Saint Petersburg State University was founded by decree of Peter the Great on 22 January 1724. The famous historian and ethnographer, academician Gerhard Friedrich Müller became the first rector of the University in 1747. A significant contribution to the development of the University was made by Mikhail Lomonosov, who worked here as a rector (1758-1765), a scientist and an academic. In 1747, he also presented the first course in Russian language - Physics.

In 1819, by decree of Alexander I, Saint Petersburg State University was recreated. In the 19th century, numerous world-famous scientific schools and societies developed at the university. Throughout history, new departments have been opened at the university and entire faculties have appeared. By 1941, the university had 10 faculties and 7 research institutes.

At Saint Petersburg State University, students are admitted to bachelor's programs (51 areas, 88 programs), specialist's programs (9 areas, 11 programs), and master's programs (38 areas, 104 programs).

Nowadays, University buildings are located in Vasileostrovsky, Petrodvortsovy, Tsentralny and Admiralteysky districts of Saint Petersburg, as well as in Leningrad Oblast, Belgorod Oblast, Krasnodar Krai and the Republic of Karelia, although historically, the main building of the university was the building of the Twelve Colleges.

The construction of the building of the Twelve Colleges began in 1722 as part of the plan of Emperor Peter I to create a city center on Vasilyevsky Island. The building was supposed to house the Senate, the Synod and the Colleges, and its facade was to face the main square.

The design of the building was created by the architect Domenico Trezzini, but Peter I actively participated the process. It consists of twelve separate buildings, united by one roof. Each building has the same internal architecture and its own entrance.

In the 18th century, the building housed the highest bodies of state administration of that time – “the Collegia” or “Colleges”. After the Colleges had been disbanded, the Main Pedagogical Institute, and then Saint Petersburg University were located in the premises.

The interiors of the buildings of the Twelve Colleges were rebuilt many times. Only the square, double-height Petrovsky Hall retained its original decoration.

The former glassed-in arcade now forms the university corridor, famous for its length and extensive library of rare books.

Currently, the building of the Twelve Colleges houses a number of museums: the Museum of the History of Saint Petersburg State University, the Mineralogical Museum, the Paleontological Museum, as well as the Saint Petersburg State University Botanical Garden, a park with sculptural compositions and a rock garden.

You can buy a ticket to visit one of the museums or register for an excursion on the website - https://pay.spbu.ru/museum/