Lomonosov University

Lomonosov Moscow State University

Московский государственный университет имени М. В. Ломоносова
Coat of arms of the Lomonosov State University of Moscow
Motto	Наука есть ясное познание истины, просвещение разума
Motto in English	Science is clear learning of truth and enlightenment of mind
Type	Public
Established	1755 (1755)
Rector	Viktor Sadovnichiy
Academic staff	5,000
Students	47,000
Undergraduates	40,000
Postgraduates	7,000 (estimate)
Location	Moscow, Russia
Campus	Urban
Affiliations	Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs Institutional Network of the Universities from the Capitals of Europe International Forum of Public Universities
Website	www.msu.ru
Building details
Главное здание МГУ (ГЗ МГУ)
General information
Location	Moscow, Russia
Coordinates	55°42′14″N 37°31′43″E / 55.703935°N 37.52867°E / 55.703935; 37.52867Coordinates: 55°42′14″N 37°31′43″E / 55.703935°N 37.52867°E / 55.703935; 37.52867
Completed	1953
Height
Architectural	240 m (787 ft)
Top floor	214 m (702 ft)
Technical details
Floor count	42
Floor area	1,000,000 m2 (10,763,910.417 sq ft)

Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU; Russian: Московский государственный университет имени М. В. Ломоносова, often abbreviated МГУ) is a coeducational and public research university located in Moscow, Russia. It was founded on January 25, 1755 by Mikhail Lomonosov. MSU was renamed after Lomonosov in 1940 and was then known as Lomonosov University. It also claims to house the tallest educational building in the world. It is rated among the universities with the best reputation in the world. Its current rector is Viktor Sadovnichiy.

Ivan Shuvalov and Mikhail Lomonosov promoted the idea of a university in Moscow, and Russian Empress Elizabeth decreed its establishment on January 25 [O.S. January 12] 1755. The first lectures were given on April 26th. Russians still celebrate January 25th as Students' Day.

Saint Petersburg State University and Moscow State University engage in friendly rivalry over the title of Russia's oldest university. Though Moscow State University was founded in 1755, its competitor in St. Petersburg has had a continuous existence as a "university" since 1819 and sees itself as the successor of an academy established on January 24, 1724, by a decree of Peter the Great.

The present Moscow State University originally occupied the Principal Medicine Store on Red Square from 1755 to 1787. Catherine the Great transferred the University to a Neoclassical building on the other side of Mokhovaya Street; that main building was constructed between 1782 and 1793 in the Neo-Palladian style, to a design by Matvei Kazakov, and rebuilt by Domenico Giliardi after the fire consumed much of Moscow in 1812.