TSU is the Imperial University in Tomsk established by the decree of Emperor Alexander II for the economic and cultural development of the vast territory of Russia from the Urals to the Far East.

Today TSU is among the 300 leading universities in the world according to the QS World University Rankings (264^th position worldwide and 4^th among Russian universities). In the Round University Ranking Diamond League, TSU holds the 100^th position in the world and the 4^th among Russian universities.

TSU is one of the winners of the Priority 2030 program of strategic academic leadership among Russian universities. In October 2021 the university joined the first group of winners in Research Leadership and was awarded the maximum grant for its development program. Previously, TSU was one of the leaders of the 5-100 state program.

The development program of Tomsk State University for the next ten years is framed around contemporary challenges and correlates with the Strategy for Scientific and Technological Development of the Russian Federation. The university is fully ready for its transformation and integration into the economic and social agenda of the country and the region.

The university target model is built on four pillars. The first is the “breakthrough university”. Along with the training of specialists, the university tackles various industrial tasks from the creation of new medicines to the production of new types of eco-friendly products and biofuels. The second pillar is its focus on meta- and transdisciplinary research. The third pillar is the quality of life and sustainable development, and the fourth is the ecosystem. Large-scale challenges can only be addressed through joint efforts, so the university serves as a communication platform for government, industrial partners, and science.

As a classical university, TSU ensures multilevel training of specialists, provides opportunities for professional reorientation, and designs individual training plans in various areas and specialties.

TSU has a well-developed social infrastructure: modern dormitories, a swimming pool, stadium, and sports building, and summer recreation centers. TSU creative teams are known in the country and abroad – the capella choir, violin ensemble, and jazz orchestra TSU-62.

TSU students and graduates are members of the country’s Olympic team and winners of international and Russian competitions. TSU athletes compete in 20 sports. The university SKAT Scuba Diving Club has a worldwide reputation and includes 20 world champions, 15 European champions.

Tomsk State University is included in the State Code of Especially Valuable Objects of Cultural Heritage of the Peoples of the Russian Federation by the decree of the President of Russia.

TSU has strong relations with leading federal and international universities, as well as with international funds. International partners of TSU include over 100 universities in Europe, Asia, United States, Africa, and Australia.

A quarter of TSU students are international students. The number of students from abroad, especially from the CIS countries and Southeast Asia, is growing annually. In total, students from nearly 70 countries study here.

TSU offers various levels of education: the bachelor’s degree, specialist degree, master’s degree, and PhD studies. The university also conducts campus courses available to all students.

Students may conduct joint research in research laboratories. In addition they have open access to one of the largest university libraries in Russia – the TSU Research Library (more than 4 million copies and subscriptions to all leading databases).

Since 2022, the Big University of Tomsk enables TSU students to have free access to other universities in the city, including sports centers and libraries.

E-learning and distance learning technologies have been introduced into all forms of education at TSU. TSU creates and develops its own EdTech products, thus promoting high-quality education in Russian universities.

More about TSU study programs:

Additional Education

The university offers a wide range of additional courses: online courses, and professional training and advanced training programs. Read more at the link.

In the Employment Promotion federal project, TSU has formed a network of more than 100 partner universities and trains Russian citizens in relevant subject domains. Read more at the link.

TSU has developed a wide array of scientific schools that preserve and foster outstanding research traditions. The achievements of leading schools are included in the golden fund of Russian science and regularly receive numerous grants and awards.

The key development areas of TSU include human sciences, chemical technologies and materials science, radiophysics, robotics, biotechnology, computer sciences, and artificial intelligence technologies. The research findings are jointly used by the university and its partners to create new technologies and tools, ensuring the security of Russia and strengthening its sovereignty.

TSU employs more than 600 doctors of science and more than 1300 candidates of science. There are 32 academicians and corresponding members of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Russian Academy of Education, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, and other state academies, and about 100 members of public academies of the Russian Federation. Six Nobel laureates have worked at TSU at different times.

TSU has 24 dissertation councils. Each year the university trains more than 100 early-career researchers that are in strong demand in science, higher education, and various sectors of the Russian economy due to their high-quality education.

TSU youth traditionally are leaders in the number of presidential and governmental awards in the country. The university also ranks second in the number of medal winners of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

There are several specialized schools that provide training of school students for admission to TSU.

• Center for the Development of Modern Competencies of Children and Youth named after D.I. Mendeleev
• Preparatory courses provided by the Center for Pre-University Training – offline and online courses for successful Basic State and Unified State Exams.
• School of the Young Chemists
• School of Physics and Mathematics
• School of Young Journalists

The Research Library was founded in 1878 and opened along with the Imperial Tomsk University in 1888. It began accepting books before the foundation of the university’s building had been laid. Now it is one of the largest and oldest libraries east of the Urals, its collection consisting of 8 million print and electronic media, with over 126,000 entries belonging to the manuscript and book monuments department (data correct at January 1, 2022).   

Every year, the library is visited by over 200,000 readers; the number of requested print sources can be as high as 300,000; and the electronic resources are used by more than a million people. The library has an information center operating 24/7 and 9 reading rooms with open access to the library collection; a research space available for individual- or group-based work; better customer service thanks to the RIFD technology; and more than 70 resources available by subscription. Language clubs, exhibitions, presentations, seminars, excursions, quests, conferences, strategic sessions, and library forums enjoy continued popularity among the city, university, and professional communities.  

Adherence to the university’s values, a caring attitude towards tradition and cultural heritage, initiative, openness, and an innovative approach are what makes the Research Library not only the go-to place for students, teaching staff, research fellows, and various communities, but also an essential building block in fulfilling Tomsk State University’s “third mission”.   

Siberian Botanical Garden of Tomsk State University is a major scientific and research facility. The part of the botanical garden located in the city (10 ha) comprises a nature reserve park, as well as a greenhouse and orangery on adjacent land. Together they form an ensemble where landscape and architecture are consistent.

The greenhouse and orangery complex consists of 4 orangeries and 2 greenhouses. The greenhouses are divided into 18 sections with varied microclimates.

Additionally, affiliated with the Siberian Botanical Garden is the Ecosystem Dendrologic Territory, with an area of over 100 ha: a spectacular canopy of trees with natural landscapes and homogenous stands that are a treat to the eyes.

The Siberian Botanical Garden includes over 8000 species, forms, and types of plants, among which are 3000 tropical and subtropical plants on display in the garden’s orangeries.

Siberian Botanical Garden’s scope of activities includes research and education, as well as public awareness projects of all sorts.