Lomonosov Moscow State University
I would like to present you one of the most impressive buildings in Moscow and give you some background information. The Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU). I remember well the first time I visited this breath-taking construction one year ago. It’s a huge complex with an almost megalomaniac touch and an absolute must-see for everyone who lives here or visits Moscow.
Campus
The campus is rather complex, which makes it very confusing to get along. More than 40´000 students and over 6000 professors and lecturers work and study at the MSU. Every year, the university enrolls about 4000 international students from all over the world. Foreign students have to pass the Russian State Exam (ЕГЭ) to be able to apply for the courses.
It takes students 4 years to obtain their bachelors degree and 2 more years to complete their master studies. After that, they can prolong their education with specialist programs or post-graduate studies. Its undergraduates are free to choose one of 128 qualifications in the 39 faculties, while post-graduate students may specialize in 18 branches of science and humanities. There have always been very famous and successful graduates from MSU, amongst them 11 Nobel Prize winners.
History
MSU is not only the biggest university in Russia but also one of the oldest. First established in 1755, it quickly became a centre of Russian science and culture. The building is named after its designer Academician Mikhail Lomonosov (1711 – 1765). He was an important Russian scientist, who greatly contributed to the establishment of the university in Moscow.
The university played an outstanding role in popularizing science and learning in Russia by making the lectures of its professors open to the public. For over a century, since 1755, the university library was the only one in Moscow that was open for the general public. Of course the library still exists and counts now a collection of over 9 million books.
Unfortunately, you are not allowed to go inside without permission, but you definitely have to visit this amazing building. For further information visit the official website attached below.
If you are not convinced yet, check out this short YouTube video.
Matthias Thoeny, currently studying Russian at Liden & Denz Moscow.