of St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences. She was the first woman to have ever been in the civil service. Keeping to the University course within the College is considered to be Ekaterina Dashkova’s indisputable merit.

On February 8, 1819, following the Decree of Alexander I of Russia, St. Petersburg University was re-established on the basis of Pedagogical Institute (founded in1806 after the Academy College liquidation). Primarily, it consisted of three faculties: Faculty of Philosophy and Law, Faculty of History and Philology and Faculty of Physics and Mathematics. In 1854, they were joined by the Faculty of Asian and African Languages. This composition of faculties remained until 1918.

In the end of 1860s – 1890s a number of scientific societies was created within St. Petersburg University, including the Society of Naturalists, Russian Chemical Society, Philological Society, Anthropological and Historical Society as well as the Botanic Garden and the Astronomical Observatory. In 1893, a new chemical laboratory was created, in 1901, the first Russian Institute of Physics.

In 1878, the University professors took part in the opening of the Women’s University Courses known as the Bestuzhev’s Courses, named after their first director K. N. Bestuzhev-Ryumin (1829-1897). Later on, in 1918 the Courses became part of the University.

In the beginning of the twentieth century St. Petersburg State? University became one of the largest universities in the world, with about 10,000 students belonging to four faculties.

After the October Revolution in 1917, despite various structural transformations caused by the changes in the social life in Russia, old scientific schools of the University continued developing and new schools were created.

In the 1920s – 1930s, the relevant departments of the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics developed into new independent faculties: the Faculty of Physics, the Faculty of Mathematics and mechanics, the Faculty of Geography, the Faculty of Geology, and the Faculty of Biology. New departments and research institutes were created as well as a number of faculties where humanities were taught: the Faculty of History (1934), the Faculty of Philology (1937), the Faculty of Political Science and Economics (1939), and the Faculty of Philosophy. By 1941, the University consisted of ten faculties and seven research institutes. In 1944, the Faculty of Asian and African Studies and the Faculty of Law were re-established.

In winter of 1941-1942, the University continued working under the harsh conditions of the Siege of Leningrad. In September 1941, part of the University was evacuated to Elabuga, in February 1942; another part was evacuated to Saratov. Only a small staff of the University employees remained in the besieged city. Under the harsh conditions they managed to preserve the immense scientific and cultural values of the University.

In 1960s, new faculties were established: the Faculty of Psychology, the Faculty of Journalism, the Faculty of Applied Mathematics and Control Processes as well as a number of new academic departments. At the same time the construction of buildings for the faculties engaged into natural sciences began in Stary Peterhof. Since 1960s, the University has started developing as a system of two training and research complexes, the Vasilyevsky Island Complex and the Petrodvorets Complex.

University Today:

Today, St. Petersburg University is a major centre of the Russian science, education and culture enjoying a high international standing. Many higher education institutions of Europe, America, and Asia maintain contacts with St. Petersburg State University, including the University of Cambridge (Great Britain), the University of Bologna (Italy), the Free University of Berlin, the University of Hamburg (Germany), Carleton University (Canada), the University of Amsterdam (the Netherlands), the University of Stockholm (Sweden), the Municipal University of Osaka (Japan).?

The scientific discoveries and achievements of the University professors and alumni, seven of which are Nobel Prize winners (I.P. Pavlov, 1904, and I.I. Mechnikov, 1908, in Physiology and Medicine; N.N. Semenov, 1956, in Chemistry; L.D. Landau, 1962, and A.M. Prokhorov, 1964, in Physics; V.V. Leontyev, 1973, and L.V. Kantorovich, 1975, in Economics), went down in history of the global and Russian science and technology.?

Many people who became famous all over the globe in various fields were the University alumni. These are world-known scientists, teachers, statesmen and public figures such as K.N. Bestuzhev-Ryumin, ??.F. Koni, P.??. Stolypin, D.I. Mendeleev, V.I. Vernadsky, D.S. Likhachev and dozens of others. The University has also given to the world most renowned people of art such as I.S. Turgenev, P.A. Bryullov, ??.??.Blok, ??.N. Benois, V.D. Polenov, S.P. Diaghilev, M.A. Vrubel, L.N. Andreev, I.Ya. Bilibin, N.K. Roerich, I.F. Stravinsky and many others.

Four heads of the Russian government were University alumni: B.V. Stürmer, A.F. Kerensky, V.I. Lenin, and V.V. Putin, as well as two Russian Presidents: V.V. Putin and D.A. Medvedev.

Find more about the University history at http://www.spbu.ru/about/arc/?  (in Russian)

St. Petersburg State University’s Rector:

Professor Nikolay Mikhaylovich KROPACHEV, Doctor of Law, Head of the Criminal Law Department, Chairman of the Academic Council of the SPbSU Faculty of Law.

Field of science: criminal law, criminology.

