Address: 1 Pirogova Street, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science
Founded in 1958, NSU is a leading research university located in Akademgorodok, a Siberian science hub. It s known for its strong emphasis on science, close ties with the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and innovative educational programs.
Novosibirsk State University, NSU, was founded in 1958 in Akademgorodok, a science town about 25 kilometres south of Novosibirsk, in the middle of a pine and birch forest on the shore of the Ob reservoir. The mathematician Mikhail Lavrentyev, the physicist Gersh Budker and the chemist Nikolay Koptyug were behind the project of building a scientific centre in Siberia. The university has about 8,000 students and 5,000 staff, and around one student in ten comes from abroad.
NSU was created to train researchers for the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, which has dozens of institutes in Akademgorodok. Students attend lectures at the university and do laboratory work in neighbouring institutes, such as the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics, the Institute of Cytology and Genetics, the Institute of Mathematics and the Institute of Chemical Kinetics. Many professors are active researchers, and the line between teaching and research is thin.
The main fields are mathematics and mechanics, physics, natural sciences, information technology, geology and geophysics, economics, humanities and medicine. NSU produces a large share of Russian researchers in physics and mathematics, and it has a tradition of holding olympiads. A specialised school attached to the university, now called the Specialised Educational and Scientific Centre, prepares gifted pupils from across Siberia.
Russian applicants enter by the Unified State Exam, olympiad results and the university’s own tests, with state-funded places and paid places. Foreign students can come through the government quota scholarship system or pay tuition. Fees vary by programme, so check the current tariff. Teaching is in Russian, with a limited number of programmes in English. Since 2022, academic exchanges with institutions abroad have changed, so check the current status of agreements.
Akademgorodok is quiet and green, with a high proportion of scientists among its residents. Winters are long and cold, with temperatures far below zero, and the city of Novosibirsk, the third largest in Russia, is reached by bus.
Domains taught:
AI and Machine Learning, Chemistry, Computer Vision, Life Sciences, Mathematics, Physics, Software Engineering
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Strong collaboration with research institutes of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences; international exchange programs and partnerships with universities in Asia, Europe, and North America.
Research:
Cutting-edge research in fundamental and applied sciences, particularly particle physics, IT, chemistry, biology, and medicine. Integrated with numerous research institutes.
Famous Alumnis:
Efim Zelmanov, Vladimir Zakharov
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
5000
Current students***:
8000
Foreign students***:
10%
Cumulative former students***:
80000
Pros
Close integration with world-class research institutes, high-quality science education, strong focus on research and innovation, located in a dedicated science city.
Cons
Relatively young compared to older Russian universities, located far from European Russia, can be very specialized.
Best For
Natural sciences and research in a dedicated science environment
Lomonosov Moscow State University offers a comparable education in computer vision, chemistry and physics: it is far larger, with about 45,000 students against roughly 8,000 here, and is also a public institution.
Both schools build their programmes around computer vision, physics and mathematics, and Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology is the one to compare first within the country, since it covers aerospace and nanotechnologies as well, and is slightly smaller, at about 7,000 students against roughly 8,000 here.
Saint Petersburg State University offers a comparable education in chemistry, physics and mathematics: it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral.
Kemerovo State University overlaps with this institution on chemistry, physics and mathematics, so the two are easy to compare, and it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral.
Also strong in chemistry, physics and mathematics, Smolensk State University makes a sensible second look at home; it is slightly smaller, at about 7,000 students against roughly 8,000 here, and is also a public institution.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
University of Szeged, based in Hungary, is built around chemistry, physics and mathematics much like this institution, and it covers microbiology and genetics and optics as well, and is larger, enrolling about 22,693 students against roughly 8,000 here.
Abroad, V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University (Ukraine) covers chemistry, physics and mathematics in a comparable way, and it covers electrical and electronics and materials as well, and is larger, enrolling about 15,000 students against roughly 8,000 here.
For a study option in Germany with a comparable spread of chemistry, physics and mathematics, University of Regensburg is the reference point: it covers microbiology and genetics and data analytics as well, and is larger, enrolling about 21,088 students against roughly 8,000 here.
Ivan Franko National University of Lviv in Ukraine shares the chemistry, physics and mathematics orientation of this university, and it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral.
Seen from abroad, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (Germany) is a close relative on subject matter, since chemistry, physics and mathematics are central to both, and it runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes, and covers microbiology and genetics and data analytics as well.
*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 NSU?
At 1 Pirogova Street in Akademgorodok, near Novosibirsk, Russia.
When was it founded?
In 1958.
What is Akademgorodok?
A science town about 25 kilometres south of Novosibirsk, home to many institutes of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
How large is NSU?
About 8,000 students and 5,000 staff.
Who founded the science centre?
Mikhail Lavrentyev, Gersh Budker and Nikolay Koptyug, among others.
How do students do research?
They attend lectures at the university and work in laboratories of the neighbouring institutes.
What does NSU teach?
Mathematics, physics, natural sciences, information technology, geology, economics, humanities and medicine.
How do foreign students enter?
Through the government quota scholarship system or by paying tuition. Check the current tariff.
In which language are courses taught?
Mainly in Russian, with a limited number of programmes in English.
What is the climate like?
Winters are long and very cold.
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Biology, Chemistry, Innovation, Mathematics, Physics, Research and Development
*: 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.
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