Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University The Kazan Federal University (KFU)

The oldest and most popular higher education institution in Russia is Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University (KFU). This is a state institution, which was founded in 1804 on the initiative of Emperor Alexander I. In the period of its activity, the Kazan Federal University has repeatedly changed its name. Only in 2010 he regained his original historical name. The main building of the university is territorially located in the city of Kazan.

At the moment, the Kazan Federal University is the largest university that prepares specialists of different directions. Currently, in the national ranking it takes the 12th position, and in the international ranking - 611. Teaching of the disciplines is at a high level. Humanities are in great demand from applicants.

KFU unites a wide network of institutes covering the main fields of knowledge:

• Institute of Mathematics and Mechanics named after N.I. Lobachevsky;
• Institute of Physics;
• Butlerov Chemistry Institute;
• Institute of Computational Mathematics and Information Technologies;
• Institute of Information Technologies and Intelligent Systems;
• Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Systems Engineering;
• Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology;
• Institute of Ecology, Biotechnology and Nature Management;
• Institute of Geology and Oil and Gas Technologies;
• Faculty of Law;
• Institute of Management, Economics and Finance;
• Higher School of Public and Municipal Administration;
• Institute of Philology and Intercultural Communication;
• Institute of International Relations, History and Oriental Studies;
• Institute of Social and Philosophical Sciences and Mass Communications;
• Institute of Psychology and Education;
• Institute of Design and Spatial Arts;
• Higher School of Pedagogical Excellence;
• Preparatory Faculty for Foreign Students.

Programs are offered at the bachelor's, specialist, master's and postgraduate levels. Continuing education is provided through the Institute of Continuing Education and specialized centers.

KFU holds strong positions in leading international rankings and has received a number of authoritative recognitions:

• 3 stars in the QS Stars rating — based on the audit by Quacquarelli Symonds Limited (United Kingdom),
• inclusion in the State Register of Particularly Valuable Cultural Heritage Objects of the Peoples of the Russian Federation (Presidential Decree, 1996),
• membership in EURAS — since 2006,
• membership in the American Association for Higher Education Accreditation — since 2011,
• membership in the Association of University Administrators — since 2011,
• participation in the federal program «Priority 2030».

Within the walls of Kazan University, several scientific schools of global significance were born: non-Euclidean geometry (Lobachevsky), organic chemistry (Butlerov, Zinin, Klaus, Zaytsev), radio spectroscopy (Zavoisky). Over more than 200 years, the university has trained eighty full members and corresponding members of the country's Academy of Sciences.

• Kazan University was founded in 1804 — it is one of the oldest universities in Russia.
• The main building with its classical facade and three porticos, erected by architect P.G. Pyatnitsky in the 1820s, has survived to this day and is the architectural landmark of central Kazan.
• In 1842, aniline was synthesized within the university's walls — a substance that became the foundation of modern pharmaceutics and the dyeing industry.
• In 1844, Kazan scientist K.K. Klaus discovered a new chemical element — ruthenium, naming it in honor of Russia.
• In 1944, the phenomenon of electron paramagnetic resonance was recorded for the first time in the world at KFU — a discovery applied today in MRI and EPR spectroscopy.
• The student campus Derevnya Universady accommodates over 9,000 people from more than 100 countries and has been recognized as the best student campus in Russia.

KFU has one of the largest student campuses in Russia — the Universiade Village in the Privolzhsky district of Kazan. It consists of 21 residential buildings with 2-, 3-, and 4-person rooms.

On-campus accommodation is provided to all full-time students — both those on state-funded places and those studying on a paid basis. The campus has sports facilities and a psychological support service. A dedicated adaptation department operates for international students, assisting with housing, medical insurance, and any questions related to staying at the university.

Extracurricular life at KFU is rich and varied. The Student Club unites more than 30,000 participants and includes over 104 creative groups in the following areas: choreography, vocals, theater, KVN, media, and original genre. In 2023, the KFU Student Club won the All-Russian competition for the best organization of creative activities in higher education institutions. From 2011 to 2022, the university was awarded the «Grand Prix» of the republican festival «Student Spring of the Republic of Tatarstan» every year.

