Moscow State University is a major traditional educational institution in Russia. It offers training in almost all branches of modern science and humanities. Its undergraduates may choose one of 128 qualifications in its 39 faculties, while post-graduate students may specialize in 18 branches of science and humanities and 168 different areas. Various kinds of academic courses and research work are conducted at MSU Museums, affiliated subdivisions in Russia, scientific board ships, etc.
MSU is a center of research science famous for its primary scientific schools. There have been 11 Nobel Prize winners among its professors and alumni, out of 18 Russians who have received the prestigious prize so far. Many more MSU scientists have been awarded various Soviet and Russian prizes for their achievements, including 60 Lenin Prizes and 120 State Prizes, over 40 MSU scientists having received the State Prizes over the last decade.
Several new faculties, departments, and research laboratories have been recently established; new academic programs are being continuously introduced together with new curricula. There are over 140 distance learning programs. Research has recently started in 30 new interdisciplinary areas.
The University's scientific potential creates a unique opportunity for interdisciplinary research and pioneering work in various science branches. The recent years have been marked by high-energy physics, superconductivity, laser technology, mathematics and mechanics, renewable energy sources, biochemistry, and biotechnology. New problems to be studied by scholars often reveal themselves while working on various aspects of sociology, economics, history, psychology, philosophy, and the history of culture. On average, 800 doctoral and 200 higher doctoral degrees in science and humanities are awarded at MSU every year.
Moscow University is a major innovative center. The first Russian Science Park appeared at MSU in the last three years. About 70 small companies have been founded within the Park; they specialize in chemistry and innovative materials, biotechnology, pharmaceutics, ecology and environmental management, and scientific equipment and instruments. The Park unites about 2,000 scientists who work to make scientific achievements into technological innovations, cooperating with business companies to develop innovative technologies. In Scientific Park, the links with leading Russian companies and potential employers of University graduates are established. Another area where links between academics and business have been successfully developing is corporation universities within Moscow University that are innovative approaches to tuition. Accomplished in 2006 - 2007 within the National Educational Project framework, the practical implementation of the approach resulted in 67 innovative Master's Degree programs.
From the engineering and operational perspective, the Moscow University campus is a too complex system. Its 1,000,000 m2 floor area in 1,000 buildings and structures, with its eight dormitories housing over 12,000 students and 300 km of utility lines. Nevertheless, this system has to be modernized and developed for the University to meet the modern requirements both as a center of higher learning and a center of research. According to the plan, approved by the government in 1987, some new buildings are to be erected in the area adjacent to the campus on Vorobievy Gory. Under the project (architect G.N.Tsytovitch), new blocks for a few faculties and state-of-the-art research laboratories are to be constructed, together with a library building, a swimming pool, a stadium, a recreation center, and some services. The Main Library Building was opened in January 2005. The 1st Humanities Building opening ceremony on the new campus was held on September 1, 2007, the new block housing Faculties of History, Public Administration, Philosophy, Political Science. The new Medical Center has been erected on the new campus as well. The "old "campus area has been developed too, the new Economics Building being opened in 2009.
As training highly qualified specialists have always been the primary goal, the faculties and departments regularly revise their curricula and introduce new programs. Several faculties offer 4-year Bachelor's and 2-year Master's Degree programs and traditional 5-year Specialist Degree programs. The stress is currently on students' ability to work independently and meet employers' requirements; this practical experience in the field is of foremost importance. More classes in the Liberal Arts have been recently included in the curricula for science students, lecturers in Arts and Social Sciences giving classes on Russia and other countries' history and culture, philology, economics, law, and art for students of different faculties. The University offers individual programs combining programs and classes at different faculties.
Keeping fit is often essential for satisfactory academic achievement; thus, undergraduates have two obligatory physical training sessions a week; later, they may join one of the sports clubs.