Brief biography: ? born February 8, 1959, in Leningrad. In 1981 ??“ graduated from Leningrad State University named after A.A. Zhdanov. In 1984, under the guidance of Professor N.A. Belyaev, Nikolay Kropachev developed and defended his Candidate??™s dissertation on ???Criminal Matter.” Since 1985 ??“ Assistant Professor of Criminal Law at Leningrad State University; 1991 ??“ Senior Lecturer and Associate Professor at St. Petersburg State University; 1993 ??“ awarded the academic title of Associate Professor of Criminal Law. In 2000, Nikolay Kropachev was elected Head of the Criminal Law Department and has held this position to the present day.?  2001 to present – Professor of the Criminal Law Department.

Since 1992 – Dean of the Special Faculty of Continuing Legal Education at St. Petersburg State University. 1993 ??“ 1998, First Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Law at St. Petersburg State University. 1998 to present – Dean of the SPbSU Faculty of Law. In 2000, Nikolay Kropachev defended a doctoral thesis on the ???Mechanism of Criminal Law Regulation??? and was awarded the academic degree Doctor of Law. In 2003, he was awarded the academic title Professor of Criminal Law. His scope of academic interests includes: criminal law, theory of state and law, criminology, and education law. These issues have been considered by Nikolay Kropachev in more than 70 scientific and instructional works, including a number of monographs and textbooks.

For many years Nikolay Kropachev has actively participated in various professional organisations of lawyers: Nikolay Kropachev successfully works to improve the legal and organisational support of higher professional education and science as Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Council for Science, Technology and Education, as well as a member of the Presidential Council for Codification and Enhancement of Civil Legislation and the Presidential Commission for Federal Pool of High Potential Managers.

Detailed biography, publications, awards, and titles can be found at? http://www.eng.spbu.ru/university/structure/top-management/rector/

SPbSU Publishing Activities:

The Publishing House of St. Petersburg State University is the second largest university publishing house in Russia, after the Publishing House of Moscow State University. Practically all higher education institutions of the North-West of Russia use its services; it has also established contacts with the publishers of the USA, England, France, the Netherlands, and other countries. The Bulletin of Saint-Petersburg State University and the Jurisprudence journal are published. The University’s Publishing House is open to joint projects and business campaigns with the publishing houses of other countries.

SPbSU International Activities:

St. Petersburg University is one of the leading international research and educational institution. In 2009 St. Petersburg University was ranked 168 according to the THE-QS World University Rankings and 303 according to the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU).

Annually the great number of meetings with academic & research partners and representatives of foreign authorities take place at the University. Moreover, St. Petersburg University is often visited by the famous researchers, politicians and scientists. A lot of outstanding scientists and politicians from around the world were awarded by the ?«Honorary Doctor Diploma of St.-Petersburg University?».

Office for International and Foreign Economic Affairs?  promotes students, researchers and academic staff exchange programmes and facilities to efficient international scientific and academic cooperation. At the present time St. Petersburg State University proudly cooperates with 230 higher education institutions of Europe, North America, Asia and South America.

St. Petersburg University participates in the international scientific and academic programs and fairs. The University is member of 13 international associations and actively cooperates with the international organizations. St. Petersburg State University offers a range of Master??™s Degree Programmes taught in English.

St. Petersburg University fruitfully cooperates with its academic partners developing the international academic mobility programmes such as Erasmus Mundus External Cooperation Window, Finnish-Russian Cross Border University, Finnish-Russian student exchange Program, Santander University, Campus Europae.

 Contacts:

St. Petersburg State University
7-9 Universitetskaya Nab.
St. Petersburg, 199034, Russia.
E-mail: [email protected]
Tel.: +7 812 328 2000?

http://www.spbu.ru/

Degree Studies in Saint-Petersburg University

Saint-Petersburg University offers currently more than 130 degree programmes in 11 principal groups of fields of study. Along with traditional Specialist Degree programmes (5 years) there are Bachelor Degree (4 years) and Master Degree (2 years) programmes as well as postgraduate studies (Candidate of Science) and doctoral studies (Doctor of Science) available.

Those degree programmes are mostly distributed among 24 Faculties, however some of them are multidisciplinary and involve several Faculties.

The language of instruction in most degree programmes is Russian. Yet there are several degree programmes with instruction in English and other languages.

Saint-Petersburg University offers more than 20 innovative degree programmes developed jointly with our foreign partners. A double degree (two diplomas) or a SPbSU degree + Certificate are valuable advantages of these programmes.

Most degree programmes are open for foreign citizens who meet all entry requirments and are ready to provide all necessary documents according to the relevant rules and regulations in force.

Foreign citizens should pay tuition fees which vary depending on a certain degree programme.

How to apply?

If you are interested in getting a degree in Saint-Petersburg University, please contact the Host Faculty directly. There you can get information on degree programmes, current tuition fees, admission procedure and other necessary information.