The KFU Student Sports Club participates in competitions at the municipal, federal, and international levels. Among its notable achievements are 1st place at the All-Russian Student Sports Festival «Our Choice — Sport!» (2019) and victories at the All-Russian Club Tournament of ASSK Russia. Students have access to the cultural and sports complex «UNIKS», the sports complexes «Bustan» and «Moskva», and the health and recreation center «Yalchik».

The university also hosts a student trade union organization (more than 22,000 members) and a psychological support service.

Among the KFU graduates there are a large number of students who after the graduation from the university became famous throughout the world. These are well-known scientists, writers, politicians, academicians, etc. Among the celebrated personalities it is worth noting:

• Nikolai Ivanovich Lobachevsky (Russian mathematician, one of the creators of non-Euclidean geometry);
• Vladimir Ilyich Lenin (revolutionary, major theorist of Marxism, Soviet political and statesman, creator of the Russian Social-Democratic Labor Party, chief organizer and head of the October Revolution);
• Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy (writer and thinker, participant in the defense of Sevastopol);
• Alexander Mikhailovich Butlerov (chemist, creator of the theory of the chemical structure of organic substances);
• Nikolai Nikolaevich Zinin (an organic chemist, academician of the Petersburg Academy of Sciences, the first president of the Russian Chemical Society);
• Alexander Mikhailovich Zaitsev (an organic chemist, corresponding member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences);
• Ivan Yakovlevich Yakovlev (Chuvash enlightener, Orthodox missionary, teacher, organizer of public schools, the creator of the new Chuvash alphabet and textbooks of Chuvash and Russian for Chuvashes, writer, translator, folklorist);
• Alexander Romanovich Luria (Soviet psychologist, founder of national neuropsychology);
• Nikolai Alexandrovich Semashko (Soviet party and statesman, doctor, one of the organizers of the health care system in the USSR).

Such a list of outstanding graduates can be continued. All of them have made a great contribution to the development of their fields of activity.

The main buildings of the Kazan Federal University are located in the center of Kazan, not far from the Kremlin. The remaining buildings are located in Tatarstan, Karachaevo-Cherkessia, Karelia, Samara Region and the Republic of Mari El.

The university has the following divisions:

• Lyceum them. NI Lobachevsky;
• IT-lyceum of KFU;
• Institute of Continuing Education;
• Graduate School of Business;
• Corporate University of Sberbank;
• Botanical Garden;
• Astronomical observatories;
• Center for Analytical Microscopy;
• Scientific and educational center of pharmaceutics;
• Faculty of advanced education of personnel for universities;
• Preparatory faculty for foreign students;
• Science Library;
• Publishing house;
• Museum of University History;
• Center for Innovation;
• Media Center CFU UNIVER TV channel UNIVER TV;
• Cultural and sports complex "Unix";
• Sports and health camps;
• The sports complex "Moscow";
• Dormitories (designed for 13,000 places);
• Research laboratories.

On the basis of the university there are various student collectives and associations. These are public organizations, both creative and sports. Students of this institution constantly participate in various olympiads and contests. Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University has everything you need to create a pleasant atmosphere in both education and accommodation.

The university is a participant in such well-known programs as IREX, Fulbright, USIA, DAAD, TEMPUS, INCO-Copernicus, Eurasia and others.

In order to enter the Federal University in Kazan (Volga Region), the entrant must pass the exam. Enrollment is based on its results. The competition is not very strict: two people usually claim one place. In total, the university has more than 30,000 students and 4,000 teachers. The share of foreign citizens is about 5%. The University maintains partnership relations with 40 international institutions. Due to this, students can get a part of the education in another institution through an exchange program.

The school year is traditionally divided into two semesters. For studying under the Bachelor / Master program you will have to pay about 3000 USD / year. The University has about 32 specialties in the preparation of students. Plus, the institution has at its disposal a wide range of institutions and branches.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision