The Moscow State University of Civil Engineering

In the Russian Federation young people can get construction education in specialized higher educational institutions and building departments of polytechnics and technical universities. The leading higher school in this field is the Moscow State University of Civil Engineering. It is an acknowledged centre of science and construction education in Russia.

The Moscow State University of Civil Engineering (MGSU) was established in 1921. Until 1993 it was known as the Moscow Civil Engineering Institute (MISI).

Many prominent scholars, architects and construction engineers have worked in the educational institution such as Academicians V.P. Obraztsov, V.I. Vesnin, I.M. Rerberg, I.G. Alexandrov and others. V.A. Vesnin was President of the USSR Academy of Architecture in 1938-1949, he took part in the construction of the Dnepropetrovsk Hydroelectric Power Station. I.M. Rerberg participated in the creation of the Kiev Railway Station, the Central Telegraph building in Moscow. I.G. Alexandrov was one of the creators of the GOELRO plan. The university experts and scientists took part in the construction the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, the Sberbank building, the Manezhnay Ploshchad Shopping Centre and other famous unique structures.

The Moscow State University of Civil Engineering trains specialists for the building industries of Russia and other countries. Different construction specialists for 97 foreign countries have graduated from the university. The MGSU Diploma in Industrial and Civil Engineering is recognized world-wide.

At present, MGSU has 9 faculties with 8000 undergraduate full-time students, 1600 part-time students and more than 500 postgraduate students, including more than 200 students from 35 foreign countries.

The university has recently opened a number of new up-to-date specializations in all faculties. Among them are Architecture and Design; Restoration of Architectural Heritage; Safety of Buildings; Underground Structures; City Ecology; Urban and District Planning; Property Surveying; Maintenance of Water Supply Systems; Ecology of Building Materials Production; Technology, Economics and Organization of Building Materials Production; Maintenance of Engineering Systems in Residential Areas; Management in Construction; Air Pollution Control; Utilization and Protection of Water Resources; Hydrosphere Protection and Water Resources Ecology; Management in Mechanization and Automation of Construction; Automation of Technological Processes, Building Machines and Equipment; Project Management.

There are 61 departments with 1300 teaching staff, including 65 Full and Corresponding Members of the Russian and International Academies of Science, 130 Doctors and 700 Candidates of Science, 140 Professors and 100 Associate Professors. MGSU is authorized to provide services in surveying, design and engineering for state construction programs. The University scientific library has more than 1,000,000 volumes both in Russian and foreign languages, including more than 700,000 teaching aids. The educational establishment is equipped with modern machines and computers.

The University enrolls students for the full-time tuition and postgraduate courses. The term of training is as follows: Engineer – 5 years, Bachelor of Science – 4 years, Master of Science – 2 years, Philosophy Doctor and Doctor of Science – 3 years. Besides, there are special courses for foreign students: Russian Language Course – 10 months, Preliminary Study Program – 10 months, Advanced Training & Upgrading Programs for the Specialists – from 2 months up to 2 years.

The main research programs of the university are: Industrial & Civil Construction; Hydrotechnical Construction; Municipal Construction Services & Engineering; Building Materials; Heat Transmission, Gas Supply & Ventilation; Water Supply & Waste Water Treatment Systems; Mechanization and Automation of Construction; Design of Buildings; Research & Management of the Real Estate; Economy and Control in Construction; Construction Management; Road and Building Machines. The University Sports Palace has 8 gyms for active sports. There are 31 sports clubs, including athletics, wrestling, football, volleyball, hockey, mountaineering, tourism, and aerobics. The Gold Sands Sports Camp on the Azov seacoast and the Sports Camp in the Ramensky District of the Moscow Region provide perfect facilities for active leisure. The students of MGSU have the right to qualified medical help at the University outpatient clinic, Sports Curing and Psychological Aid Service Centres.