Faculties

  •     Faculty of Applied Communication Studies
  •     Faculty of Arts
  •     Faculty of Asian and African Studies
  •     Faculty of Biology & Soil Science
  •     Graduate School of Management
  •     Faculty of Geography & Geo-Ecology
  •     Faculty of Geology
  •     Faculty of Journalism
  •     Faculty of History
  •     Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences
  •     Faculty of Mathematics & Mechanics
  •     Faculty of Medicine
  •     School of International Relations
  •     Faculty of Applied Mathematics
  •     Faculty of Psychology
  •     Faculty of Sociology
  •     Faculty of Physics
  •     Faculty of Philology
  •     Faculty of Philosophy
  •     Faculty of Political Science
  •     Faculty of Chemistry
  •     Faculty of Economy
  •     Faculty of Law

Non-Degree Studies in Saint-Petersburg University

What does “Non-Degree Studies” mean?

Non-Degree Studies (NDS) include short- and medium-term programmes such as student exchange, summer and winter schools, familiarization tours, language courses, etc.

In the end of NDS programme participants usually get a certificate and a transcript of records, but not a degree from the host university.

The duration of NDS programme may vary from several weeks (summer/winter schools) till 1-2 semesters (student exchange and language courses).

Non-Degree Studies for Exchange Students from Partner Universities
For students from our Partner Universities we offer the following NDS programmes:Students Exchange Programme (SEP)

  •     Internship Exchange Programme (IEP)

These programmes are available only in the framework of bilateral cooperation agreements between Universities and some International Academic Mobility & Students Exchange Programmes.

Both SEP and IEP are managed by Academic Mobility Department.

In order to participate in these programmes students form the Partner Universities should be nominated by Student Exchange Coordinator of the home university.

Read The Exchange Students Reports to learn about exchange period details and impressions!

Non-Degree Studies at the Faculty level

Our Faculties also offer their own NDS programmes (short-term studies, language courses, summer / winter schools, etc.) as well as student exchange programmes organized in the framework of cooperation agreements of the faculties.

To learn more about such programmes, please contact the Host Faculty directly.

Registration of foreign citizens coming to SPbU

Download “Basic rules of foreign citizen’s residence on the territory of the Russian Federation”

Registration of foreign citizens coming to Saint-Petersburg University is under the charge of the Passport and Visa Support Department.

Passport and Visa Support Department is divided into two campuses:

  •     Universitetskaya nab. 7-9, Saint-Petersburg, Main Building, ground floor, tel.: +7 (812) 326 4944 (entrance from Mendeleevskaya liniya)
  •     Botanicheskaya st., 66, Stary Peterhof, Dormitory ?10, room 109, tel.: +7 (812) 428 4716 (int. 112 or 115).

All foreign citizens coming to Russia must register their residence during 7 working days calculated from crossing the border of the Russian Federation.

If the period of stay of foreign citizen is 7 working days or less, there is no need to register the arrival.

Primary registration of foreign citizens

Every time you cross the border of the Russian Federation (as well as in every case of changing your personal information) you have to come to the Passport and Visa Support Department on the day of crossing the border or next working day and submit the following documents:

Application Form signed by the head of the International Research & Technology Department (for Staff Exchange Program participants).
Arrival Notification Form. You can get it in the Passport and Visa Support Department.
Passport + copy (page with photo)
Visa + copy
Migration Card + copy

Staff Exchange Program participants may prepare all the documents in the International Research & Technology Department.

Please notice that you have to obtain new Arrival Notification every time you come to Russia and receive new migration card as well as in every case of changing your personal information.

Requesting multiple visa in SPbU

In order to extend the period of stay in Russia you have to apply for multiple visa not later than 20 working days before expiry date of current visa and submit the following documents to the Passport and Visa Support Department:

  •     Application Form
  •     Arrival Notification Form (DO NOT FILL “the section “Вид и реквизиты документа, подтверждающего право на пребывание (проживание) в Российской Федерации” – that is the fields “Виза”, “Серия”, “№”, “Дата выдачи” and “Срок действия” in this section)
  •     Visa Application Form
  •     Passport + 2 copies
  •     Current Russian visa + 2 copies
  •     Migration Card + 2 copies
  •     ?urrent Arrival Notification + copy
  •     Copy of the Studying Contract (if applicable)
  •     Copy of the Ministry’s Referral Letter (if applicable)
  •     Copy of the Gratuitous Studying Contract (if applicable)
  •     Copy of the Work Contract (for professors and researchers)
  •     Medical Insurance Policy effective during the visa terms
  •     Certificate from dormitory (if applicable)
  •     Photos 3×4 cm, mat, black-and-white or color: 3 photos if you apply for visa in Saint-Petersburg or 5 photos – in Peterhof
  •     Receipt of payment of the state fee for visa in the amount of 1000 rubles

Contact information

Saint Petersburg state university
7-9, Universitetskaya nab.,
St.Petersburg, 199034, Russia
E-mail:  [email protected]
Phone: 328 2000