ITMO University

ITMO University

ITMO Universityis a major state university in Saint Petersburg and is one of Russia's National Research Universities. ITMO University is one of 15 Russian universities that were selected to participate in Russian Academic Excellence Project 5-100 by the government of the Russian Federation to improve their international competitiveness among the world's leading research and educational centers.

Research priorities of ITMO University are concentrated in information and photonic technologies.

The university consists of 4 main schools, 14 faculties, and a number of institutes and research centers. As of 2020, the total number of students is over 12,500, with 2,450 being foreign nationals In April 2014, the university employed 1,163 instructors, including over 800 PhDs. Many of its staff members and researchers have received government awards and designations of “honored science worker,” the highest in Russia. Vladimir Vasilyev has been the university's Rector since 1996.

The University's birthday is considered to be 26 March 1900, when a Mechanics, Optics and Watchmaking Department was opened in the Prince Nicholas Vocational School. At the time it was the only school in the Russian Empire that prepared specialists in these areas. The first year, some 65 applications were received for 30 places. Eighteen students were admitted to Watchmaking and 18 to Mechanics and Optics sections