Founded in 1724, St. Petersburg State University is the oldest institution of higher education in Russia.  During the 285 years of its existence University secured the right to be acknowledged as one of the best institutions of higher education in Russia: its rich history, modern large-scale research activities, development and innovations make University ahead of the curve in the field of Russian science.

Now there are more than 32,000 students at the University getting training in more than 323 specialties at 20 faculties. The University has everything to enjoy studies, hobbies and research: the richest Research Library named after Maksim Gorky, research institutes, museums, the big University publishing house, the University choir of students, graduates and teachers, clubs, etc.

In November 2009, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed a law granting St. Petersburg State University the special status of "a unique scientific and education complex, an oldest institution of higher education in Russia being of a great importance to the development of the Russian society.

The Higher School of Economics (HSE) is a multi-discipline center of study and research, which enjoys effective partnership relations with prestigious foreign universities, international programs and organizations, research consortia and scientific periodicals/editions, foreign companies and transnational corporations.

In addition to the head school in Moscow, the HSE has three campuses are located (Nizhny Novgorod, Perm, and Saint Petersburg). It is actively investing into the development of its branches to ensure their status as leading educational institutions in the regions. Over 16 000 students and 587 doctoral students are studying at the HSE. As per October 1s, 2011,12 109 undergraduates and 2946 master's degree students are enrolled at the HSE only in Moscow.

The HSE is an absolute leader in the academic fields of economics, management, sociology, business informatics, public policy and political science among Russian universities. Its newly established schools have been highly competitive from the start: Public Administration, World Economy and International Affairs, Business Informatics, Philosophy, and Journalism. 

http://www.hse.ru/en/org/hse/info/ - general HSE information in English

http://hse.spb.ru/ - St. Petersburg Branch, official website (in Russian)