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History and Traditions
Establishment and development of Moscow State University
Lomonosov Moscow State University is rightfully considered the oldest Russian university. It was founded in 1755. The establishment of a university in Moscow became possible thanks to the activities of the outstanding scientist-encyclopedist, the first Russian academician Mikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov (1711-1765).
In accordance with the plan of M.V. Lomonosov, 3 faculties were formed at Moscow University: philosophy, law and medicine. All students began their studies at the Faculty of Philosophy, where they received fundamental knowledge in the field of natural sciences and humanities. Education could be continued with specialized knowledge in the field of law, medicine or philosophy. Unlike European universities, Moscow University did not have a theological faculty. The reason for this is that in Russia at that time there was already a special educational system for preparing ministers of the Orthodox Church. The professors were teaching not only in the commonly recognized language of science at that time - Latin language, but also in Russian.
Moscow University stood out for its democratic composition of students and professors. This largely determined the wide dissemination of advanced scientific and social ideas among students and teachers. In the 19th century, the first scientific societies were formed at the university: Experts of nature, History and Russian antiquities, Lovers of Russian literature.
In accordance with the plan of M.V. Lomonosov, 3 faculties were formed at Moscow University: philosophy, law and medicine. All students began their studies at the Faculty of Philosophy, where they received fundamental knowledge in the field of natural sciences and humanities. Education could be continued with specialized knowledge in the field of law, medicine or philosophy. Unlike European universities, Moscow University did not have a theological faculty. The reason for this is that in Russia at that time there was already a special educational system for preparing ministers of the Orthodox Church. The professors were teaching not only in the commonly recognized language of science at that time - Latin language, but also in Russian.
Moscow University stood out for its democratic composition of students and professors. This largely determined the wide dissemination of advanced scientific and social ideas among students and teachers. In the 19th century, the first scientific societies were formed at the university: Experts of nature, History and Russian antiquities, Lovers of Russian literature.
Moscow State University in the 19th Century
In the first half of the 19th century, Moscow University occupied a leading place in the public life of Russia. The traditions of free-thinking were continued by the student circles of the brothers of Crete, N.P. Sungurova, V.G. Belinsky, A.I. Herzen and N.P. Ogareva, N.V. Stankevich. A new stage in the life of the university began after the fall of serfdom in 1861 and Russia's entry onto the path of capitalism. The university charter of 1863 reflected the government's general course of reform to accelerate the country's development. About 1,500 students studied at the four faculties of the university - history and philology, physics and mathematics, law and medicine.
Moscow State University in the first half of the 20th century
In the first half of the twentieth century, the university was one of the centers of advanced scientific knowledge and spiritual life in Russia. The names of prominent Russian thinkers of the late 19th – early 20th centuries are associated with the university: V.S. Solovyova, V.V. Rozanova, E.N. and S.N. Trubetskoy, S.N. Bulgakov, P.A. Florensky. Famous figures of the leading political parties of Russia studied or taught at the university.
The rise of the revolutionary movement on the eve of the First World War also affected Moscow University. In 1911, in protest against the illegal dismissal of a number of professors and the violation of university autonomy, more than 130 professors and teachers defiantly left its walls. The schism in the society during the revolution had a heavy impact on university life. Some students and famous scientists who did not accept the new political order were forced to leave Moscow University. Nevertheless, teaching at the university in the first post-revolutionary decade was continued by world-renowned scientists: D.N. Anuchin, N.E. Zhukovsky, N. D. Zelinsky, A.N. Severtsov, K.A. Timiryazev, S.A. Chaplygin and others.
The Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 was a difficult challenge for our country. On June 25, 1941, the first group of students and employees of Moscow State University went to the front, mainly to replenish the command and political staff of the Red Army. About 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students, professors, teachers and employees of Moscow State University did not return from the war. In their honor, in 1975, next to the 1st educational building, a memorial sign was established and the Eternal Flame of Glory was lit.
During the war years, more than 3,000 specialists graduated from the university. Researchers of Moscow State University, with their scientific achievements, made a significant contribution to the defense of the country and the development of its economy. More than 3,000 scientific developments were carried out at Moscow State University during the four military years.
