Moscow State University facts for kids
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Московский государственный университет имени М. В. Ломоносова
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Moscow State University Main Building
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| Latin: Universitas Moscuensis | |
| Motto |
Наука есть ясное познание истины, просвещение разума
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Motto in English
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Science is clear knowledge of the truth, enlightenment of the mind Scientia est clara cognitio veritatis, illustratio mentis (Latin) |
| Type | Public research university |
| Established | 23 January 1755 |
| Rector | Viktor Sadovnichiy |
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Academic staff
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5,000 |
| Students | 47,000 |
| Undergraduates | 40,000 |
| Postgraduates | 7,000 (estimate) |
| Location |
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Russia
55°42′14″N 37°31′43″E / 55.7039°N 37.5286°E |
| Campus | Urban |
| Language | Russian |
| Colors | |
| Affiliations | Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (cancelled in 2022) Institutional Network of the Universities from the Capitals of Europe (suspended in 2022) International Forum of Public Universities |
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Building details
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| General information | |
| Completed | 1953 |
| Height | |
| Architectural | 240 m (787 ft) |
| Top floor | 214 m (702 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 42 |
| Floor area | 1,000,000 m2 (10,763,910.417 sq ft) |
Moscow State University (MSU) is a large public university in Moscow, Russia. Its full official name is M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University.
This university is a major center for learning and research. It has 15 research institutes and 43 faculties, which are like different schools or departments. It also has branches in other countries. Many famous people have studied here, including Nobel Prize winners and leaders.
Contents
History
How it Started
The idea for a university in Moscow came from Ivan Shuvalov and Mikhail Lomonosov. The Russian Empress Elizabeth officially started it on January 23, 1755.
The first classes were held on May 7, 1755. Moscow State University and Saint Petersburg State University both say they are the oldest university in Russia.
MSU was first located in a building on Red Square. Later, Catherine the Great moved the university to a new building across the street. This building was designed by Matvei Kazakov and rebuilt after a big fire in Moscow in 1812.
In the 1700s, the university had three main subjects: philosophy, medicine, and law. A special school for noblemen was also started in 1779. The university also had its own printing press, which published an important newspaper called Moskovskie Vedomosti.
Over time, the medical department grew. In the late 1800s, a new medical campus was built. This campus later became a separate medical university in 1930.
Students at the university have a long history of speaking up. In 1905, some students and professors protested against the government. In 1911, many scientists and professors resigned because of how the university was being run. Thousands of students were also expelled.
After the Russian Revolution
From 1917 to 1949
After the October Revolution in 1917, Moscow State University started accepting students from all backgrounds, including working-class families. In 1919, they stopped charging tuition fees. They also created a special program to help students from working-class families prepare for entrance exams.
During the 1920s and 1930s, parts of the university were expanded. Some of these new buildings were constructed by people who were forced to work.
From 1950 to 1999
In the 1980s, a leader of the law faculty was removed from his position. After 1991, nine new faculties were added to the university. In 1992, the university gained a special status, meaning it gets money directly from the government.
In 1997, the famous French musician Jean Michel Jarre held a huge concert in front of the university's main building. Half a million people came to watch.
From 2000 to Today
In 2008, the SKIF MSU supercomputer was launched at the university. It was the fastest supercomputer in the region at that time.
In 2012 and 2013, some university staff faced issues. For example, a deputy dean was fired, and a head of a special center resigned after problems with his doctoral thesis.
Recent Events
In March 2022, the rector (head) of Moscow State University, Viktor Sadovnichy, signed a public statement supporting Russia's actions in Ukraine. Because of this, several international universities, like Yale University and University of St Andrews, stopped their partnerships with Moscow State University. Also, major computer chip companies like Intel and AMD stopped sending their products to Russia.
Campus
Since 1953, most of the university's departments have been located on Sparrow Hills in southwest Moscow. The main building is one of seven tall, grand towers built in Moscow after World War II. It was built by workers who were forced to labor. This main building was the tallest building in Europe until 1990. The central tower is 240 meters (787 feet) tall and has 36 stories.
The main building houses the university administration, the Museum of Earth Sciences, and several faculties like Mechanics and Mathematics, Geology, Geography, and Fine and Performing Arts. Other important university buildings are located on Mokhovaya Street and near Manege Square in central Moscow. The university also has campuses in other countries like Ukraine and Kazakhstan.
