Saint Petersburg State University

Saint Petersburg State University (Санкт-Петербургский Государственный Университет) one of the oldest Russian educational institutions, established in the city of Saint Petersburg on January 28, 1724 by decree of Peter the Great. It is also known as Petersburg University, Petrograd University, Leningrad State University, University of St. Petersburg. In the period between 1803 and 1819 the University formally did not exist; the institution founded by Peter the Great - Saint-Petersburg Academy - was already disbanded, whereas the institution that was later used as basis for the Saint Petersburg University was still known as the Main Pedagogical Institute (Главный Педагогический Институт). There is some degree of continuity between the Academy, the Pedagogical Institute and the University. This allows some to claim that the Saint Petersburg State University is the oldest university in Russia.