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Saint Petersburg State University is the largest scientific and educational center in Europe and the world. Today, more than 20 thousand students study here, Nobel and Fields Prize laureates work here, more than 15 large laboratories and 26 resource centers have been created, which are part of the country's leading Science Park. The university has a rich history — only St Petersburg State University can rightfully bear the name of the first university in Russia.
The key function of any university is education. St Petersburg University provides schoolling according to its own higher than federal educational standards, prepares graduates who are in demand in the modern labor market, in leading companies in various industries.
Among the graduates of St Petersburg State University — six Chairmen of the government of the country and two Presidents of the Russian Federation. Nine Nobel Prize laureates have studied and worked at the University. The special status of St Petersburg University is defined by the Federal Law "On the Moscow State University named after M. V. Lomonosov and St Petersburg State University". St Petersburg State University has the right to conduct dissertation defense according to its own rules and to award academic degrees of Candidates and Doctors of science recognized by the state.
Today, about 25 thousand students from dozens of countries are studying at St Petersburg University. More than 12 thousand people are working at St Petersburg State University, including Nobel and Fields Prize laureates. St Petersburg University was the first in Russia to open a grant program for scientists to support academic research in various fields of science. Owing to the open public competition, more than 300 foreign scholars and 130 postdocs became part of the University research groups. The University consistently improves its performance indicators in the reputable world rankings of universities:
- In 2015, for the first time, St Petersburg State University entered the Times Higher Education world university reputation rating and immediately got into the group of universities ranked 71-80, among 100 most authoritative and prestigious universities in the world with best academic reputation.
- St Petersburg University ranks third in the rating of universities in developing countries in Europe and Central Asia, compiled by the British company Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) in 2016
- St Petersburg State University is the only Russian university in the Nature Index 2016 Rising Stars ranking in the Top 100 institutions category
St Petersburg State University is an open university
The University activity is as open and transparent as possible. Anyone can get an appointment with the rector, ask a question in the Virtual Reception to vice-rectors, deans, heads of services and receive a quick and qualified answer. The positions of professors, associate professors, teachers and assistants are held through an open competition. The opportunity to work at the first university in Russia and resource support are given to the strongest candidates for positions.
The St Petersburg State University Science Park has no analogues in Russia in terms of equipment and technological capabilities, and in a number of areas of scientific research — in the world. It includes 26 resource centers. It is open to all scientists-from any city, any country, and any organization. There is a transparent registration procedure, and each scientist can track the status of their application online.
One of the most important tasks facing St. Petersburg State University is implementation of its own research support programs. In 2013 and 2014 the University hosted competitions for mega grants provided by St Petersburg State University, which resulted in creation of nine research laboratories under the leadership of top Russian and foreign scientists. The research projects implemented by the new laboratories are focused on key areas of science-biomedicine, nanotechnology, environmental management, information systems, and social technologies. When the research results are put into practice, new methods of security provision, new types of computers, new Internet capabilities, new heavy-duty, extra strong alloys will appear in the world, and fundamentally new conditions for raising children left without parental care will be created.
The Information and Library complex of St Petersburg State University is the best university library in Russia and matches top ten world university libraries in terms of printed publications, rare books, manuscripts (7 million items of storage are available, including unique collections) and electronic sources (2.8 million entries in the electronic catalog, more than 124.5 million electronic full-text sources, more than 82 thousand titles of electronic journals and more than 750 thousand titles of electronic books).