Ural Federal University

Year found: 1920
Legal form: State
Country: Russia
Awards: Bachelor Degree
                     Specialist Degree
                     Master Degree
                     Doctoral Programmes 
City: Ekaterinburg
Study language: Russian, English

Ural Federal University (UrFU) is one of the top ranked scientific centres in Russia carrying out out research in natural, formal, technical, social sciences, humanities and arts, economics and management.  It is the oldest higher educational institution in the Ural region bringing together fundamental education and practical application of knowledge. During its 93-year history more than 300 000 people graduated from the University; it has become the leader in higher professional education in the region and one of the leading universities in Russia. Since 2008 it bears the name of Boris Yeltsin, the first President of Russia, being the University’s graduate of 1955.

In 2009 the University was awarded the federal status. In 2011 Ural Federal University merged with Ural State University. Consolidation of two oldest universities in the region resulted in the substantial increase in the University’s international reputation and positions in rankings; the university is ranked among 550 top world universities according to QS World University Rankings-2013.

There are more than 50 000 students in 17 UrFU Institutes, including 25 000 full-time students. The number of PhD students is 500, the number of doctoral students equals to 20.

The highly-qualified academic staff of Ural Federal University includes 4 000 people; among them there are 600 professors, Doctors of Sciences, about 2000 Associate Professors, PhDs, 26 members of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Visiting professors from the leading Russian and foreign universities, experienced specialists in different fields, renowned cultural and political figures come to UrFU to deliver lectures and seminars.

Ural Federal University is a state university which receives funding from two main sources - the state budget and the income from tuition fees and delivering research services. Ural University is the core of the research cluster comprising scientific institutes of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, specialized laboratories and high-tech enterprises. Research complex of the University includes dozens of research centres, the Innovation Infrastructure, Research Library (the library stock includes more than 3 mln volumes) and a number of museums and collections.

In 2013 Ural Federal University entered the list of 15 Russian universities that won in a competitive selection for the right to receive special subsidy targeted at enhancing the global competitiveness of the university and increasing its positions in the international rankings. In October 2013 the Roadmap that will allow UrFU to enter the top-100 of world universities by 2020 was officially approved.

The University takes part in a number of international projects financed by state organizations and non-governmental foundations of the Russian Federation, European Union and USA. It is a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization`s Network University, CIS Network University and the University of the Arctic. 

The University`s extensive sports facilities provide opportunities for more than 30 sports teams to train and compete.

Ural Federal University is not only a place for study, but as well a place for creative development. There are more than 30 artistic groups at UrFU. Every two years the University holds one of the largest student festivals in Russia - "Spring UPI at Ural Federal". Student years at UrFU are a time for getting exciting knowledge and living an exciting life.

Ekaterinburg

Ekaterinburg is one of the largest cities of the Russian Federation. It is an administrative capital of the Sverdlovsk Region and the Ural Federal District. Nowadays the city is an important centre of industry, transport, finance, science and culture.

The city was founded in 1723 and is situated in the heart of the Eurasian continent, on the border of Europe and Asia and in the middle of the Ural Mountain Range. Geographical coordinates of the city are 56º 51 North latitude and 60º 36 East longitude. It is located on the eastern slope of the Ural Mountains along the Iset River (the tributary of the Tobol River).

Total area of Ekaterinburg is 491 square kilometers.

The city is at 1667 kilometers distance away from Moscow and at 7635 kilometers distance away from Vladivostok. The time zone of Ekaterinburg is UTC+6 (two hours ahead of Moscow and six hours ahead of Greenwich). A flight from Moscow to Ekaterinburg takes two hours, while a train trip takes 25 hours.

For January 1st, 2013, the population of the Ural capital is 1 424 702 people.

The city features a temperate continental climate with characteristic weather instability with brightly expressed seasons. Average temperature in January is -16ºC, in July - +18ºC. The Ural Mountains could not be called very high, nevertheless they block the way to air masses coming from the West (from the European part of the country). Due to its location the city is not protected from the arctic air and considerably cool air from the West Siberian Plain. However, warm air masses come here unhindered from the South. That is why both sharp temperature changes and weather anomalies are typical in Ekaterinburg. Weather can change from severe frosts to thaws in winter and from extreme heat to cold weather and rains in summer.

Master degrees in English:

Intellectual property management (Knowledge engineering and intellectual  property management) 

Civil Engineering (Safety of Construction Critical Infrastructures and Territories)

IT management (IT innovations in business)

Mechanical Engineering and Management (Sustainability and Innovative development of the knowledge-intensive productions)

Professional Sport management (High performance sport)

UrFU Campus includes 14 educational buildings and 15 dormitories; now a final stage of construction of a new dormitory for 1 000 students is being completed. The University’s infrastructure also includes health camps and a recreation centre.

Ural Federal University has strong global connections; internationalization is one of the University’s top priorities. UrFU has established partnerships with over 150 foreign universities; the University actively participates in international network projects:  CIS University, SCO University, University of the Arctic (UArctic), Association of Sino-Russian Technical Universities.

Over 1,000 foreign students from 36 countries are currently enrolled at Ural Federal University.  The majority of our international students come from Central Asia, China, Mongolia, Korea, Vietnam, Guinea.  The University holds annual international summer schools devoted to Russian language and culture, economics and management.   

Annually more than 150 UrFU students and researchers go abroad within academic mobility programs. There is a local group of the Board of European Students of Technology (BEST) at UrFU; activities of BEST group allow UrFU students to participate in short-term courses at European universities 4 times a year. 

UrFU scientists participate in international research funding programs such as the EU`s  Seventh Framework Program (FP7),   Open Society Institute`s International Higher Education Support Program (HESP),  and Regional Seminar for Excellence in Teaching (ReSET). Our specialists implement a whole range of applied research projects collaborating with their partners from Germany, USA, South Korea etc.

Ural Federal University is pursuing greater understanding of other cultures and places.  It is the meeting point of various world cultures. In 2008 a unique Centre of Chinese language and culture – the Confucius Institute – was established on the basis of UrFU Institute of Social and Political Sciences. In 2013 the Thai Cultural Centre was officially opened in the University.

Annually Ural Federal University is visited by more than 100 foreign delegations representing the leading world universities, diplomatic structures and major companies and enterprises.

Master courses in ENGLISH:

Intellectual property management (Knowledge engineering and intellectual  property management)  USD 3700 per year

Civil Engineering (Safety of Construction Critical Infrastructures and Territories) USD 3700 per year

IT management (IT innovations in business)  USD 3550 per year

Mechanical Engineering and Management (Sustainability and Innovative development of the knowledge-intensive productions)  USD 3670 per year

Professional Sport management (High performance sport)  USD 2630 per year