Saint-Petersburg State University

Saint-Petersburg Sta te University (SPbU) continues to climb in the BRICS ranking this year, now placed 11^th and overtaking Novosibirsk State University as second among the top universities in Russia. Also ranked 235^th in the world, SPbU is the oldest university in Russia, having been founded in 1724 by Peter the Great. Around 400 interdisciplinary programs and 1,000 non-degree programs are available, mostly in Russian, although some English-taught master’s programs are available. Notable alumni of the university include nine Nobel Prize winners and other notable figures, such as Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Of the 15 subjects Saint-Petersburg State University is internationally ranked for, it appears in the global top 100 for three: modern languages, mathematics and linguistics.

 

1. Lomonosov Moscow State University

Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU) holds on to the top spot among the top universities in Russia, down one place to rank sixth in this year’s BRICS. Also ranked 90^th in the most recent world university rankings, MSU’s main building is the tallest educational building in the world, and the university is also home to one of the largest library systems in Russia, with around 10 million books, 2.5 million of which are in foreign languages.

Lomonosov Moscow State University was ranked among the world’s best for 28 of the 48 fields covered in the QS World University Rankings by Subject, including positions in the top 50 for linguistics, physics, mathematics, modern languages, hospitality & leisure management and computer science.

 

After reading:

 

Study the vocabulary:

Assess – v., evaluate or estimate the nature, ability, or quality of.

Launch – v., start or set in motion (an activity or enterprise).

Admission – n., permission given to a person to enter a place, or permission given to a country to enter an organization.

Score – n., the number of points, goals, runs, etc. achieved in a game or by a team or an individual.

Nonetheless – adverb, in spite of that; nevertheless.

Exchange – n., an act of giving one thing and receiving another (especially of the same kind) in return.

Overtake – v., to move up to and past (someone or something that is in front of you) by moving faster.

Alumnus – n., a former pupil or student, especially a male one, of a particular school, college, or university.

Host – v., act as host at (an event) or for (a television or radio programme).

Benefit – v., receive an advantage; profit.

Notable – adj., worthy of attention or notice; remarkable.

 

 II. TRUE / FALSE: Read the article again and decide if the statements are TRUE or FALSE.

1. The famous American politician called Moscow State Institute of International Relations the ‘Harvard of Russia’.

2. The faculty-student ratio indicator demonstrates that student have an easy access to tutors.

3. Tomsk State University is the oldest technical university in Siberia.

4. The youngest Russian university in this list is National Research University Higher School of Economics.

5. Bauman Moscow State Technical University comes 10^th for reputation among employers and as a top-ranking research engineering center.

6. MEPhI is in the global top 100 of the subject rankings for math & computer science.

7. There are English-taught programs available at bachelor’s and master’s level at Novosibirsk State University.

8. Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University is the oldest Russian university and was founded by Peter the Great.

9. Lomonosov Moscow State University is famous for the largest collection of books in the world.