The rise of the revolutionary movement on the eve of the First World War also affected Moscow University. In 1911, in protest against the illegal dismissal of a number of professors and the violation of university autonomy, more than 130 professors and teachers defiantly left its walls. The schism in the society during the revolution had a heavy impact on university life. Some students and famous scientists who did not accept the new political order were forced to leave Moscow University. Nevertheless, teaching at the university in the first post-revolutionary decade was continued by world-renowned scientists: D.N. Anuchin, N.E. Zhukovsky, N. D. Zelinsky, A.N. Severtsov, K.A. Timiryazev, S.A. Chaplygin and others.
The Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 was a difficult challenge for our country. On June 25, 1941, the first group of students and employees of Moscow State University went to the front, mainly to replenish the command and political staff of the Red Army. About 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students, professors, teachers and employees of Moscow State University did not return from the war. In their honor, in 1975, next to the 1st educational building, a memorial sign was established and the Eternal Flame of Glory was lit.
During the war years, more than 3,000 specialists graduated from the university. Researchers of Moscow State University, with their scientific achievements, made a significant contribution to the defense of the country and the development of its economy. More than 3,000 scientific developments were carried out at Moscow State University during the four military years.
Moscow State University in the postwar years
Post-war reconstruction and further development of the country was impossible without a new upsurge in university education. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, the financial situation of Moscow State University improved significantly. A huge complex of new university buildings were constructed on Lenin (Sparrow) Hills. On September 1, 1953, the new buildings opened their doors to the students.
Lomonosov Moscow State University has become a major international university preparing undergraduate and graduate students. One of the first preparatory faculties in our country was established in 1959 at the university to teach foreign citizens the Russian language. (now the Institute of Russian Language and Culture).
Lomonosov Moscow State University has become a major international university preparing undergraduate and graduate students. One of the first preparatory faculties in our country was established in 1959 at the university to teach foreign citizens the Russian language. (now the Institute of Russian Language and Culture).
Moscow State University Today
Today Lomonosov Moscow State University is the largest classical university in Russia. MSU has 41 faculties (over the past 20 years, 21 faculties have been created), 40 research institutes, a Medical Research and Education Center, a Scientific Library, 4 museums, a Botanical Garden, a Science Park, branches in Sarov, Sevastopol, Tashkent, Astana, Baku, Dushanbe, Yerevan, Koper. The total area of the MSU campus on Sparrow Hills in Moscow is 1,200,000 square meters. The campus territory can be compared to a city within a city - a student does not even have to leave its borders, because there is everything you need: libraries, reading rooms, lounges, printing, post office, laundries, a beauty salon, hairdressing salons, first-aid posts, a pharmacy, a dispensary, canteens, cafes, buffets, grocery stores, gyms, swimming pools, stadiums, courts, bicycle and roller skate rental, parks and car parks.
Lomonosov Moscow State University is also the leading scientific center of the country. In 2021, 7 scientific and educational schools were established at MSU: "Fundamental and Applied Space Research", "Preservation of the World Cultural and Historical Heritage", "Brain, Cognitive Systems, Artificial Intelligence", "Molecular Technologies of Living Systems and Synthetic Biology" , "Mathematical methods for the analysis of complex systems", "Photonic and quantum technologies. Digital medicine", and "The future of the planet and global environmental changes."
Nobel laureates, laureates of the State Prizes of the USSR and Russia have worked and are still working at Moscow State University. Of the 18 Russian Nobel laureates, eleven were graduates or professors of Moscow University. Students of Moscow University are multiple winners of Russian and international Olympiads in various subjects, and its graduates are specialists in demand on the modern labor market.
Nobel laureates, laureates of the State Prizes of the USSR and Russia have worked and are still working at Moscow State University. Of the 18 Russian Nobel laureates, eleven were graduates or professors of Moscow University. Students of Moscow University are multiple winners of Russian and international Olympiads in various subjects, and its graduates are specialists in demand on the modern labor market.