Lomonosov Moscow State University

Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU) is the oldest classical university in Russia, founded over 260 years ago. A large research and educational center ranks first in the ranking of Russian universities^[0]. The main university building on the Sparrow Hills is an iconic landmark of Moscow.

The structure of the university

Moscow State University has 40 faculties where bachelor’s, master’s and graduate students are trained in 95 specialties. The university includes 15 research centers, 13 institutes and 6 branches. AESC MSU boarding school opened under the wing of MSU, in which students gain in-depth knowledge in the fields of physics, mathematics, chemistry, biology and computer science. The structure of Moscow State University also includes:

• Russian-German Institute of Science and Culture – a center for additional language education, created to train specialists in for further scientific cooperation between Russia and Germany;
• French University College – a higher educational institution that implements a 2-year master's program in the humanities (law, history, sociology, philosophy, etc.), recognized at partner universities in France;
• MSU-BIT University (Moscow State University and Beijing Institute of Technology) is a unique educational project created under the initiative of Russian and Chinese governments. Training is conducted in Russian and Chinese on the territory of the BIT. University graduates receive a double diploma in 4 undergraduate programs and 3 master's degrees.
• The Confucius Institute is a joint scientific and educational center of Russia and China, which provides language and country studies for specialists.

Bachelor’s and specialist programs

The advantages of studying at MSU

• Prestige of the University. Moscow State University takes 1st place in the ranking of the 100 best universities in Russia^[2]. In 2019, the university entered the top 50 world universities in 5 disciplines: linguistics, physics and astronomy, modern languages, mathematics and computer science^[3]. MSU diploma is highly rated among Russian employers. In 2018, the university led the ranking of demand for graduates^[4].
• Strong teaching staff. Leading scientific experts of the country teach at the university, including academics, members of RAS and RAE^[5], more than a thousand professors^[6].
• The international cooperation. Moscow State University collaborates with educational institutions in Europe, America, Asia and Africa. The university provides an opportunity for students and graduate students to undergo training and internships abroad in partner universities.
• Large selection of training programs. In total, there are more than 300 programs of bachelor’s, specialist, and master's studies at Moscow State University, some of which are unique. For example, in 2017, the only Faculty of Space Research in Russia was opened. In addition, MSU students have the opportunity to attend interdisciplinary courses (for example, bioinformatics, the fundamentals of nanotechnology), and inter-faculty courses (business planning, legal support for startups, literature in the media space, etc).
• Fundamental education. The country's leading university provides an opportunity to receive a classical education, engage in fundamental or applied sciences, and develop an academic career. The structure of the university includes more than 30 scientific centers and institutes.
• Convenient location and developed infrastructure. The buildings of Moscow State University are located in the central regions of Moscow, close to metro stations. The educational center has its own Science Park, Botanical Garden, Science Library, publishing and printing house.

Requirements for admission

International students can apply for admission by quota or by paying for the tuition. Applicants must contact the foreign department of the faculty where they plan to study and fill out an application form. After this, it is necessary to submit the following list of documents to the Moscow admission committee in person:

• Application for admission (the form is set separately for each faculty and study program, you can select and download the corresponding document on the website of the unified admissions committee of Moscow State University);
• Certificate of education with a transcript (the full list of subjects and grades) that passed the legalization procedure in the country of issue;
• Translation of education certificate with a transcript, notarized in Russian Federation;
• Negative AIDS test result issued no later than 3 months before arrival in the Russian Federation;
• Passport, visa and migration card;
• 6 photos 3*4.

Entrance tests for foreign applicants are held in the form of face-to-face interviews in priority subjects. The list of programs with corresponding subjects can be found on the official website. For admission to state-funded seats under the quota, applicants must pass the entrance examinations on the same terms as citizens. The competitive selection period is from June 15 to July 10 or to July 20. Please check with the MSU website for the acute dates.
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Russian preparatory programs for international students

As all Bachelor’s and most Master’s programs of the University are taught in Russian, the MSU Institute of the Russian Language and Culture offers a range of special preparatory programs for international students:
In addition, there is a short-term winter school for all foreign citizens over 16 years old.

International cooperation

Moscow State University has more than 700 partnership agreements with universities from 64 countries^[7]. Academic mobility programs are one of the priority areas. Annually the University accepts about 10000 foreign and graduate students for training and internships. Students and teachers of Moscow State University participate in academic exchange under the European Union Erasmus + program. The goal of this joint project is to support cooperation in the field of education and vocational training. Students get the opportunity to study or take part in internships at one of the partner universities in Europe, MSU teachers can undergo advanced training or engage in teaching activities.
Moscow State University initiative helped to create the Eurasian Association of Universities, that is the large organization, which includes about 140 educational institutions of the CIS region^[8].

Double degree programs

These programs can be attended by students of Moscow State University who have entered bachelor's/specialty or master's degrees. The term of bachelor’s study is 4 years, the first 2 of which are spent at Moscow State University, the next 2 years at a partner university. A joint master's program involves studying the first year at Moscow State University, and the second at a selected foreign university. Information on the availability of double degree programs, their cost and the conditions of admission can be found at the international departments of MSU faculties.

