Product Design, Manufacturing & Innovation Resources

Home » Ivan Franko National University of Lviv (LNU)

Ivan Franko National University of Lviv (LNU)

Ukraine

Address: 1 Universytetska St, Lviv, 79000, Ukraine

Physics, Chemistry, Applied Mathematics

Founded in 1661, LNU is one of the oldest universities in Eastern Europe. It s a classical university with strong programs in natural sciences (physics, chemistry, biology), mathematics, and applied physics & nanotechnologies.

Ivan Franko National University of Lviv is one of the oldest universities in Eastern Europe. King John II Casimir Vasa of Poland granted it the status of a university in 1661, building on a Jesuit college of the late sixteenth century. It has about 22,000 students and 3,500 staff. The main building, at 1 Universytetska Street, was the seat of the Galician Diet, the provincial assembly of the Austrian period, and it was given to the university in 1920. It stands opposite a park in the centre of Lviv.

The university took the name of the writer Ivan Franko in 1940. Franko studied at the university in the 1870s, and the historian Mykhailo Hrushevsky held the chair of Ukrainian history from 1894. Under the Austrian Empire, Lviv University was a centre of the Ukrainian and Polish national movements, and the first Ukrainian-language lectures were given in the nineteenth century. The mathematical school of Lviv, with Stefan Banach and Hugo Steinhaus, was connected to the city’s universities.

Today the university has about seventeen faculties, among them applied mathematics and informatics, mechanics and mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, geology, geography, philology, history, philosophy, law, economics, journalism, foreign languages, culture and arts, and international relations. It runs a botanical garden and a number of museums, and the scientific library, founded in the seventeenth century, holds a large collection of rare books and manuscripts.

Ukrainian applicants enter through the national multi-subject test and compete for state-funded places or pay contract fees. Foreign students normally pay a contract fee, and many begin with a preparatory year in Ukrainian. Fees vary by programme, so check the current tariff. Teaching is in Ukrainian, with a number of programmes in English. Since 2022, teaching has been adapted to wartime conditions, with a mix of online and in-person classes, so check the current situation before applying.

Lviv is a historic city, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with cafes, theatres and a lively student life. Living costs are lower than in Kyiv, and dormitories are available.

Domains taught:

Chemistry, Ecology and Sustainability, Life Sciences, Mathematics, Nanotechnologies, Physics, Software Engineering

Diplomas*:

Bachelor, Doctor, Master

Status:

Public

Partnerships:

Member of numerous international university networks; collaborations with over 150 universities worldwide.

Research:

Research in theoretical physics, materials science, organic chemistry, biotechnology, environmental studies, and computer modeling.

Famous Alumnis:

Ivan Franko, Stanislaw Lem, Rudolf Weigl

International recognition**:

Number of staff***:

3500

Current students***:

22000

Foreign students***:

Cumulative former students***:

280000

Pros

Historic university with a strong academic reputation, broad range of scientific disciplines, located in a major cultural hub.

Cons

Some older infrastructure, competition for popular science programs.

Best For

Natural Sciences and Mathematics

Most Similar Schools Locally

In terms of fields, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv is the nearest neighbour, with nanotechnologies, chemistry and ecology and sustainability again at the core; it is slightly larger, at about 26,000 students against roughly 22,000 here, and is also a public institution.
Both schools build their programmes around chemistry, ecology and sustainability and physics, and Volyn Lesya Ukrainka National University is the one to compare first within the country, since it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral.
Where this university leans on chemistry, ecology and sustainability and physics, Odesa National University does the same, and it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral.
Both schools build their programmes around chemistry, ecology and sustainability and physics, and Kamianets-Podilskyi Ivan Ohiienko National University is the one to compare first within the country, since it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral.
Anyone who wants a second school in the same country with a similar spread of chemistry, ecology and sustainability and physics can consider Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University, and it is smaller, enrolling about 12,000 students against roughly 22,000 here, and is also a public institution.

Most Similar Schools Abroad

On content, Saint Petersburg State University in Russia and this university are close, as both teach nanotechnologies, chemistry and physics; it is also a public institution, and runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.
Abroad, University of Szeged (Hungary) covers chemistry, physics and mathematics in a comparable way, and it covers microbiology and genetics and optics as well, and has almost the same size, at about 22,693 students.
University of Regensburg offers an international parallel to this university, with chemistry, physics and mathematics as common ground; it covers microbiology and genetics and data analytics as well, and has almost the same size, at about 21,088 students.
Students considering a move abroad can look at Lomonosov Moscow State University in Russia, where chemistry, physics and mathematics also form the core, and it is larger, enrolling about 45,000 students against roughly 22,000 here, and is also a public institution.
The closest overseas parallel on chemistry, physics and mathematics is Charles University, located in the Czech Republic; it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral.

*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.

FAQ

Where is Ivan Franko National University of Lviv?

At 1 Universytetska Street in Lviv, Ukraine.

When was it founded?

King John II Casimir Vasa granted it university status in 1661, building on a Jesuit college of the late sixteenth century.

How large is it?

About 22,000 students and 3,500 staff.

What was the main building before?

The seat of the Galician Diet, the provincial assembly of the Austrian period.

Who is it named after?

The writer Ivan Franko, who studied there in the 1870s. The name was given in 1940.

Who held the chair of Ukrainian history?

Mykhailo Hrushevsky, from 1894.

What does it teach?

Mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, geology, philology, history, philosophy, law, economics, journalism and international relations.

How do foreign students enter?

They normally pay a contract fee, and many begin with a preparatory year in Ukrainian. Check the current tariff.

In which language are courses taught?

Mainly in Ukrainian, with a number of programmes in English.

How has the war affected teaching?

Since 2022, teaching has been adapted with a mix of online and in-person classes. Check the current situation before applying.

Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Impact, Materials Science, Mathematics, Physics, Research and Development

> search our World Universities Directory here <

*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.

**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:

known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications

***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.

Innovation.world is not affiliated with this school/university.
We recommend to contact them directly on their website for any special request.

To complete or correct any information here or share your opinion, please comment below or > send us a direct message <.