Our University

V.I. Vernadsky Crimean Federal University is the first Higher Educational establishment in the Crimea. Solomon Krim was the first person who proposed to establish it. A special role is attributed to St. Vladimir Kiev University, which opened its branch in Simferopol, in 1918. Many well-known scientists and scholars took part in its establishment; among them were chemists V.I. Vernadsky and A.A. Baykov, geographer V.A. Obruchev, physicist A.F.Ioffe and others. R.I. Gelvig, a famous anatomist, became the first Rector of Taurida University. Two years later, 4 000 students were trained at the University. In 1920 R.I. Gelvig died of typhus and V.I. Vernadsky was elected as a Rector of the University.

In January 1921, Taurida University was renamed into Frunze Crimean University; on its basis, three higher educational establishments sprang up: Medical, Agricultural, and Teachers’ Training Institutes. In 1972, Crimean Teachers’ Institute was retransformed into Simferopol State University. The University entered its new important phase of life in August 1999, when Ukrainian President L.D. Kuchma decreed to grant the title of a National University to it and to re-establish its original name.

Nowadays 18 departments and preliminary courses of the University train about 18 000 students. This number includes 11 100 full-time students. The whole educational process is conducted by 75 chairs numbering over 700 highly qualified specialists. They promote the scientific research activity. The University also comprises Kerch and Sevastopol Institutes of Economics and Humanities, Training and Consulting Centers in Yalta, Evpatoria, Feodosia, Armiansk, and Sudak.

The main building of the University is in Vernadsky Avenue. The departments of Foreign Philology, Ukrainian Philology, Psychology, Historical department, Physical Training and Oriental Languages are in other buildings of our city. The University has all the necessary facilities for research work including laboratories with modern equipment, computers and libraries. The University library is one of the largest in Crimea. Many professors have enriched the library with their personal collections. Now there are about one million books in it, some of which were printed several centuries ago. The most ancient book is the “Bible” in Latin published in 1482, in Germany. Besides, University has its own Astronomical Observatory, Zoological Museum and unique Herbarium and Botanical Garden.

Full-time and extramural students master 45 specialties. Among them are Biology, Chemistry, History, Mathematics, Physics, Philosophy, Economics, Law, Geography, Russian, Crimean Tatar and also Foreign and Oriental Languages. One foreign language is compulsory for the students of the University. English and German are the most common, though French and even Spanish are also offered.

In achievement and prestige, the University has long been recognized throughout Russia and Europe as one of the greatest universities. Enrollment on the CFU campus is about 5 000 students. CFU has a long history of welcoming international students and the university has a large number of international students. The University has international links with such countries as China, Turkey, Lebanon, Egypt, Palestine, the United States, Germany and others. The region is culturally diverse, social life is lively, varied and exciting. The University is a nationally-and internationally-respected center for education, research and service programs.