International internships

Annually about 500 MSU students are sent to take part in internships at foreign partner universities. The training lasts for 1 or 2 semesters. To enroll in the program, students must submit an application and pass an interview with the commission in Russian and a foreign language (in which they study at the chosen university). The commission determines the winner(s) of the competition and decides on sending the student to an internship.
Education at a foreign university takes place at the expense of the host country. The student assumes all other expenses (flight, visa, accommodation, meals, insurance, etc.).
Students can take part in the competition for bachelor’s/specialty programs of the 3rd, 4th year of full-time education and students of the 4th, 5th year of the evening department. Master’s students can apply after the 1st year.
Selection stages:

1. Submit an application for participation to the department of foreign relations of the faculty;
2. Pass interviews;
3. Register documents for a foreign university;
4. Official registration of an internship at a partner university;
5. Make an individual curriculum (mandatory for students in master's programs).

Students who have been trained for 1 semester must pass the MSU examinations upon return and continue their studies. If the exchange program has lasted a whole year, the student is not transferred to the next course, but continues to study with a junior course. After returning, students must provide the faculty with a document on the successful completion of the program and an internship report.

Student life

Student council. A self-government body in which a team of leaders with the support of the university administration decides on educational, domestic and cultural issues. For example, the organization of bicycle parking, the introduction of unified payment cards for services on campus, the approval of the calendar of cultural and sports events at Moscow State University.
Creative groups. On the basis of the university there are dance, theater and vocal studios. The Academic Choir of Moscow State University is the oldest folk choir in Russia, in which students, graduates and university teachers participate. Lectures, creative meetings and presentations of new books are held in the classroom of the Literary Studio "Ray". Dance mastery is taught at Grazia-MSU and Saraswati.
Sports organizations. On the Klyazma reservoir there is a Yacht Club, which hosts the classes of the MSU sailing club. To participate it is not necessary to have the experience of a yachtsman. Club coaches will teach the tricks of navigation, provide a yacht and prepare for the competition. For students and graduate students classes are free. MSU students can choose another sports area: the university has at least 40 clubs.
Tatyana's Day. January 25 is a special day in the life of Moscow State University. Every year, on the founding day of the university, festive events are held, the main of which is a concert organized by members of student groups^[9].

Infrastructure of the University

The main building of Moscow State University is one of the most recognizable sights of Moscow. It is located in a picturesque place on the Sparrow Hills, which offers a panoramic view of the city. The observation deck is located on the 32nd floor of a 240 meter building, built in the 1950s. University faculties are located in the central regions of Moscow. In total, the university has about 600 buildings at its disposal.
Moscow State University library is the oldest public library in Russia and one of the largest: the collection contains more than 10 million items. 50 departments of the scientific library are located in 17 buildings of the university^[10].
Dormitories Moscow State University has 7 campuses at its disposal. The infrastructure of the complexes includes apartments for teachers, block-type dormitories, shops, recreation areas and gyms. All towns have Internet access and medical units. The cost of living in rooms for 2-3 people is 2 USD/month for state-funded and international students, 1 USD/month – for those studying at the preparatory programs. Fee-paying students pay between 9 USD and 196 USD per month depending on the dorm and living conditions^[11]. It takes from 15 minutes to half an hour to get to the university.

Interesting facts about Moscow State University

• Among the graduates of Moscow State University there are 11 Nobel Prize winners and 6 Fields Medal winners^[12][13].
• On the main building of Moscow State University there is the largest watch in Moscow: the diameter of their dial is 9 meters.
• The university has a unique Zoological Museum with a rich collection and the oldest Herbarium of Russia.
• On the territory of the university there is the Botanical Garden, founded on the basis of the Moscow Pharmaceutical Garden in 1706.

Famous graduates

• Aleksandr Herzen (1812–1879) – an outstanding Russian teacher, philosopher, and publicist. Publisher of the revolutionary weekly newspaper The Bell.
• Nikolai Sklifosovsky (1836–1904) – Emeritus Professor of Medicine, military field surgeon. Author of scientific papers on abdominal surgery. Introduced antiseptic practices during surgical operations.
• Ernst Neizvestniy (1925–2016) – Soviet and American sculptor, author of the famous sculpture The Tree of Life and the sketch of the country's main television award – TEFI.
• Lyudmila Alekseeva (1927–2018) is a Russian public figure, one of the founders of the Helsinki Group, Russia's oldest human rights organization.
• Mikhail Gorbachev (1931) – the first and only President of the USSR, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.
• Elvira Nabiullina (1963) – Chairman of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, statesman and politician.

Student Reviews

Pros. Positive reviews often mention good fundamental training in the natural sciences, the relevance of graduates after graduation, and the convenient location of university buildings and campuses.
Cons. Students note that the curriculum of courses is rarely updated, as a result, students receive outdated knowledge. At a university, lectures are often rescheduled or canceled without warning. In almost all reviews, poor conditions appear in buildings (with the exception of the main building) and dormitories, for example, lack of repair, cockroaches, broken glass.

Photos of MSU