Saint Petersburg State University
Peter the Great issued a decree on the 24th of January 1724 that established Saint Petersburg University alongside the Academic Gymnasium and the Saint Petersburg Academy of Sciences. This institution claims to be one of the oldest universities in Russia, though Moscow State University was founded later in 1755. The original academy disbanded between 1804 and 1819 due to new charters forbidding educational institutions affiliated with it. Alexander I reorganized the Main Pedagogical Institute into Saint Petersburg University on the 8th of February 1819. That initial version included three faculties: Philosophy and Law, History and Philology, and Physics and Mathematics. In 1821, the university received its name as Saint Petersburg Imperial University. Most of the university moved from the Twelve Collegia building to the southern part of the city in 1823. A modified charter based on Moscow University's rules became the first official charter for this imperial institution in 1824. By 1829, there were 19 full professors and 169 students attending classes. Tsar Nicholas returned the entire Twelve Collegia building to the university in 1830 so courses could resume there. A new Charter of the Imperial Universities of Russia approved in 1835 merged several departments under a Faculty of Philosophy. After the Spring of Nations in 1849, the Senate decreed that rectors would be appointed by the minister rather than elected by the assembly. Pyotr Pletnyov served as rector from 1840 until 1861, making him the longest-serving leader in the university's history. Oriental studies separated from the Faculty of History and Philology in 1855, creating a fourth faculty formally inaugurated on the 27th of August 1855. Female part-time students attended lectures between 1859 and 1861. In 1861, enrollment reached 1,270 full-time and 167 part-time students, with 498 studying law. Student unrest occurred during 1861, 62, causing temporary closures twice within that year. Police surveillance restricted student freedom, and public lectures were forbidden. Many students were expelled after the unrest ended. By 1865, only 524 students remained enrolled. Alexander II restored the right to elect the rector through a decree on the 18th of February 1863. A new faculty for theory and history of art formed part of the history and philology division that same year. By 1869, 2,588 students had graduated from the institution. The Ministry of National Enlightenment forbade marriage for students in 1880. Married persons could not be admitted starting that year. Another student unrest took place in 1882. A new Charter adopted in 1884 returned the power to appoint rectors to the minister of national enlightenment. On the 1st of March 1887, a group of students was arrested while planning an attempt on the life of Alexander III of Russia. New admission rules approved by Ivan Delyanov barred non-noble origin individuals unless they were extraordinarily talented. By 1894, 9,212 students had graduated from the university. Scholars like mathematician Pafnuty Chebyshev, physicist Heinrich Lenz, chemists Dmitri Mendeleev and Aleksandr Butlerov, embryologist Alexander Kovalevsky, physiologist Ivan Sechenov, and pedologist Vasily Dokuchaev worked there during the second half of the 19th century. On the 24th of March 1896, Alexander Popov publicly demonstrated transmission of radio waves for the first time in history on campus. Nearly 2,100 students enrolled in the Faculty of Law as of the 1st of January 1900. Over 1,149 students studied physics and mathematics, 212 studied oriental languages, and 171 studied history and philology. The first student dining hall in Russia opened at the university in 1902. Regular strikes and unrest spread across Russian higher education institutions since about 1897. During the Revolution of 1905, university autonomy partially returned with the right to elect rectors given back to the academic board. The institution was temporarily closed due to unrest in 1905, 06. Autonomy revoked again in 1911 led to another temporary closure that same year. In 1914, the start of World War I prompted renaming to Petrograd Imperial University. A branch opened in Perm in 1915, which later became Perm State University.
The Assembly of Petrograd Imperial University openly welcomed the February Revolution of 1917, ending the Russian monarchy. After the October Revolution of 1917, staff and administration initially opposed the Bolshevik takeover and refused cooperation with Narkompros. During the Russian Civil War from 1917 to 1922, some staff suspected of counter-revolutionary sympathies suffered imprisonment or execution. Lev Shcherba faced imprisonment in 1919. Several academics were exiled abroad on Philosophers' ships in 1922, including Nikolai Lossky. The entire staff endured hunger and extreme poverty during those years. The university renamed itself 1st Petrograd State University in 1918. In 1919, Narkompros merged it with the 2nd PSU and 3rd PSU into Petrograd State University. The Faculty of Social Science replaced History and Philology, Oriental Languages, and Law faculties that year. Nicholas Marr became the first Dean of the new faculty. Chemist Alexey Favorsky led the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics. Rabfaks and free university courses opened to provide mass education. Freshman student Alice Rosenbaum observed enrollment was open in fall 1920, noting most students were anti-communist. A purge conducted in 1922 expelled all students except seniors who had bourgeois backgrounds. The university renamed itself Leningrad State University in 1924. Historians Sergey Platonov, Yevgeny Tarle, and Boris Grekov were imprisoned in the Academic Affair of 1929, 30 on fabricated charges of counter-revolutionary conspiracy. Some staff members repressed again during the Great Purge from 1937 to 1938.
During the 1941, 44 Siege of Leningrad in World War II, many students and staff died from starvation, battles, or repressions. The university evacuated to Saratov between 1942 and 1944. A branch operated in Yelabuga during the war years. In 1944, the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Soviet Union awarded the university the Order of Lenin. Several professors died in prison during the investigation of the Leningrad Affair in 1949, 50. Minister of education Alexander Voznesensky was executed after being a former rector. The Council of Ministers decided to build a suburban campus in Petrodvorets for mathematics and natural science faculties in 1966. Relocation completed by the 1990s. In 1969, the Presidium awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labour. The university renamed itself back to Saint Petersburg State University in 1991 after its namesake city changed name.
The university educated Russian presidents Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev, both studying law there. Vladimir Putin served as 2nd and 4th president of Russia from 2000 to 2008 and again from 2012 onward. He also held positions as 5th and 9th prime minister between 1999 and 2012. Dmitry Medvedev became 3rd president from 2008 to 2012 and 10th prime minister from 2012 to 2020. Dalia Grybauskaite studied at the institution before becoming 8th president of Lithuania from 2009 to 2019. Ion Inculeţ led the Moldavian Democratic Republic as its first president from 1917 to 1918. Levon Ter-Petrosyan served as 1st president of Armenia from 1991 to 1998. Gabriel Narutowicz was 1st president of Poland in 1922. Antanas Smetona held office as 1st and 12th prime minister of Lithuania during two periods: 1919, 1920 and 1926, 1940. Vladimir Lenin, leader of Soviet Russia from 1917 to 1923 and the Soviet Union until 1924, attended classes there. Jazep Varonka became 1st prime minister of the Belarusian National Republic in 1918. Augustinas Voldemaras served as 1st and 12th prime minister of Lithuania between 1918 and 1929. Boris Shturmer acted as 5th prime minister of the Russian Empire in 1916. Pyotr Stolypin held office as 3rd prime minister of the Russian Empire from 1906 to 1911. Alexander Kerensky led the Provisional Government as 2nd minister-chairman in 1917. Liudmyla Denisova served as 3rd ombudsman in Ukraine from 2018 to 2022. Ben-Zion Dinur was 4th minister of education of Israel from 1951 to 1955. Jean-Claude Gakosso holds the position of 16th minister of foreign affairs of the Republic of Congo since 2015. Lyudmila Narusova serves as senator from Tuva since 2016 and from Bryansk Oblast from 2010 to 2012. Anatoly Sobchak was 1st mayor of Saint Petersburg from 1991 to 1996 and co-authored Russia's Constitution.
Nine graduates of the university received Nobel Prizes across various fields. Dmitri Mendeleev developed the periodic table while affiliated with the institution. Heinrich Lenz contributed significantly to physics research there. Aleksandr Butlerov advanced chemical understanding during his tenure. Ivan Sechenov made groundbreaking discoveries in physiology. Vasily Dokuchaev pioneered pedology, the study of soil formation. Alexander Popov publicly demonstrated transmission of radio waves for the first time in history on campus on the 24th of March 1896. Nikolai Kondratiev formulated business cycle theory known as Kondratiev waves. Joseph Shor created BGP routing protocol while studying at the School of Mathematics and Mechanics. Igor Artimovich founded Festi software. Yakov Rekhter developed BGP technology. Pavel Durov graduated from philology department before founding Telegram messaging app. His brother Nikolai Durov earned a PhD from mathematics department. Leonid Kantorovich won recognition for economic contributions. Johann Admoni worked as composer, pianist, teacher, and public figure. Alexander Blok served as poet. Ilia Chavchavadze was Georgian writer, politician, and public benefactor. Solomon Dodashvili functioned as philosopher, grammarian, and belletrist. Yehuda L. Katzenelson wrote books and practiced medicine. Alexander Kugel edited theatre criticism. Julian Henry Lowenfeld translated texts and composed music. Salomon Mandelkern authored poetry and prose. Olga Ozarovskaya preserved fairy tales as folklorist and storyteller. Mahapandit Rahul Sankrityayan studied Indian history. Nicholas Roerich painted art. Lyubov Speranskaya performed theater arts. Maximilian Steinberg composed classical music. Igor Stravinsky created musical compositions. Ivan Turgenev wrote literature. Alexander Alekhine became fourth World Chess Champion. Grigory Levenfish won Soviet chess championships twice. Gennadiy Shatkov claimed Olympic boxing gold. Eduard Vinokurov won sabre fencing titles globally.
Rector Nikolay Kropachev signed a letter supporting the Russian invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. The university expelled 13 students who protested against the 2022 invasion that same year. In March 2022, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences suspended its longstanding relationship with Saint Petersburg State University. University of Bremen ended cooperation agreements during that month. Dartmouth College stopped running its Russian language study abroad program at the institution. CEMS - The Global Alliance in Management Education terminated partnership with Graduate School of Management in St Petersburg. European Coimbra Group expelled the university from membership. European University Association suspended operations involving the school. Council on International Educational Exchange halted programs and relocated students to other non-Russian universities. UArctic paused collaboration after beginning of Russo-Ukrainian War in 2022. Admissions remain competitive with average Unified State Examination scores reaching 90 points out of 100 for domestic applicants in 2023. Over 106,000 domestic students applied for bachelor's and specialist programs in 2023 admission campaign. Only 4,617 domestic applicants gained acceptance. More than 21,000 international students from 100 countries applied for state-funded scholarship programs that year. Just 1,000 international candidates received offers. Overall acceptance rate reached approximately 4% for both domestic and international scholarship-seeking students.
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Common questions
When was Saint Petersburg State University founded?
Peter the Great issued a decree on the 24th of January 1724 that established Saint Petersburg University alongside the Academic Gymnasium and the Saint Petersburg Academy of Sciences. This institution claims to be one of the oldest universities in Russia, though Moscow State University was founded later in 1755.
Who are notable alumni of Saint Petersburg State University who became heads of state?
The university educated Russian presidents Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev, both studying law there. Dalia Grybauskaite studied at the institution before becoming 8th president of Lithuania from 2009 to 2019, and Ion Inculeţ led the Moldavian Democratic Republic as its first president from 1917 to 1918.
What major scientific achievements occurred at Saint Petersburg State University during the 19th century?
On the 24th of March 1896, Alexander Popov publicly demonstrated transmission of radio waves for the first time in history on campus. Dmitri Mendeleev developed the periodic table while affiliated with the institution, and Heinrich Lenz contributed significantly to physics research there.
How did Saint Petersburg State University change names throughout its history?
The university renamed itself 1st Petrograd State University in 1918 and then Petrograd State University in 1919 after merging with other institutions. It changed its name again to Leningrad State University in 1924 and finally returned to Saint Petersburg State University in 1991 after its namesake city changed name.
What were the admission statistics for Saint Petersburg State University in 2023?
Admissions remain competitive with average Unified State Examination scores reaching 90 points out of 100 for domestic applicants in 2023. Only 4,617 domestic applicants gained acceptance from over 106,000 who applied, resulting in an overall acceptance rate of approximately 4% for both domestic and international scholarship-seeking students.