Faculties
As of 2009, Moscow State University had 39 faculties and 15 research centers. A faculty is like a large department or school that focuses on a specific area of study. Here is a list of some of the faculties:
- Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics
- Faculty of Computational Mathematics and Cybernetics
- Faculty of Physics
- Faculty of Chemistry
- Faculty of Materials Science
- Faculty of Biology
- Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics
- Faculty of Soil Science
- Faculty of Geology
- Faculty of Geography
- Faculty of Fundamental Medicine
- Faculty of Space Research
- Faculty of History
- Faculty of Philology
- Faculty of Philosophy
- Faculty of Economics
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Journalism
- Faculty of Psychology
- Institute of Asian and African Countries
- Faculty of Sociology
- Faculty of Foreign Languages and Area Studies
- Faculty of Public Administration
- Faculty of World Politics
- Faculty of Political Science
- Faculty of Fine and Performing Arts
- Faculty of Global Studies
- Faculty of Education
- Graduate School of Business Administration
- Faculty of Physics and Chemistry
- Moscow School of Economics
- Graduate School of Translation and Interpretation
- Graduate School of Public Administration
- Graduate School of Public Audit
- Graduate School of Administration and Innovations
- Graduate School of Innovative Business Administration
- Graduate School of Contemporary Social Sciences
- Graduate School of Television
- Center of Military Training
Institutions and Research Centers
The university also has many research centers and institutes where scientists work on new discoveries. Some of these include:
- Skobeltsyn Institute of Nuclear Physics
- Institute of Mechanics
- Sternberg Astronomical Institute
- A.N. Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology
- Research Computing Center
- N.N. Bogolyubov Institute for Theoretical Problems of Microphysics
- White Sea Biological Station
- Moscow University Herbarium
Academic Reputation
| University rankings | |
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| Global – Overall | |
| ARWU World | 101–150 (2022) |
| QS World | 75 (2023) |
| THE World | 296 (2022) |
| USNWR Global | 355 (2023) |
| Regional – Overall | |
| QS Emerging Europe and Central Asia | 1 (2022) |
Moscow State University is often ranked among the top universities in the world. For example, in 2023, it was ranked #75 by QS World University Rankings. It is usually considered the highest-ranked university in Russia.
The university works with many other universities around the world. They exchange students and teachers. It also hosts special international courses on topics like demography and hydrology.
Recently, the university's reputation has been affected because of its support for the special military operation in Ukraine.
Staff and Students
Moscow State University has a large community of people working and studying there. More than 4,000 teachers and professors work at the university. There are also about 15,000 support staff members. About 5,000 researchers work in the university's research centers.
The university has a lot of students! Over 40,000 undergraduate students and 7,000 graduate students are enrolled. Each year, about 2,000 students and researchers from other countries also come to study at MSU.
Notable People
| Notable alumni of Moscow State University |
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Many famous people have studied or worked at Moscow State University. As of 2017, 13 Nobel Prize winners, 6 Fields Medal winners (for mathematics), and one Turing Award winner (for computer science) were connected to the university.
Some well-known alumni include writers like Anton Chekhov, Boris Pasternak, and Ivan Turgenev. Important political figures like Mikhail Gorbachev also studied here. Many famous mathematicians and physicists, such as Andrey Kolmogorov and Andrei Sakharov, are also alumni.
Moscow State University in Philately
Philately is the study of postage stamps. Moscow State University has been featured on many Russian and Soviet postage stamps over the years. These stamps show different views of the university, including its old and new buildings, and celebrate important anniversaries.
- Russian and Soviet stamps
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1950 postage stamp:
the project of the 26-storey building of Moscow State University -
1955 postage stamp:
the old university building -
1955 postage stamp:
the new university building -
1957 postage stamp:
Moscow Festival of Youth and Students -
1958 postage stamp:
V Congress of the International Union of Architects -
1958 postage stamp:
X Congress of the International Astronomical Union in the new university building -
2002 postage stamp:
200th anniversary of the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation -
2005 postage stamp:
250th anniversary of Moscow State University
See also
In Spanish: Universidad Estatal de Moscú para niños
- Education in Russia
- List of universities in Russia
- List of rectors of Moscow State University
