This year, Saratov State University celebrates its 100 years' anniversary. Saratov State University is one of the oldest Russian universities that was founded by the Emperor’s Decree on June 10, 1909. In June 1909 the State Duma confirmed the decree, which was later on acknowledged by the Emperor Nicholas II. In December 1909 the foundation stone of Saratov University was laid. The Imperial Nicholas’ University (Saratov State University named after N.G. Chernyshevsky since October 1923) has become the source of economic, cultural, and spiritual development of the Lower Volga region and South-Eastern region of Russia.

The rector of Saratov State University – Leonid Yurievich Kossovich is the Laureate of the State Award, Doctor of physical and mathematical sciences, professor, and academician of the Russian Academy of natural sciences. His scientific interests include asymptotic methods, vibrations and distribution of non-stationary waves, dynamics of the thin-walled elastic and viscoelastic structures, and biomechanics. In 2003 and 2008 Professor Kossovich was elected rector of Saratov State University named after N.G. Chernyshevsky.

In the course of the last decades Saratov State University has become one of the most prominent Russian universities. The Volga Region Center of New Information Technologies was founded within the framework of SSU. It embodies the best achievements of modern information and communication technologies and serves as the information system development base of Saratov and Saratov region. In 1998 by the order of the Russian Ministry of Education Saratov and Balashov teacher training colleges, technical school of radio electronics, and polytechnic school were integrated into the body of Saratov State University. This is how the university complex (multiversity )has started its development.

Saratov State University can boast five educational institutes, thirteen departments, two colleges, various scientific and research institutions and a strong infrastructure. Among the new departments are the Philosophy and Psychology department, Sociology department, department of Computer Sciences and Information Technologies, department of Nano- and Bio-medical Technologies, Economics and Law Departments (that were restored). Some of the oldest departments of Saratov State University were transformed into Institutes. Among them are Institute of History and International Relations, Institute of Philology and Journalism, and Institute of Chemistry. There are more than 30.000 students and over 4.000 staff members at Saratov State University.

The university structure includes the Regional Scientific Library, publishing house, botanical garden, scientific research branch, Research Institute of Natural Sciences, the largest national Educational Scientific Institute of Nanostructures and Biosystems, Volga Region Center of New Information Technologies, computer center, Regional Center of Computer Technologies in Industry, industrial park, three Centers of Technology Transfer, Center of Collective Access, patent agency, Center of Enterprise Development, business incubator, affiliated branches of Russian Academy of Sciences’ institutes, departments and laboratories. Saratov State University is one of the few national educational institutions that has a REC “Non-linear dynamics and biophysics” within its framework. In 2007 Saratov State University won the contest of innovative educational projects. This victory presented the university with new financial opportunities that helped to develop every sphere of university’s professional education, as well as stimulate university’s progress in educational, scientific, research, pedagogic, and social affairs. This victory helped to implement innovative educational projects on the regional scale.

Being the largest regional scientific research center, the university steadily increases the intensity and efficiency of its scientific and research activities. Fundamental and applied research is carried out in 39 areas of the main scientific branches, including the top-priority lines of development of the Russian Federation science, technology, and engineering. Saratov State University in association with the regional government, under the auspices of the Federal Agency of Education successfully initiated and held four Inventions, Innovations and Investments Salons.

The students are actively involved into the scientific and research activities. The level of preparation of SSU’s students is internationally-recognized. In 2006 SSU team came first and became world champions in the Programming World Cup in the USA, where they were among 700 teams from various international universities. In 2007 the same team received silver medals in Japan.

Over 290 members of the faculty are Doctors of Sciences. Among the leading university professors are 13 Honored Workers of Science of the Russian Federation, 3 Correspondent Members of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 10 Laureates of the State and International awards. The number of PhD degree holders has exceeded 900. There is a graduate school at Saratov State University with 81 specialities and an institution of doctoral candidacy with 20 specialities.

Saratov State University presents educational programs of three various levels. These are high school, undergraduate, and post-graduate professional education programs. There are 23 specialities for high school professional programs, 79 specialities for undergraduate professional education, three master’s programs, seventeen bachelor’s programs, and thirteen programs of extended education. The implemented educational programs are included into nineteen big groups of specialities. Among them are 30 natural sciences and mathematics programs, 13 technical programs, 10 socio-economic programs, 20 liberal arts programs, 23 pedagogical programs, 1 art and culture program, 1 information security program, and 1 service sector program.

Saratov State University’s international activity has been strongly developing in the course of the last years. SSU has multidimensional contacts with 56 European, Asian, and American universities. SSU is home to the largest national Center of Turkish Language and Culture. SSU’s international activity is changing its concept; separate programs and contacts with the university’s international partners are transforming into systems of relations. SSU is the strategic partner of Colorado University. SSU’s connections with Turkish universities are supported at the intergovernmental level and present three major directions: education export, cooperative educational activity, and cooperative scientific activity. State Educational Institution of Higher Professional Education

Saratov State University named after N.G. Chernyshevsky

410012 Saratov

Astrakhanskaya street, 83

Telephone: (845-2) 26-16-96

Fax: (845-2) 27-85-29;