Voronezh State University » About Us » History

Voronezh State University is one of Russia’s leading public research universities whose history can be traced back to 1802.

In 1802 following a decree of Russian Emperor Alexander I Yuriev (Derpt) University in Estonia was established. The German occupation of Estonia during the First World War necessitated the relocation of Yuriev university to Central Russia and the City of Voronezh was chosen as a suitable location.

In 1918 the University staff and students moved from Yuriev (currently Tartu) to Voronezh, hence its new name – Voronezh State University.

Voronezh State University is currently one of the country’s most renowned universities and it prides itself on being the largest research university in the Central Black Earth Region of the Russian Federation.

Voronezh State University is based in the centre of Voronezh, home to over 120,000 students and one of Russia’s liveliest and most welcoming cities.

The university comprises 18 faculties, 16 research laboratories, 10 research and development centres and a university library which houses more than 3 000 000 books, periodicals and manuscripts.